The better external HDD to choose? Portable/Desktop?

JustAnotherSaver

I could do with an external HDD pretty sharpish, so can't really go somewhere like eBuyer as there's the waiting time.

As such a trip to PC World is in order.

There's this 500GB portable one for £40: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/data-storage/hard-drives/portable-external-hard-drives/wd-elements-portable-hard-drive-500-gb-black-21405964-pdt.html

And this 2TB desktop one for £60: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/data-storage/hard-drives/desktop-external-hard-drives/seagate-expansion-sgr39211-external-hard-drive-2tb-black-16787143-pdt.html I'd just buy it online for £60 & then pick it up.

There's only £20 in it so neither here nor there really.

Why would you go for 1 vs the other? I suppose the extra 1,500GB could come in handy. There's no chance i'd run out of space.
Is the portable side of things much better than desktop?

Just wondered which is better. Not necessarily out of these two, but just portable-vs-desktop in general.

Though it would for now boil down to these two as they're on the cheaper side of what's available.

kwikbreaks

Portable drives are 2.5" laptop drives and usually powered direct from the USB port. You could put one in your pocket easily.

Desktop USB drives are 3.5" and come with a separate power supply. You'd need some very big pockets to carry one of these.

Portable drives tend to be a lot smaller and often a bit slower £ for £

As to which to choose - that's entirely up to you. Pick the type that better fits your needs.

JustAnotherSaver

Ah

I was under the impression that the desktop HDD in the above link was powered by USB cable, not the mains.

I think for the sake of £20 & the fact that it'll only ever sit inches away from the PC, the desktop one is going to be better for me.

EDIT: Looking at the reviews, it seems the desktop one doesn't come with a mains adapter, so that's that out the window.

I'll be wanting one that comes with the adapter.

Stooby2

I think the 2tb Seagate is USB powered. It doesn't mention the need for a power supply, it just states that all you need to do is connect a USB 3.0 cable.

JustAnotherSaver

Stooby2 wrote: »

I think the 2tb Seagate is USB powered. It doesn't mention the need for a power supply, it just states that all you need to do is connect a USB 3.0 cable.

But when you read the reviews people leave, there's a lot of unhappy customers saying that they thought it was just USB powered as the website leads you to believe so, but it still requires mains power.

kwikbreaks

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

I'll be wanting one that comes with the adapter.

If it needs one, which is pretty much a certainty, it will come with one.

====

http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/desktop-hard-drives/expansion-hard-drive/

Installs in seconds.
Seagate® Expansion® external hard drive features like these make it easy to start using this drive within seconds of removing it from the box:

Simply plug in the included power supply and USB cable
The hard drive is automatically recognized by Windows operating system—no software to install and nothing to configure
Drag and drop to save files to the Expansion external hard drive
Built-in power management automatically ensures energy-efficient operation

debitcardmayhem

Whichever just bear in mind than certain malware is now looking for attached (usb or network) disks to corrupt / hold to ransom etc.. so don't leave it attached unless you have backups which cannot be attacked.

Oblivion

I have 2 of the Seagate Expansion 2TB drives and they do come with a mains adapter. What I would say is that although they are supposedly USB3 they are painfully slow. I've looked for updated drivers but they are up to date. There's just something seriously flawed about this design.


My Western Digital 'My Passport' USB3 2TB drives knock them into cocked hat. I would never buy Seagate again and it seems from some of the Amazon reviews I'm not alone.

JustAnotherSaver

Interesting. Thanks

Just had a look on PC World though & can't find what you mention http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/wd-data-storage/hard-drives/desktop-external-hard-drives/720_7065_70070_20232_xx/1_20/price-asc/xx-criteria.html

EDIT: & if you get this before i go out, then what sub £80 desktop drive would you buy (but has to be from PC World as it's our only store). 1TB-2TB.

Oblivion

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Interesting. Thanks

Just had a look on PC World though & can't find what you mention http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/wd-data-storage/hard-drives/desktop-external-hard-drives/720_7065_70070_20232_xx/1_20/price-asc/xx-criteria.html

EDIT: & if you get this before i go out, then what sub £80 desktop drive would you buy (but has to be from PC World as it's our only store). 1TB-2TB.

This one http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/data-storage/hard-drives/portable-external-hard-drives/wd-my-passport-ultra-slim-portable-hard-drive-1-tb-black-21466052-pdt.html


I have 3 of the WD MY Passport drives in the 2TB size and they are superbly fast, ultra quiet, small and portable, and power off the USB port not needing a separate mains supply.

JustAnotherSaver

Oblivion wrote: »

This one http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/data-storage/hard-drives/portable-external-hard-drives/wd-my-passport-ultra-slim-portable-hard-drive-1-tb-black-21466052-pdt.html


I have 3 of the WD MY Passport drives in the 2TB size and they are superbly fast, ultra quiet, small and portable, and power off the USB port not needing a separate mains supply.

That's why i couldn't find it then - i was looking under desktop storage & not portable :rotfl: