Which Portable HDD ?

Ponmayilal · 6th August 2010, 00:28

^Seagate 1TB Freeagent Go portable USB 2 is available on Global Easy Buy. Cost Rs.12000+.

Just now I ordered a 750GB portable Seagate Freeagent GoFlex for Rs.6460 On GEB. It will be supplied with a USB 2 cable/adapter. The feature of the GoFlex drives is that optional cables/adapters will be available for USB 3, Firewire, esata so that you can upgrade depending upon the available port/s on your machine/s. That is why it is called GoFlex.

The lineup:

Ponmayilal · 6th August 2010, 15:42

UPDATE: The Seagate GoFlex Ultraportable 1TB is available from a number of vendors on ebay, India in a priceband Rs.9500 to 10500 while the GoFlex Desk variety costs just about 50% of the ultraportable.

The Seagate Freeagent Gos are therefore a sort of obsolete and one need not look at them any longer. The price I had mentioned in the previous post from the ebay USA vendor ( Rs.12000) seems to be a freak but this is common in U.S.A where you find the same goods cost double and more in the upscale malls and even with some online vendors. So one has to excercise caution when buying on GEB and go through all the listings for a particular item patiently to strike the best deal.

RaguHolla · 6th August 2010, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes (not 1,000,000,000)

You are right and wrong!

As per most OS (Windows and some other) 1GB=1,073,741,824 bytes.

But as per ISO standard 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes! Some OS have already migrated to this (like mac)!

SirAlec · 7th August 2010, 00:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponmayilal

UPDATE: The Seagate GoFlex Ultraportable 1TB is available from a number of vendors on ebay, India in a priceband Rs.9500 to 10500 while the GoFlex Desk variety costs just about 50% of the ultraportable.

The Seagate Freeagent Gos are therefore a sort of obsolete and one need not look at them any longer. The price I had mentioned in the previous post from the ebay USA vendor ( Rs.12000) seems to be a freak but this is common in U.S.A where you find the same goods cost double and more in the upscale malls and even with some online vendors. So one has to excercise caution when buying on GEB and go through all the listings for a particular item patiently to strike the best deal.

Its useless to Buy all this adapter based HDD.

When the USB3 becomes main stream, the casing price will go definitely down. And I have not seen dramatic speed with USB3.

Raajiv · 7th August 2010, 02:16

Just got the Green Drive from Fantom Drives - 1 TB with e-SATA and USB port for 59$ .(after deal)

ampere · 7th August 2010, 10:53

The standard WD Passport is a good buy! I see many folks vouching for it. I have a 320GB one.

SPARKled · 7th August 2010, 10:55

For real portability get the free agent go seagate external drive. Got myself a 1TB drive. It works with a single usb cable and does not need external power supply. Very fast too.

SPIKE ARRESTOR · 7th August 2010, 11:39

What is the price range for Western digital HDD (portable). I am planning to upgrade from my 250 GB WD HDD to a higher capacity one.

Spike

ampere · 7th August 2010, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

What is the price range for Western digital HDD (portable). I am planning to upgrade from my 250 GB WD HDD to a higher capacity one.

Spike

1TB WD Passport : 8560; 500GB WD 4K

Source : Computer Warehouse (Barton Center)

Ponmayilal · 7th August 2010, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

Its useless to Buy all this adapter based HDD.

When the USB3 becomes main stream, the casing price will go definitely down. And I have not seen dramatic speed with USB3.

Since I have not yet got my 750GB GoFlex and also not equipped with an USB3 port or the adapters, I have to draw upon some of the reviews which have put the GoFlex on test.

CNET Has this to say:

........ but the big speed gains are much more noticeable when you pair the drive with USB 3.0; our anecdotal tests with the Maingear Vybe transferred a 6.62GB file at 70 megabytes per second with USB 3.0 and eSATA, whereas the FireWire 800 reached speeds around 37MB/s on our testbed hardware.

Source: Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro (500GB) External Hard Drive reviews - CNET Reviews

And now a picture from another review:

Which Portable HDD ?-goflexusb2vsusb3.jpg

Source :Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 500Gb Ultra-portable Drive Review

That said about the transfer speed, it is absolutely one's prerogative

whether he should go for an external casing plus a 2.5" lappy drive of his choice and keep changing his external cases according to his needs when such a need arises

or

one should buy a name-brand external HDD with USB2 and be happy with it for all times

or

one should go for the Goflex with options to change the adapter according to his present and future needs as envisaged by him.

Just to elaborate, my desktop HTPC has USB2, Firwire 800, eSata ports. My Zotac HTPC in the living room has USB2 and eSata ports. The lappy in the home network has only USB2 ports. I also plan to put a USB3 PCIe card on my desktop within months from now making it USB3 capable. (not going to change to a new motherboard with USB3 in the immediate future.) I shall leave the appropriate adapters plugged into these and only shift the HDD as and when required. When the need arises for more TBs I shall buy another one without any adapters - bare GoFlex drives without the adapter are also available.

So the key point is each one according to his needs, present and future.

