Types of External Hard Drives

Categories: Advice/Tips

When I say “external hard drive” I actually mean all sorts of things. In a nutshell, it means some sort of disk drive that is connected externally to your computer (surely you assumed that much yourself). There are many ways to externally store your data. These drives come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and any one of them may be the perfect fit for your own situation. Here’s a good list to get you started on your external storage search:

	Portable external hard drive: Basically a step up from the USB flash drive. Typically the size of your wallet so it can easily fit into a purse or briefcase. Typically around 250 to 500 GB in disk space (similar to what your computer might hold). They’re quick, simple, and don’t require any kind of power source. Their main use is obviously as a portable disk so if you want something more permanently attached to your computer then move on.
	Desktop external hard drive: These hard drives are usually the size of a typical book. Just plug it in to your USB port and you’re ready to go. They need an external power source so make sure you have an extra outlet. Usually they’re designed to stack up right next to or on top of each other if multiple disks are required. You can find many that hold as much as 1 to 2 TB (that’s more than enough for the typical household!).
	Network attached storage: These are typically storage devices with features more intended for a home network. Many connect to something like a router with an ethernet cable. Some have a single drive, some have two drives, and some have even more. Many come as just an enclosure and you purchase an internal hard drive(s) seperately. If you want to have more ability to share your information between computers, this is the way to go, but make sure you do some research on home networks in case that term goes over your head.
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	Home servers: A step up from the NAS (network attached storage) in that these can be much more user friendly. They have added software capabilities that make these much easier to set up and manage if you’re not a computer wiz. Where the other hard drives are made by various computer hardware companies, the home server systems are made by the big dogs – Microsoft, HP, etc. Although they integrate with your home computers much more easily, they’re most definitely going to be your most expensive option.
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