Buffalo Ministation 500GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Disk Drive

The Buffalo Ministation is the successor to the highly successful Juststore Slimline model and is truly one of the simplest external hard drives available on the market today. It’s about the size of a wallet and weighs only 165g, making it incredibly portable. It is a USB powered, plug’n’play device that will allow you to take your music, films, photos and documents with you, and sports a file transfer rate of up to 480Mbps, meaning you’ll be able to back up and access you files in no time.

Our rating:

Main Features of the Buffalo Ministation 500GB USB 2.0 Portable external drive

• Highly portable: the Buffalo Ministation weighs in at just 165g and isn’t much bigger than a mobile phone, so will slip into a jacket or bag without any problem. As it’s USB powered you don’t need to lug an external power source around with you either.

• Simplicity: this drive is noted for its simplicity to install and ease of use. It’s a plug and play drive that will work straight out of the box without the need to install any drivers or software.

• Stylish: The stylishly simple looks of the Buffalo Ministation complement the drives ease of use, and the sleek design will complement any working environment.

Technical Features of the Buffalo Ministation 500GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Disk Drive:

• Plug and play straight from the box for easy installation
• USB powered, no external power supply needed
• Blue LED usage light
• USB2.0 file transfer rate of max. 480Mbps
• Product Size (WxDxH): 114 x 77 x 14 mm
• Weight: 165 g
• High gloss piano black finish
• 24 month manufacturer’s warranty included
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• Preformatted to FAT-32
• NTFS reformatting software included
• Available in a range of sizes (320GB, 500GB and 1TB)
• USB cable included

What do people who have bought the Buffalo Ministation 500GB external hard drive think of it?

In summary, the Buffalo Ministation is favoured for its size, ease of use and price, all of which shine through in the feedback buyers give for this compact portable drive.

 Here are a few comments from people who’ve bought the Buffalo Ministation drive, taken from Amazon:

• “Great drive at a fantastic price”
• “noise level is non-existent”
• “I can’t recommend this hard drive enough”
• “It’s easy and very simple to use”
•  “Fantastic buy and well worth the money”
• “A simple to use neat little hard drive”
• “I like it so much I’m going to buy a second one!”

 For more on these and other Amazon buyer reviews, click here.

Who is the Buffalo Ministation 500GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Disk Drive perfect for?

The Buffalo Ministation 500GB external hard drive is perfect for people who want to take their files out and about with them, for example to the office or to college. It’s also ideal for those who are keen for a simple life as it works as a drag and drop device, straight out of the box and is considered one of the easiest drives to use on the market today. The 500GB capacity will hold a decent number of files, up to 140,000 digital photos or 12,000 songs at CD quality or 200 films at DVD quality or 60 hours of High Definition Video.

Where to find the best deal online for the Buffalo Ministation 500GB external hard drive?

With this model of the Buffalo Ministation you’re getting 500GB of disk capacity for a bargain price, currently available for purchase on Amazon for around £60 at time of writing, which is a great deal for the disk capacity and simplicity of use. We also recommend you get hold of a decent size connecting cable, depending on where you’ll put your drive when in use

Click here to visit Amazon

Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB External Hard Drive

The Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB external hard drive is one of the best rated desktop external hard drives on the market that has been designed and developed for use with Macs specifically in mind… it is pre-formatted out of the box for use with Mac OS, hooks up to Time Machine without any bother and has a FireWire 800 connection for rapid data transfer. Not only that but it looks the part too, particularly this model with the “streamlined aluminium enclosure”, and won’t look out of place happily sitting on your desktop without taking up much space.

All in all an excellent drive for Mac users…

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Main Features of the Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB External Hard Drive:

• Designed for Mac Users: this drive has truly been designed with Mac users in mind – it comes pre-formatted for Mac, works with Time Machine out of the box, runs incredibly quickly over FireWire 800 and most importantly of all, looks great!

• Super-fast connectivity: the FireWire 800 data connection means you can save and access files at top speeds of up to 800 Mb/s (faster than the maximum 480 Mb/s for the USB2.0 connection), meaning you can run memory intensive software (e.g. for video editing) in a flash

• Stylish Looks: the WD My Book Studio aluminium enclosure doesn’t just look good, it’s been designed to keep the drive cool as well, dissipating heat even when the drive is in continuous use.

