1TB USB drive for a song

Samurai · 22nd June 2009, 12:26

I am planning to buy a 1TB USB drive and got some quotes. I was quoted less than 6K for Seagate FreeAgent 1TB drive (ST310005FDM201), I have paid more for the Western Digital 500GB drive. Meanwhile the Lacie 1TB is around 13K. Apparently, the prices used to be similar, but I don't understand the 60% price drop in case of the Seagate drive.

I am very tempted to buy it at that price. Anyone using this drive?

ashthedivx · 22nd June 2009, 12:39

If you can hold on your temptations then you might get 1 TB at more cheaper price as Storage costs are decreasing faster then Stock Indexes internationally.

Samurai · 22nd June 2009, 12:43

I don't need it any cheaper, I need to buy 1TB drive now and I just want to know whether this model has any known issues.

vnabhi · 22nd June 2009, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

I don't need it any cheaper, I need to buy 1TB drive now and I just want to know whether this model has any known issues.

I doubt if anybody has 1TB drives as they were mighty pricey---your price quote comes as a welcome surprise!

But wont they be slow to operate---considering the amount of disk space they have?

CrackedHead · 22nd June 2009, 12:50

Seagate seems to have dropped prices on the FreeAgent recently (100$ drop in US prices since I bought mine). Its an ok drive.

I also have a Maxtor 500GB external drive that's failed thrice in little over a year since I bought it. So I can say that their after sales support is good (Seagate acquired Maxtor in 2006).

Where in Manipal are you buying from ?

ashthedivx · 22nd June 2009, 12:54

Well, I believe there very few External 1 TB takers at this point of time still it should be ok drive.

Kindly note right too many issues are roaming around for Seagate regarding warranty period. Make sure you get the one with 5yr /3yr warranty only. You can cross verify the warranty over seagate website also, once you procure the HDD.

Spitfire · 22nd June 2009, 12:55

Using one for th past 2 months. No issues. Only thing, it needs an external power source. Dont carry it around, sits on my desk at home. Got this for Rs. 5600/- from Crona. Found it quite cheap for the storage provided wasnt really looking for one.

Till now used up only 80 GB of space.

Didnt check on warranty but the folks there remarked it comes with 3 years but no data recovery.

kalpeshc · 22nd June 2009, 12:57

OT - I am assuming that this is a powered drive. Instead wouldn't you be better off with 2 500 Gb USB powered drives?

FYI - Got these prices from one of the dealers on TE (shipping Rs 150 outside Mumbai)

Western Digital - External Hard Disk's 3.5''

WD 1TB My Book Essential 3.5'' With USB - 5300/-

WD 1TB My Book Home Edition - 6600/-

Seagate - External Hard Disk's

Seagate 1TB FreeAgent 3.5'' With USB - 5275/-

External 2.5'' Hard Disk's

WD 160GB Passport 2.5'' External - 2925/-

WD 500GB Passport 2.5'' External - 5300/-

WD 320GB Passport 2.5'' External' - 3525/-

Seagate 160GB Freeagent GO - 2950/-

Seagate 320GB Freeagent GO - 3675/-

Seagate 500GB Freeagent GO - 5350/-

Maxtor 320GB 2.5'' - 3475/-

Transcend 320GB 2.5'' - 3475/-

Samurai · 22nd June 2009, 13:03

I buy all my IT needs from a corporate IT supplier in Udupi. I need this drive as my multimedia storage for the WDTV. At 7200rpm I hope it is fast enough for that purpose.

Quote:

But wont they be slow to operate---considering the amount of disk space they have?

2TB and 3TB USB drives are already available.

kpbhatt · 22nd June 2009, 13:05

Samurai -- i am using a Maxtor 1 TB 7200rpm external powered hdd from the last 3 months. I purchased it over ebay for 7K. Use it for movie downloads and will be soon using it along with my home theater projector or lcd

vnabhi · 22nd June 2009, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

I buy all my IT needs from a corporate IT supplier in Udupi. I need this drive as my multimedia storage for the WDTV. At 7200rpm I hope it is fast enough for that purpose.

2TB and 3TB USB drives are already available.

Looks like you are getting closer to your HD viewing dream---do update us with your experience.
I was, on the contrary, planning to go for a 320 GB portable USB drive and then go for the WDTV box. Would there be any limitation, other than disk space, when compared to your plan?

sandeepmdas · 22nd June 2009, 13:51

Slightly OT.

What's the maximum partition size WinXP32 can support now? Till SP1 in think it was less than 160GB but that was in 2002-3...

kalpeshc · 22nd June 2009, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

I buy all my IT needs from a corporate IT supplier in Udupi.

Sorry if it came across as a sales pitch - these are just indicative prices for you.

DerAlte · 22nd June 2009, 15:14

Do any of these come with an Ethernet i/f? I wanted make a q&d home NAS.

Rehaan · 22nd June 2009, 16:31

Samurai,

I recent bought a 1TB - but i bought the WD MyBook (from chroma - after buying i saw that it is available MUCH cheaper online!! So much for their "low price guarantee"!)

