Ext. USB HD Choice?

[fred]

What's the best choice for an external USB2 HD in the 200GB-400GB range to
be used mainly for backups(XP SP2)?

WDC has three similar models all with 8MB onboard cache + USB2 & Firewire:

WDXB2500JB
http://www.wdc.com/en/library/dual-option/2879-001094.pdf

WDXC2500JBRNN
http://www.wdc.com/en/library/combo/2879-001073.pdf

WDXF2500JBRNN
http://www.wdc.com/en/library/dual-option/2879-001091.pdf

Which one does one get?

Are there other makes, models and sizes to consider?

What about backup or imaging software? Do any of these external USB HD
products come with a backup software(XP SP2) solution in the same league or
better than Acronis TrueImage?

Do any external USB HD products have cases which mount the drive to
specifically protect from shock/impact?

What criteria for making a choice have I missed? All the prices seem to be
in the same ballpark.

 

[Rock]

What's the best choice for an external USB2 HD in the 200GB-400GB range to
be used mainly for backups(XP SP2)?

WDC has three similar models all with 8MB onboard cache + USB2 & Firewire:

WDXB2500JB
http://www.wdc.com/en/library/dual-option/2879-001094.pdf

WDXC2500JBRNN
http://www.wdc.com/en/library/combo/2879-001073.pdf

WDXF2500JBRNN
http://www.wdc.com/en/library/dual-option/2879-001091.pdf

Which one does one get?

Are there other makes, models and sizes to consider?

What about backup or imaging software? Do any of these external USB HD
products come with a backup software(XP SP2) solution in the same league or
better than Acronis TrueImage?

Do any external USB HD products have cases which mount the drive to
specifically protect from shock/impact?

What criteria for making a choice have I missed? All the prices seem to be
in the same ballpark.

Look at their specs. As hard drives they are same but they differ in
other features. One (the second in the list) is just the drive in a
lighted case - no power switch. The first one in the list has a power
switch and a USB 2.0 hub. The third one is the same as the first with
the addition of a 8 in 1 memory card reader along with the usb 2 hub.
What capabilities do you need?

 

[fred]

Look at their specs. As hard drives they are same but they differ in
other features. One (the second in the list) is just the drive in a
lighted case - no power switch. The first one in the list has a power
switch and a USB 2.0 hub. The third one is the same as the first with the
addition of a 8 in 1 memory card reader along with the usb 2 hub. What
capabilities do you need?

Right, all fluff differences. Any known real differences? Other makes
like Maxtor etc? Included backup software? Shock protection? I need
actual user knowledge and not spec readers. I read specs very well myself.

 

[Rock]

Right, all fluff differences. Any known real differences? Other makes
like Maxtor etc? Included backup software? Shock protection? I need
actual user knowledge and not spec readers. I read specs very well myself.

LOL..obviously not. Figure it out yourself.

 

[Reboot]

For whatever it's worth I've run Maxtor, Western Digital and Seagate
hard drives in BYTECC 5.25" external drive enclosures for several
years (Newegg.com--around $30) with acceptable results.

The first thing I learned is that Windows would often fail to pick up
on or recognize my Firewire connected device--making it necessary to
shut things down and boot yet again. Thus, I changed to USB boxes
with far better results. The next thing I learned is that the smaller
the drive, lets say 80-GB, is more dependable in the long term,
running as an external than, lets say, a 160-GB (I’ve used both sizes
and some others as well) Why? I don't know. Third, I prefer Maxtors
over Western Digitals--fewer problems. Anyway I always set the drives
to Cable Select where-by I swap them from external to internal,
depending on the project.

Generally, I recommend buying the external box, (ATA or SATA), then
mounting the hard drive of your choice vs. buying a dedicated
external drive. Can save lots of money this way. Then you can easily
swap out drives if need be. Better still, I mount the drives in
removable drive trays and then mount the tray rack into the External
box.

” What's the best choice for an external USB2 HD in the

200GB-400GB range…?”

The bigger the drive the hotter they run. The idea of a 400GB external
gives me the jitters…

For backups I use Norton Ghost 2003--very dependable--if you can find
it. The newest version of Norton Ghost sucks, regardless of its new
features.

--Reboot