And for anyone wanting to buy anything my advice will be to go through all the reviews of the ones shortlisted by him or recommended by friends, get to know the pros and cons of each and decide according to his perceptions and needs.

Amen.

coolfyre · 7th August 2010, 19:51

I got myself a WD My Book Essentials 1 TB for Rs. 4300/- from S.P. road.

cyclops · 4th October 2010, 17:44

Hello! Need to buy an external 2.5 HDD urgently. Interseted in buysing 320 or 500 GB ones.

Please advise on the most reliable brand and the best deals online or local (Pune).
I was keen on getting the Transcend one because of their shock protection feature.

So far never bought one, so help from all would be really appreciated..

joslicx · 4th October 2010, 19:36

I recently got Toshiba Canvio plus 1TB HDD (2.5") from US for 129 USD (~6k). It is quite silent and unlike Seagate doesnt heat up even on continuous use for days! Extremely satisfied. I had sourced it thru a relative returning from US. Had bought it from Amazon.com

cyclops · 5th October 2010, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by joslicx

I recently got Toshiba Canvio plus 1TB HDD (2.5") from US for 129 USD (~6k). It is quite silent and unlike Seagate doesnt heat up even on continuous use for days! Extremely satisfied. I had sourced it thru a relative returning from US. Had bought it from Amazon.com

Thanks for the advise. I never thought of Toshiba as an option. Will consider that as well. But I need to buy it locally..

Guys, I was preferring transcend due to its shock protection feature. Does it really works? Or is its just some marketing gimmick? I also got to know seagate comes with a 5 year warrantly, which is impressive..

Please advise..

sgiitk · 5th October 2010, 11:34

I think all major brands WD, Seagate, Transcend, etc. are equally good. It is more a matter of bad luck if a unit fails. Many of them have a three year replacement warranty as well.

6th August 2010, 00:28	#136
Ponmayilal BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 46 Thanked: 5 Times	^Seagate 1TB Freeagent Go portable USB 2 is available on Global Easy Buy. Cost Rs.12000+. Just now I ordered a 750GB portable Seagate Freeagent GoFlex for Rs.6460 On GEB. It will be supplied with a USB 2 cable/adapter. The feature of the GoFlex drives is that optional cables/adapters will be available for USB 3, Firewire, esata so that you can upgrade depending upon the available port/s on your machine/s. That is why it is called GoFlex. The lineup: Last edited by Ponmayilal : 6th August 2010 at 00:45.
	() Thanks

6th August 2010, 15:42	#137
Ponmayilal BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 46 Thanked: 5 Times	UPDATE: The Seagate GoFlex Ultraportable 1TB is available from a number of vendors on ebay, India in a priceband Rs.9500 to 10500 while the GoFlex Desk variety costs just about 50% of the ultraportable. The Seagate Freeagent Gos are therefore a sort of obsolete and one need not look at them any longer. The price I had mentioned in the previous post from the ebay USA vendor ( Rs.12000) seems to be a freak but this is common in U.S.A where you find the same goods cost double and more in the upscale malls and even with some online vendors. So one has to excercise caution when buying on GEB and go through all the listings for a particular item patiently to strike the best deal.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 02:16	#140
Raajiv BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Monterey Bay,CA Posts: 263 Thanked: 5 Times	Just got the Green Drive from Fantom Drives - 1 TB with e-SATA and USB port for 59$ .(after deal)
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 10:53	#141
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18,333 Thanked: 13,617 Times View My Garage	The standard WD Passport is a good buy! I see many folks vouching for it. I have a 320GB one.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 10:55	#142
SPARKled Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,110 Thanked: 664 Times	For real portability get the free agent go seagate external drive. Got myself a 1TB drive. It works with a single usb cable and does not need external power supply. Very fast too.
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 11:39	#143
SPIKE ARRESTOR Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 2,856 Thanked: 1,545 Times	What is the price range for Western digital HDD (portable). I am planning to upgrade from my 250 GB WD HDD to a higher capacity one. Spike
	() Thanks

7th August 2010, 19:51	#146
coolfyre BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 67 Thanked: 2 Times	I got myself a WD My Book Essentials 1 TB for Rs. 4300/- from S.P. road.
	() Thanks

4th October 2010, 17:44	#147
cyclops BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 297 Thanked: 12 Times	Hello! Need to buy an external 2.5 HDD urgently. Interseted in buysing 320 or 500 GB ones. Please advise on the most reliable brand and the best deals online or local (Pune). I was keen on getting the Transcend one because of their shock protection feature. So far never bought one, so help from all would be really appreciated..
	() Thanks

4th October 2010, 19:36	#148
joslicx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,289 Thanked: 1,028 Times	I recently got Toshiba Canvio plus 1TB HDD (2.5") from US for 129 USD (~6k). It is quite silent and unlike Seagate doesnt heat up even on continuous use for days! Extremely satisfied. I had sourced it thru a relative returning from US. Had bought it from Amazon.com
	() Thanks

5th October 2010, 11:34	#150
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,809 Times	I think all major brands WD, Seagate, Transcend, etc. are equally good. It is more a matter of bad luck if a unit fails. Many of them have a three year replacement warranty as well.
	() Thanks