The Seagate (or was it Maxtor?) was cheaper, and was infact 7200rpm (whereas the WD doesn't mention RPM!) -- but i still bought the WD....just a brand preference i guess, plus it shuts off with the computer automatically.

As for the Lacie being 13k, maybe it has some more features? firewire etc?

DerAlte, Ethernet added to any of these 1TB HDDs pushes the price well over 12k if i'm not mistaken. (Probably makes more sense to buy a regular 1TB and then a router w/ USB and some firmware to make it NAS capable.)

cya
R

22nd June 2009, 12:26	#1
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,813 Thanked: 45,434 Times View My Garage	1TB USB drive for a song I am planning to buy a 1TB USB drive and got some quotes. I was quoted less than 6K for Seagate FreeAgent 1TB drive (ST310005FDM201), I have paid more for the Western Digital 500GB drive. Meanwhile the Lacie 1TB is around 13K. Apparently, the prices used to be similar, but I don't understand the 60% price drop in case of the Seagate drive. I am very tempted to buy it at that price. Anyone using this drive?
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 12:39	#2
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,356 Thanked: 24 Times	If you can hold on your temptations then you might get 1 TB at more cheaper price as Storage costs are decreasing faster then Stock Indexes internationally.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 12:43	#3
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,813 Thanked: 45,434 Times View My Garage	I don't need it any cheaper, I need to buy 1TB drive now and I just want to know whether this model has any known issues.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 12:50	#5
CrackedHead BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 585 Thanked: 81 Times	Seagate seems to have dropped prices on the FreeAgent recently (100$ drop in US prices since I bought mine). Its an ok drive. I also have a Maxtor 500GB external drive that's failed thrice in little over a year since I bought it. So I can say that their after sales support is good (Seagate acquired Maxtor in 2006). Where in Manipal are you buying from ?
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 12:54	#6
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,356 Thanked: 24 Times	Well, I believe there very few External 1 TB takers at this point of time still it should be ok drive. Kindly note right too many issues are roaming around for Seagate regarding warranty period. Make sure you get the one with 5yr /3yr warranty only. You can cross verify the warranty over seagate website also, once you procure the HDD.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 12:55	#7
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,312 Thanked: 774 Times	Using one for th past 2 months. No issues. Only thing, it needs an external power source. Dont carry it around, sits on my desk at home. Got this for Rs. 5600/- from Crona. Found it quite cheap for the storage provided wasnt really looking for one. Till now used up only 80 GB of space. Didnt check on warranty but the folks there remarked it comes with 3 years but no data recovery. Last edited by Spitfire : 22nd June 2009 at 12:59. Reason: 2 months back, not 4.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 12:57	#8
kalpeshc BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 535 Thanked: 137 Times	OT - I am assuming that this is a powered drive. Instead wouldn't you be better off with 2 500 Gb USB powered drives? FYI - Got these prices from one of the dealers on TE (shipping Rs 150 outside Mumbai) Western Digital - External Hard Disk's 3.5'' WD 1TB My Book Essential 3.5'' With USB - 5300/- WD 1TB My Book Home Edition - 6600/- Seagate - External Hard Disk's Seagate 1TB FreeAgent 3.5'' With USB - 5275/- External 2.5'' Hard Disk's WD 160GB Passport 2.5'' External - 2925/- WD 500GB Passport 2.5'' External - 5300/- WD 320GB Passport 2.5'' External' - 3525/- Seagate 160GB Freeagent GO - 2950/- Seagate 320GB Freeagent GO - 3675/- Seagate 500GB Freeagent GO - 5350/- Maxtor 320GB 2.5'' - 3475/- Transcend 320GB 2.5'' - 3475/- Last edited by kalpeshc : 22nd June 2009 at 13:02.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 13:05	#10
kpbhatt BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 349 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	Samurai -- i am using a Maxtor 1 TB 7200rpm external powered hdd from the last 3 months. I purchased it over ebay for 7K. Use it for movie downloads and will be soon using it along with my home theater projector or lcd
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 13:51	#12
sandeepmdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Varkala Posts: 1,536 Thanked: 2,489 Times	Slightly OT. What's the maximum partition size WinXP32 can support now? Till SP1 in think it was less than 160GB but that was in 2002-3...
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 15:14	#14
DerAlte Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8,069 Thanked: 2,919 Times	Do any of these come with an Ethernet i/f? I wanted make a q&d home NAS.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2009, 16:31	#15
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,023 Thanked: 34,033 Times	Samurai, I recent bought a 1TB - but i bought the WD MyBook (from chroma - after buying i saw that it is available MUCH cheaper online!! So much for their "low price guarantee"!) The Seagate (or was it Maxtor?) was cheaper, and was infact 7200rpm (whereas the WD doesn't mention RPM!) -- but i still bought the WD....just a brand preference i guess, plus it shuts off with the computer automatically. As for the Lacie being 13k, maybe it has some more features? firewire etc? DerAlte, Ethernet added to any of these 1TB HDDs pushes the price well over 12k if i'm not mistaken. (Probably makes more sense to buy a regular 1TB and then a router w/ USB and some firmware to make it NAS capable.) cya R Last edited by Rehaan : 22nd June 2009 at 16:33.
	() Thanks

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