Technical Features of the WD My Book Studio 2TB external hard drive:

• 2TB disk capacity
• Desktop drive
• FireWire 800, USB 2.0 connectivity
• Stylish, cool-to-the-touch all-metal enclosure
• Designed for Mac and compatible with all Mac operating systems
• Works with Apple TimeMachine or WD SmartWare
• Password protection with hardware-based encryption
• Product Size (WxDxH): 48 x 135 x 165 mm
• Weight: 1.18kg
• Also available in 1TB and 3TB
  
• Optional WD SmartWare available for automatic, continuous backup software
• Comes with FireWire 800 cable, USB cable and AC adaptor
• Can be reformatted for use with PC
  
• Limited 36 month manufacturer’s warranty

What do people who have bought the Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB external hard drive think of it?

People who have bought the WD My Book Studio 2TB external hard drive on amazon.co.uk love its enormous capacity, the speed of the FireWire 800 data transfer in particular and that it looks great too, presented as it is in a streamlined aluminium enclosure.

Check out the comments below from amazon.co.uk:

• “Looks good, feels solid and well built”
• “Simplicity itself to set up for Time Machine – you just plug it in and it goes”
• “Excellent quiet drive”
• “Quiet, fast, reliable and nice to look at”
• “Not-so-expensive, huge-capacity, fast and well-designed disk”
• “I’ve never had a Western Digital drive fail on me”
• “I have 2 of these drives now and each work perfectly with my iMac”
• “In short, this drive gives fast response times, quiet operation and huge capacity”

For more on these and other buyer reviews, click here

Who is the Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB External Hard Drive perfect for?

This drive has been designed with Mac users in mind (although it will work with a PC it will require reformatting first), so is a great addition for anyone who uses a Mac and needs relatively large storage needs – the 2TB capacity will allow you to store up to 400,000 songs, 150 hours of films or 500,000 songs… which is plenty for most of us regular folk! The combination of decent memory and high speed data transfer over FireWire 800 makes the WD My Book Studio an ideal external hard drive for videographers, photographers, video editors and other graphic professionals and is described by buyers as “superb” for running music or video editing off (e.g. for HD video editing on Final Cut Pro). For anyone with a large music collection, this is a great drive to hold all your songs, freeing up space on your Mac. It’s also a great option for an off-site backup, for those people who want a Mac specific external hard drive safely secured in a single location rather than one they take out and about with them.

Where can you find a great deal online for the Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB External Hard Drive?

Whilst you may struggle to get hold of the regular looking WD My Book Studio desktop hard drive, the one reviewed here with a metal enclosure is widely available to buy on amazon.co.uk, and at a very good price too for a drive with these Mac specific features.Click here to check the latest price. This drive does come in 1TB and 3TBsizes as well.

The iStorage DiskGenie encrypted hard drive range (also now known as the DiskG range – thanks for that iStorage branding team!) is a series of portable external hard drives designed with security as a key feature – this is delivered through PIN code access (using a personalised access code that you choose on installation of between 6 and 16 characters). You can get pretty much any size of drive up to 1TB, including the 640GB device reviewed here. The drive’s security credentials are further confirmed by it being the only portable hard drive to have been awarded the government CESG CCTM accreditation. All in all, this is the drive for you if you need that extra level of security for any files you have stored on it.

Our rating:

Main Features of the iStorage DiskGenie external hard drive

• Highly Secure: the iStorage DiskGenie has been built with one thing in mind – keeping your data secure. Whether it’s the personalised 6-16 digit personal access code, the 256-bit Military Grade AES Hardware Encryption or that it uses the FIPS PUB 197 validated Encryption Algorithm, you know your files are going to be secure no matter what!
  

• Real time encryption: the DiskGenie range of external hard drives uses what is known as “real time” hardware encryption – this means that the device performs its encryption ‘on-the-fly’, encrypting and decrypting your files as it is written or read from the hard drive, delivering higher performance and speeds compared to devices with software encryption.

• Easy to use: you might think that this drive would be hard to use, given its secure nature, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Set up is a simple 2 step process, the drive is USB powered (and comes with an integrated USB cable) so does not require an external power source, and it is drag and drop after that. Doesn’t come much easier.

