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External Hard Drives -- Question
Hello,
I'm planning to invest in an external hard drive (desktop, not portable) -- general specifications ~ 250 GB, 7200 rpm, USB 2.0 connection. My initial idea was to use the drive as sort of an "archive" for those files I don't access a lot, such as photo / video / music files. I say "archive" as opposed to backup as I have the important stuff backed up securely elsewhere. My question is, are these external drives robust enough / fast enough / whatever to use as "everyday" storage? For example, can I rip a CD directly to one, or do I need to rip the CD to the internal drive first, then move the files? Can I edit video directly from one? BTW, I'm avoiding mentioning brand names, but I guess my first choice would be a Seagate drive. Thanks, D |
#2
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External Hard Drives -- Question
"Debris" wrote in message ... Hello, I'm planning to invest in an external hard drive (desktop, not portable) -- general specifications ~ 250 GB, 7200 rpm, USB 2.0 connection. My initial idea was to use the drive as sort of an "archive" for those files I don't access a lot, such as photo / video / music files. I say "archive" as opposed to backup as I have the important stuff backed up securely elsewhere. My question is, are these external drives robust enough / fast enough / whatever to use as "everyday" storage? For example, can I rip a CD directly to one, or do I need to rip the CD to the internal drive first, then move the files? Can I edit video directly from one? BTW, I'm avoiding mentioning brand names, but I guess my first choice would be a Seagate drive. Yes, USB 2 is fast enough to burn a cd directly from the drive... you should have no problems |
#3
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External Hard Drives -- Question
"Debris" wrote in message ... Hello, I'm planning to invest in an external hard drive (desktop, not portable) -- general specifications ~ 250 GB, 7200 rpm, USB 2.0 connection. My initial idea was to use the drive as sort of an "archive" for those files I don't access a lot, such as photo / video / music files. I say "archive" as opposed to backup as I have the important stuff backed up securely elsewhere. My question is, are these external drives robust enough / fast enough / whatever to use as "everyday" storage? For example, can I rip a CD directly to one, or do I need to rip the CD to the internal drive first, then move the files? Can I edit video directly from one? BTW, I'm avoiding mentioning brand names, but I guess my first choice would be a Seagate drive. I've got a 500gig Seagate FreeAgent drive. It's silent, shuts down automatically with the PC and looks kinda cool. I use it to archive any files that I may need to access, but rarely do. It's been stable for almost a year. I'd trust it as much as any other drive - internal or external. It should be fast enough to use for ripping CD's. |
#4
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External Hard Drives -- Question
In message p124j.8787$UQ1.722@pd7urf1no "Noozer"
wrote: I've got a 500gig Seagate FreeAgent drive. It's silent, shuts down automatically with the PC and looks kinda cool. I use it to archive any files that I may need to access, but rarely do. It's been stable for almost a year. I'd trust it as much as any other drive - internal or external. It should be fast enough to use for ripping CD's. In general I'd agree -- However, is it just me or is the power button more then a little temperamental? (Personally, I just leave it on and let it do it's own thing -- But it seems like an odd thing to be so moody) |
#5
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External Hard Drives -- Question
"DevilsPGD" wrote in message ... In message p124j.8787$UQ1.722@pd7urf1no "Noozer" wrote: I've got a 500gig Seagate FreeAgent drive. It's silent, shuts down automatically with the PC and looks kinda cool. I use it to archive any files that I may need to access, but rarely do. It's been stable for almost a year. I'd trust it as much as any other drive - internal or external. It should be fast enough to use for ripping CD's. In general I'd agree -- However, is it just me or is the power button more then a little temperamental? Mine doesn't have a power button. It comes on as soon as the USB powers up. Doesn't run from USB power though. |
#6
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External Hard Drives -- Question
On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:31:07 -0600, "Debris"
wrote: Hello, I'm planning to invest in an external hard drive (desktop, not portable) -- general specifications ~ 250 GB, 7200 rpm, USB 2.0 connection. My initial idea was to use the drive as sort of an "archive" for those files I don't access a lot, such as photo / video / music files. I say "archive" as opposed to backup as I have the important stuff backed up securely elsewhere. My question is, are these external drives robust enough / fast enough / whatever to use as "everyday" storage? Robust, not necessarily unless you have a mild climate or it has a fan inside. Some also have rather poor power supplies but sticking with the name brands is a good idea. Speed depends on several factors, notibly the USB bottleneck and especially that if you have a lot of very small files opposed to larger ones. For example, can I rip a CD directly to one, or do I need to rip the CD to the internal drive first, then move the files? ?? Ripping a CD isn't a realtime activity, no matter how slow the external was you could still do it ok, it would take more time to copy to thei internal drive first then copy off to the external. However, in general you can write to an external USB2 drive faster than the CD can be ripped, so it shouldn't ever be a factor. Can I edit video directly from one? You could, but I don't think you'd want to (depending on exactly how/what/etc you're editing. Highest throughput is handy to have snappy performance while editing. If you put the source files on an internal drive and your final compressed destination were to be written to the external, that would tend to be fine since compression speed is slower than the external write performance (usually). The other factor for this is if the job takes a long time you're left running the external all the while. If you'll be using this external powered a lot, it might be as well to just buy another internal drive instead. BTW, I'm avoiding mentioning brand names, but I guess my first choice would be a Seagate drive. You can read some customer reviews at places like http://www.newegg.com . In particular the problem reports or "cons" there are useful, while the "pros" are often obvious or expected unless otherwise stated. |
#7
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External Hard Drives -- Question
In message dA74j.81021$cD.76373@pd7urf2no "Noozer"
wrote: Mine doesn't have a power button. It comes on as soon as the USB powers up. Doesn't run from USB power though. Which model? |
#8
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External Hard Drives -- Question
"DevilsPGD" wrote in message ... In message dA74j.81021$cD.76373@pd7urf2no "Noozer" wrote: Mine doesn't have a power button. It comes on as soon as the USB powers up. Doesn't run from USB power though. Which model? 500gig FreeAgent Desktop |
#9
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External Hard Drives -- Question
kony wrote:
On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:31:07 -0600, "Debris" wrote: Hello, I'm planning to invest in an external hard drive (desktop, not portable) -- general specifications ~ 250 GB, 7200 rpm, USB 2.0 connection. My initial idea was to use the drive as sort of an "archive" for those files I don't access a lot, such as photo / video / music files. I say "archive" as opposed to backup as I have the important stuff backed up securely elsewhere. My question is, are these external drives robust enough / fast enough / whatever to use as "everyday" storage? Robust, not necessarily unless you have a mild climate or it has a fan inside. Some also have rather poor power supplies but sticking with the name brands is a good idea. Speed depends on several factors, notibly the USB bottleneck and especially that if you have a lot of very small files opposed to larger ones. For example, can I rip a CD directly to one, or do I need to rip the CD to the internal drive first, then move the files? ?? Ripping a CD isn't a realtime activity, no matter how slow the external was you could still do it ok, it would take more time to copy to thei internal drive first then copy off to the external. However, in general you can write to an external USB2 drive faster than the CD can be ripped, so it shouldn't ever be a factor. Can I edit video directly from one? You could, but I don't think you'd want to (depending on exactly how/what/etc you're editing. Highest throughput is handy to have snappy performance while editing. If you put the source files on an internal drive and your final compressed destination were to be written to the external, that would tend to be fine since compression speed is slower than the external write performance (usually). The other factor for this is if the job takes a long time you're left running the external all the while. If you'll be using this external powered a lot, it might be as well to just buy another internal drive instead. BTW, I'm avoiding mentioning brand names, but I guess my first choice would be a Seagate drive. You can read some customer reviews at places like http://www.newegg.com . In particular the problem reports or "cons" there are useful, while the "pros" are often obvious or expected unless otherwise stated. Lifetime ratings vary a lot. NT |
#10
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External Hard Drives -- Question
In message iis4j.84252$cD.7198@pd7urf2no "Noozer"
wrote: "DevilsPGD" wrote in message .. . In message dA74j.81021$cD.76373@pd7urf2no "Noozer" wrote: Mine doesn't have a power button. It comes on as soon as the USB powers up. Doesn't run from USB power though. Which model? 500gig FreeAgent Desktop Look on the base, near the front-right corner, see the embossed power logo? Press it and hold it for a few seconds while the drive is turned on (but not busy, obviously) |
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