External hard drives give your system almost unlimited capacity for storage, while making it easy to move your data from place to place, and system to system. As the storage capacity increases and the prices decrease, they are a great solution for backup and for storing and working on individual projects. Whether you are editing video or backing up important files, quality is important. You want to always go with a trusted brand as failures can be catastrophic.
External hard drives are also perfect for video or audio editing. Large projects can be edited on an external drive and also taken back and forth from the studio or editing suite. Video also requires a drive to have a speed of 7200 RPM. This is how fast it spins, not how fast it transfers data. For the transfer speed, the USB interface, even USB 2.0 is not usually fast enough for video and FireWire is required. FireWire 800 is the new standard for HD editing, but the original FireWire 400 will work for SD video editing.
USB external drives are great for backup. If you want to truly protect your system, you need two backup drives. Back your system up frequently onto both drives, and store one drive at a physically different location. That way you will always be protected and a have a copy of your data.
Since we like buying from Amazon.com, we checked their top five best selling external hard drives:
Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Drive
This is a huge 2 TB drive from Western Digital that can hold an enormous amount of media or files. Western Digital is a recognized, reliable brand. My son has used their drives for years with a low failure rate. The drive is USB 2.0 so it’s going to be slower than a FireWire drive, especially a new FireWire 800 drive. The drive is a great solution for backup as the 5400 RPM speed and the USB connection make it unsuitable for video editing.
The drive sells for $99 and is available at Amazon.com and major computer stores.
SanDisk Cruzer 16 GB USB 2.0
Another example of how far technology has gone. This tiny pen knife-sized external drive from SanDisk has more capacity than my first five Mac computers combined.
This is a great portable drive, cross compatible with all systems. The SanDisk case is great, the USB tip slides in and out, keeping it safe and free from dust. These drives are also great for off-site backup. Put your important documents and papers on the drive, then store it at your office or in your safe deposit box at the bank.
The drive is also great for media, holding about 30 hours of video or 4000 songs. Many new cars have USB connections so you can take your music collection with you. SanDisk is a quality name and makes reliable products. Although the retail price is $60., the drive sells for $21. on Amazon and is also available in stores.
Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1 TB USB 3.0 / 2.0 Portable
This is a small, compact portable drive from Western Digital with a large capacity. If you plan to move your external hard drive and use it in different places, be sure to get a portable drive. They are built for this purpose and may offer some extra protection against damage, as well as security features. If a drive doesn’t say portable, don’t assume it is.
The Western Digital Passport drive comes with automatic backup software and also encryption and password protection, if you use it in an office or other public setting. It’s powered by the USB interface and requires no external power supply. The drive retails for $160 and is available for $111 on Amazon. The drive is also available from all major retailers.
Iomega eGo 1TB FireWire 800 / USB 2.0 Desktop Drive
This hard drive from Iomega is mainly made for MAC but can be used on PC as well. It’s a solid desktop drive, with a secure looking metal enclosure. The drive comes with superfast FireWire 800 connections as well as USB. There is also a 2 TB version available as well.
Iomega has a good reputation for quality and the drive comes with a three year warranty. The drive retails for $138. and sells for $116. on Amazon.com.
LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 500 GB FireWire / USB Portable Drive
This LaCie drive is a great unit for rough conditions. Keep in mind, the shock protection is designed to work when the drive is not in use, shocks when in use can damage data and the drive. But if you have to move the drive alot, or pack it in luggage, this is a great choice. The drive only spins at 5400 RPM so it’s not ideal for video editing. The drive does feature FireWire 400 and 800 as well as USB 2.0 interface for full compatibility. It can run from the USB power or plug into an adapter. LaCie is also a very well trusted maker.
The drive retails for $120. and is available from all major computer stores and websites.