Technical Features of the iStorage DiskGenie Pin Code Encrypted Hard Drive:

• Incorporates alphanumeric keypad
• Unlocks with your own unique six- to sixteen-digit PIN
  
• Real-time Hardware Encryption (256-bit AES)
• USB powered
• Ultra portable design
• 16-point omni-directional shock mounting system
• Integrated USB cable
• 640GB disk capacity
• USB 2.0 data transfer
• Plug and play installation and use
  
• Product Size (WxDxH): 80 x 120 x 19 mm
  
• Weight: 177g
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• Available in Black rubberised finish
  
• Available in 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, 750GB and 1TB models as well as this 640GB model
  
• 36 month manufacturer’s warranty

What do people who have bought the iStorage DiskGenie Encrypted Hard Drive think of it?

Buyers of the iStorage DiskGenie Encrypted Hard Drive find that it balances high security with portability and ease of use, and that it works very well in comparison with other external hard drives designed with added security features.

Check out these comments from amazon.co.uk on the iStorage DiskGenie Pin Code Encrypted Hard Drive (640GB model):

• “These things work really well, are rugged and tough and are well designed”
• “System seems to be extremely secure”
• “The added security is well worth the extra price in comparison with a normal USB powered hard drive”
• “Works very well, and is very easy to use.”
• “If for whatever reason you require hardware-encrypted portable storage this is an excellent option”

For more on these and other buyer reviews, click here.

Who is the iStorage DiskGenie Pin Code Encrypted Hard Drive perfect for?

If the thought of your confidential data falling into the wrong hands if you were to lose your external hard drive or have it stolen keeps you awake at night, then the iStorage DiskGenie could be the perfect external hard drive for you. For your work, loss of vital, confidential data and associated adverse media attention could have a devastating impact on your business credibility and may even cost you your job. For you personally, if you’re extremely unlucky you could find yourself the victim of identity theft, or worse still find your recent holiday snaps posted all over the internet. Whilst the drive has been built with security as a foremost feature, the guys at iStorage have also designed the drive to be easy to install and easy to use, including clever features like the integrated USB2.0 cable.

Where can you find the best deal online for the iStorage DiskGenie Pin Code Encrypted Hard Drive?

You can get a great deal on this external hard drive on amazon.co.uk, where you can get your hands on anyone of the models from the DiskGenie (or DiskG) series. Click here to find the latest price for the 640GB model. Whilst the drive does come with a rugged, rubberised finish to protect it against bumps and scrapes, you may want to invest in a small case for it as well – amazon recommend the Caselogic Small Hard Drive Case to be a perfect fit!

Head over to amazon right now to check out the latest price on this great external hard drive today!

It’s not unusual to hear horror stories where people have dropped their external hard drive only to find that it simply won’t work again when they come to use it. Not so with rugged external hard drives – surviving a mere drop or knock is child’s play to these hard men of the data storage. They laugh in the face of fire, take on all types of weather, even hold their breath under water for hours on end, and still fire up no questions asked.

So, if you think you need that extra level of protection, whether it’s because you live or work in an extreme environment, like to take your data with you bungee jumping and scuba diving or just find yourself dropping your drive every 5 minutes, these are for you…

A-Data Series SH93 2.5 inch 1TB Portable Hard Disk Drive

This drive from A-Data has passed the most stringent water proofing and military level shock testing so it’s a perfect external hard drive if you plan to be working in out of the office or in a hostile environment. The 1TB model can store an incredible amount of files, up to 76 hours of standard video, 250,000 songs and about 200,000 photos… on top of its rugged build, this makes it a great drive to take with you if you’re away traveling. Oh, and it look pretty damn cool as well! Read more >>>

Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive USB 3.0 External Hard Drive:

The Freecom 56057 Tough Drive has an internal anti-shock frame to protect the internal workings and soft silicon cover for added external protection, making it a great drive to take out and about with you. In addition to the mega 1TB memory, there are some cool features such as an integrated USB cable – so you’ll never forget yours again! – and is fan free meaning it is very quiet when running. Read more >>>

LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0/ USB 2.0 500GB Hard Disk Drive

The LaCie Rugged Mini has been developed as a portable rugged hard drive that provides protection for your files from rain, pressure and shocks, making it an ideal drive to throw into a bag or jacket and head out the door. The lifeboat orange rubber case looks great and gives added protection from the bumps, bashes and scrapes of everyday life. Read more >>>

ioSafe Solo 1 TB Fireproof and Waterproof External Hard Drive

This ioSafe drive has been specifically designed as a desktop drive (rather than a portable one) and is described by the manufacturer as “the safest, most advanced hard drive in the world”! Too much hype? Maybe not, as this drive is one of the toughest on the market, with patented fire and water protection, including a temperature cooling airflow system. Additionally, you get access to a “no questions asked” data retrieval service thrown in with the price (extension also available). Read more >>>

The Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive is a rugged portable external hard drive built to survive the pressures of everyday life on the go. This drive sports a hard working internal anti-shock frame and a unique soft silicon cover for added protection, making it tough enough to survive the inevitable drops and bashes when you take your external hard drive out and about. This version of the Freecom Tough Drive can hold up to 1TB of data, putting 76 hours of standard video, up to 250,000 songs and/or about 200,000 photos in the palm of your hand where ever you are. Plus there are some cool features like the integrated USB cable and internal cooling system that means a fan is not required… all in all a great, robust, high performing portable external hard drive.

Our rating:

Main Features of the Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive:

• Built to last: this drive is built to withstand the drops, bumps and bashes of everyday life as a portable external hard drive. Thanks to the award winning internal anti-shock mechanism, you know your files and data will be kept safe and sound, and that your drive will fire up when you next need it to.

• Superfast data transfer: this upgraded version of the Freecom 56057 comes with USB 3.0 data transfer speeds, which are up to 3 times as fast as USB 2.0 upto a maximum of 5Gbps – meaning that you save so much more time when running back-ups or accessing files.

• Highly Portable: the Freecom Tough Drive is incredibly portable for a rugged external hard drive, weighing in at just 200g and at a size that will slip into jackets, bags and pockets without taking up a lot of space.

Technical Features of the Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive:

• 1TB disk capacity
• High speed USB 3.0 data transfer
• Backwards compatible with USB 2.0
• USB powered via integrated USB cable
• Internal anti-shock mechanism
• No internal fan meaning quiet when in use
• Plug and play installation
• Product Size (WxDxH): 19 x 83 x 140 mm
• Weight: 200g
• Durable, soft silicone cover
• Available in Dark Grey
• Available in 500GB as well as 1TB model
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• Nero BackitUp & Burn, Green button energy saver and Password Protection software included
• 24 month manufacturer’s warranty
• Free unlimited helpdesk support

What do people who have bought the Freecom 56057 Tough Drive think of it?

Buyers of the Freecom 56057 external hard drive on amazon.co.uk make note of the combination of its solid build and portability. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with plenty of examples of people buying more than one drive or upgrading from older models, such is their confidence in its ability to protect their files and data.

Check out the comments below from amazon.co.uk on the Freecom 56057 Tough Drive 1TB external hard drive:

• “Solid as a rock”
• “Tough, great non-slip finish, and slimmer than an MP’s wallet just before expenses day”
• “Easily fits in a pocket and runs cool”
• “Very well built. Drop resistant and also seem dust and water resistant as well”
• “The Freecom drives are all I use”
• “Great back up”
• “Well made and built in USB plug means one less lead to get knotted up”
• “Great piece of kit”

For more on these and other buyer reviews, click here.

Who is the Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive portable external drive perfect for?

The Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive is designed with portability and protection in mind – so this drive is perfect for people who want to make sure their data and files are safe when they are out and about – regardless of where they go and what they get up to. The custom internal shock proofing case and soft silicon cover means that you can throw the Tough Drive into a bag, jacket or rucksack and just head on out – if you’re travelling round the world and want to back up videos and photos from your camera, find yourself working in a tough environment and need acess to critical files, or simply cycling to work with those designs you’ve been working on overnight, you’ve got that added assurance that your drive will work when you need it to.

Where can you find the best deal online for the Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive?

You can find a great deal on the Freecom Tough Drive on amazon.co.uk right now click here to check the latest price. If you think that the 1TB model will provide too much data storage for you, there’s always the option to go for the 500GB model instead.

Go to amazon right now to pick up this best external hard drive today!

ioSafe Solo 1 TB Fireproof and Waterproof External Hard Drive

The guys at ioSafe describe the Solo 1TB external hard drive as “the safest, most advanced hard drive in the world”. It’s a big claim to live up to, but one that the Solo does an impressive job of aspiring to. When you buy this drive, you’re getting so much more than just a rugged external hard drive, with the patented fire and water proofing technology, access to data recovery service and unique airflow cooling system the ioSafe Solo brings, on top of a great looking, top functioning external hard drive.

Our rating:

Main Features of the ioSafe Solo 1TB desktop hard drive

• Patented Fireproofing: The ioSafe Solo provides DataCast endothermic fire insulation to protect your data from extreme heat. The DataCast formulation forms a chemical bond with water molecules that, at temperatures above 160°F, releases water vapor to limit the internal temperature of the unit during a fire.

• HydroSafe Water Protection: built-in ioSafe water barrier technology is designed to protect data loss from fresh or salt water damage in up to 10 foot of water and for up to 72 hours.

• Data Recovery Service: The ioSafe Solo Data Recovery Service (DRS) provides a one time use, no questions asked data and hardware recovery service, including up to £1,000 for forensic data recovery. One year’s coverage is included with your initial purchase of this drive.

Technical Features of the ioSafe Solo 1TB external hard drive:

• 1TB disk capacity
• USB 2.0 data transfer
• Desktop drive
• Waterproof – protects data from loss up to 10ft for 72 hours fresh or salt water
• DataCast Fireproofing – protects data from loss up to 1550°F for 1/2 hour per ASTM E119
• Physical theft protection cable lock or floor mount option
• Data Recovery Service – Up to £1,000 for forensic recovery
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• 1 Year Data Recovery Service Standard (3 and 5 year plans available)
• 3 Year manufacturer’s warranty for defects Standard (5 year available with purchase of 5 year DRS upgrade)
• Product Size (WxDxH): 13 cm x 28cm x 18 cm
• Weight: 6.8kg
• External power and USB2.0 cable provided
• Plug and play installation and use
  

What do people who have bought the ioSafe Solo 1TB External Hard Drive think of it?

Customers of the ioSafe Solo 1TB External Hard Drive say that it gives them great peace of mind, not only to know that their photos and music are backed up in such a secure unit, but also that the Data Recovery Service is available if the worst was to happen.

Check out the comments below from amazon.co.uk on the ioSafe Solo 1TB external hard drive:

• “Top product, great build quality and like a tank”
• “Probably the simplest, cheapest proper backup”
• “It’s a weight off my mind”
• “Within 10mins was up and running”
• “Better still it came with the promise to get my data back if the hard drive failed”
• “It’s absolutely been a weight off my mind knowing my music and photos are in better care”

For more on these and other buyer reviews, click here.

Who is the ioSafe Solo 1TB external drive ideal for?

The ioSafe Solo 1TB external drive is a perfect external hard drive for those who need a few extra layers of protection for their files and data -the proprietary technology that ioSafe have built into the Solo make it one of the most secure, safest external hard drives on the market today. The ioSafe Solo is designed to be a desktop drive – you can even bolt it down to any surface using the built in anti-theft tab for added security – so it’s best suited to people who want an external hard drive for one location, be that at home, the office, college, wherever. ioSafe also recommend this external hard drive (and supporting services) for use in a business environment as well (i.e. for data back-up at a corporate level, for disaster recovery, as a replacement for standard tape back-up), so if you’re running a small business and need to keep files secure in a unit that will survive the harshest of disasters then this would be a great drive for you. Given the high levels of data security and guaranteed retrieval, this drive suits the needs of anyone who wants that extra peace of mind that only “the safest, most advanced hard drive in the world” can offer.

Where can you find the best deal online for the ioSafe Solo 1TB external drive?

Amazon.co.uk offer a great deal for this amazing desktop external hard drive – click here to check the latest price. For this 1TB external hard drive you must consider the superlative security features the ioSafe Solo has, and the access to one of the best after sales packages on the market too.

Click here to check out the best deal for the ioSafe Solo on amazon right now!

A-Data Series SH93 2.5 inch 1TB Portable Hard Disk Drive

The A-Data Series SH93 2.5 inch 1TB Portable Hard Disk Drive is a truly ruggedised, portable external hard drive that has passed the most stringent water proofing and military grade shock testing before coming to market. It’s a perfect external hard drive if you plan to be working in more challenging environments than an office, or if you just need an external hard drive that will survive the bumps, bashes and scrapes of everyday life. This model can hold up to 1TB of data, which means 76 hours of standard video, up to 250,000 songs and about 200,000 photos… plenty for most people! On top of that this is one of the coolest looking external hard drives on the market today.

Our rating:

Main Features of the A-Data SH93 external hard drive

• Maximum Ruggedness: the A-Data SH93 series external hard drive is the first ever waterproof external hard drive and has passed military grade shock resistance testing, making it one of the most robust external hard drives available on the market today – meaning that your data and files will be safe come what may.

• Wrap around USB cable: those clever guys at A-Data have designed a USB cable that wraps around the drive, increasing the portability by ensuring your cable is always with you as well! The cable attaches snugly to the sides of the device.

• Stylish looks: this great drive from A-Data looks great in Black, but is also available in Spiderman-esque Red and Yellow. The vibrant colours and clean-cut design provide the drive with a uniquely stylish look.

Technical Features of the ADATA Series SH931TB Hard Disk Drive:

• 1TB disk capacity
• USB 2.0 data transfer
• Water-proof (tested in 1 m water for 30 mins)
• Military-class shock resistance
• Wrap-around USB cable
• Blue LED indicator
• Rubberised enclosure
• Plug and play installation
  
• Product Size (WxDxH): 97 x 129 x 19.2mm
• Weight: 240g
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• Available in Black, Yellow and Red
• Available in 500GB and 750GB models as well as 1TB model
• 36 month limited manufacturer’s warranty
  

What do people who have bought the A-DATA Series SH93 Rugged External Hard Drive think of it?

Those who have bought the SH93 rugged external hard drive from A-Data show real confidence in its ability to handle the sort of robust treatment it is designed for. Buyer comments on amazon.co.uk are overwhelmingly positive about this sturdy portable hard drive.

Check out the comments below from amazon.co.uk on the A-Data SH93 series rugged external hard drive:

• “Best thing I have bought in ages”
  
• “Fantastic Drive”
• “This is the real deal, definitely worth a purchase”
• “Looks good, its quiet and the speed is great”
• “Huge storage capacity, USB powered, indestructible if dropped, indestructible if placed in water, and small enough to fit in your pocket”
• “For years I have been waiting for an item like this”
• “There simply isn’t anything better out there for PC storage”

For more on these and other buyer reviews, click here.

Who is the A-Data SH93 Series 1TB portable external drive perfect for?

The A-Data SH93 Series 1TB portable external drive is described as “a heavily armoured storage device designed especially for people with mobile and athletic lifestyles” – this could be you if you need to use an external hard drive out and about say to store music, photos or movies when you’re hiking, biking or camping. Or you might find yourself working in an environment where the likelihood of dropping, splashing or generally bashing your external hard drive is higher than usual – last thing you want to find is that you lose all your vital back-ups because your external hard drive wasn’t up to the job! Or maybe your taken by the cool looks of this external hard drive, and the fact that you can throw it in a rucksack and head out without any fear that it’s not going to work next time you need it. Whatever the reason, the A-Data SH93 Series ruggedised external hard drive will do you proud every time.

Where can you find the best deal online for the A-Data SH93 Series Rugged 1TB external hard drive?

The best place to look for a bargain for this great rugged portable hard drive is on amazon.co.uk – click here to check out the latest deals on this model in black and here for the other ones in red or yellow. If you think that the 1TB model will provide too much data storage for you, there’s always the option to go for the 750GB or 500GB models too.

Go to amazon right now to pick up this best external hard drive today!

LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0/ USB 2.0 500GB Hard Disk Drive

The LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0/2.0 500GB external hard drive is one of LaCie’s most popular external hard drives, developed as a portable rugged hard drive with 500GB of storage capacity. The orange rubber case makes gives this drive a highly distinctive look, as well as protecting it from bumps, scrapes and drops from up to 1.2 metres. This drive also sports protection from rain, pressure and shocks, making it ideal for both the typical external hard drive owner who just wants to throw it in a bag without having to worry about it working next time they need it, and for those who need a more robust model for a more extreme line of work or play.

Our rating:

Main Features of the LaCie Rugged Mini 500GB external drive

• Rugged means rugged: the Rugged Mini from LaCie is exactly that! This drive is pressure resistant to a ton, shock resistant to drops from up to 1.2 meters and rain resistant as well… so you can pretty much get away with any sort of clumsiness! It is also a very compact drive, even in the grippy rubber casing.

• Superfast data transfer: the USB3.0 data transfer speed will allow you incredibly quick data transfer of up to 5Gbps, meaning you’ll be able to transfer movies, songs, photos and files at super fast speeds. This great little external hard drive also comes with a custom Mac installed driver that will improve data transfer speeds by up to 30% over Firewire.

• Highly Portable: LaCie have designed this external hard drive as an extremely portable device, weighing less than 300g and fitting into any laptop, handbag or rucksack without any trouble at all.

Technical Features of the LaCie Rugged Mini 500GB Hard Disk Drive:

• 500GB disk capacity
• High speed USB 3.0 data transfer (up to 5Gbps)
• USB 2.0 backward compatible
• Tough design (shock, rain and pressure resistant to 1 Ton)
• Drop-resistant to 1.2 metres
• LaCie Private-Public password protection
• User-friendly software for automatic backup and data encryption
• Product Size (WxDxH): 8.6 x 1.9 x 13.5 cm (12.7 x 3.6 x 18 cm w/ rubber case)
• Weight: 240g
• 24 month limited manufacturer’s warranty included
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• Backup Assistant software pre-loaded
• Automatic Eco-mode lowers power consumption by up to 40% when not in use
• Secure Cloud Storage: 10GB of Wuala Online Storage included for one year
• USB 3.0 cable provided (USB 2.0-compatible)

What do people who have bought the LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0/ USB 2.0 500GB Hard Disk Drive think of it?

Buyers consider the LaCie Rugged Mini external drive to be an excellent external hard drive, both in terms of its size and its portability. The rugged features of this drive really appeal to buyers as well, as does the hardworking nature of the drive which doesn’t overheat or make much noise when in use.

 Here are a few comments from people who’ve bought the LaCie Rugged Mini 500 GB external hard drive:

• “Excellent portable drive”
• “Fast and quiet”
• “Excellent design”
• “Rugged Mini is an ideal solution!”
• “No matter how hard it’s working it doesn’t overheat or make any noise”
•  “Excellent piece of kit”
• “Very quick and easy to install and use”
• “I would recommend to anyone!”

For more on these and other buyer reviews, click here.Who is the LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0/ USB 2.0 500GB external drive perfect for?

The LaCie Rugged Mini 500GB external hard drive is ideal for anyone who wants a hard working portable hard drive that can just be thrown in a bag and available whenever needed. Never worry again about accidentally dropping or bashing your external hard drive, this little drive will take all the knocks you can throw at is and still fire up no problem! If you think you’ll be working in tough environments – oil rigs, jungles, construction sites, war zones, the average office, whatever – you need an external hard drive you can rely upon in, and the rugged nature of the LaCie Mini 500GB drive will make it easy for you to worry about what you’re doing rather than your external hard drive.

Where to find the best deal online for the LaCie Rugged Mini USB 3.0/ USB 2.0 500GB external hard drive?

You’ll find a great deal on this best external hard drive on amazon right now, click here for the latest price. It might also make sense to get a longer USB cable than the one provided by LaCie, you can also pick up a 2m cable on amazon.co.uk for a bargain price as well, check it out right here.

Click here to visit Amazon right now!

Check out more reviews of the best rugged external hard drives:

• A-Data Series SH93 2.5 inch 1TB Portable Hard Disk Drive Review
• ioSafe Solo 1 TB Fireproof and Waterproof External Hard Drive Review
• Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Review

Verbatim 500GB Store n Go USB 3.0 External Hard Drive

The Verbatim 500GB Store n Go USB 3.0 external hard drive is a highly portable USB 3.0 drive, capable of providing “superspeed” data transfer speeds up to 5 GB/s. Weighing in at just 150g and just 12 by 8 by 1.5 cm, this smart little drive has been designed to come with you to work, college, wherever you need your files. There’s a clever green energy saving button that will suspend the drive from spinning when not in use, and multiple sleep settings, meaning your drive won’t be sapping power from your laptop when it doesn’t need it, and whilst it doesn’t have the biggest capacity on the market, the 500GB provided should be plenty for most.

Our rating:

Main Features of the Verbatim 500GB Store n Go hard drive:

• Designed for portability: this drive has been designed with portability in mind. At just 150g and not much bigger than a mobile phone, the Verbatim Store n Go is a slim and lightweight external hard drive. Being USB powered, it does not require an external power source to run.

• USB 3.0: the USB 3.0 connection interface will allow you to transfer files at up to 10 times the speed of a standard USB 2.0 connection, at up to 5Gbps. This means for example that transferring a regular HD film will take just over a minute versus nearly 15 mins for USB 2.0 connection.

• “Green Button” energy efficiency: the Verbatim Store n Go portable hard drive also comes with “Green Button” energy saving software which suspends the hard drive from spinning while not in use increasing efficiency and saving energy.

Technical Features of the Verbatim 53021 500GB Store n Go USB 3.0 External Hard Drive:

• USB 3.0 connection interface
• Data transfer speeds up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0
• Backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports
• Plug-and-play drive, no external power source required
• Slim design for space saving and portability
• “Green Button” energy saving software
• 3 ‘Sleep Setting’ options
• Comes with Nero BackItUp, Burn Essentials and RescueAgent software preloaded
• Product Size (WxDxH): 12.1 x 8 x 1.5 cm
• Weight: 150g
• Pre-formatted in FAT32
• Compatible with PC and Mac
• Available in 9 different colours (Sunkissed Yellow, Eucalyptus Green, Hot Pink, Caribbean Blue, Volcanic Orange, Violet, Black, Graphite Grey and Silver)
• 24 month limited manufacturer’s warranty
• USB 3.0 cable included

What do people who have bought the Verbatim 500GB Store n Go external hard drive think of it?

Comments from buyers on Amazon consider the Verbatim Store n Go focus on the quality of the drive, the ease of setting up and just how it gets on with the job of creating a back up for your files without any hassle.

 Here are a few comments from people who’ve bought the Verbatim Store n Go on Amazon:

• “The best external device I’ve ever owned”
• “Great little external drive”
• “A quality product at a very good price”
•  “Setting up was incredibly easy”
• “Have never doubted its usefulness”
• “Easy to operate”
• “It’s fast/small [and] works great”
• “Quiet, very quick and works in the back ground without any prompting”

For more on these and other Amazon buyer reviews, click here.

Who is the Verbatim Store n Go external hard drive perfect for?

This drive is ideal for those who need to take their external hard drive with them out and about, given its portable and lightweight design, and those who find themselves short on time, as the USB 3.0 connection interface really speeds up file transfer. It’s also a great drive for people who like to show a bit of personality in their gadgets – as well as the ubiquitous black, you can get this drive in such exotic colours as Sunkissed Yellow, Eucalyptus Green, Hot Pink or Volcanic Orange!

Where can you find the best deal online for the Verbatim 500GB Store n Go external hard drive?

You should head over to amazon.co.uk to get the best deal on the Verbatim Store n Go external hard drive. One thing reviewers on smazon.co.uk do pick up on is that the USB 3.0 cable that is provided with the drive is a bit short, if you think you’ll need a longer one, we recommend this one: USB 3.0 extension cable. If you think you’ll make the most of the portability of this drive, you may want to invest in a protective case for when you throw it in your bag and head out of the door! We recommend this one: Hard case cover for Verbatim Store n Go

Click here to visit Amazon

Sometimes it’s true – size does matter. Where some people can get away with a regular, run-of-the-mill size external hard drive – say 500GB or less – some need more. A lot more. You might just have a whole heap of high resolution photos, or a mega HD movie collection. Or you’re looking to back up a significant amount of data across a number of laptops, computers, and other drives. Or it could be that you need to run some memory sapping graphics rendering or video editing software and your laptop just won’t be able to handle it. Whatever the case, you need to think BIG. When it comes to external hard drives, big means 1TB and upwards. The drives I’ll focus on in this post will be mainly 1 – 2TB, but you can get some real monster drives out there if you really think you’ll need them!

A couple of key things to note:

• the bigger the capacity, the greater the need for power to drive it, so these supersized models need external power rather than USB to run, which means that anything 2TB or over will be desk-based type drive. There are some decent portable 1TB models around, a couple of which are covered below
• some large drives come pre-formatted in FAT32 – which in English means that they will only receive maximum file transfers of 4GB, not ideal for the types of drive we’re talking about here! Your best approach would be to reformat the drive to the NTFS file system, enabling transfer of much larger files (see here for How-To Geek guide…)
• for safety’s sake, you may want to consider a combination of drives (e.g. 2 x 2TB drives rather than a 4TB one) to make sure you have multiple copies of your files. 2TB of data is a lot (equivalent to 2,500 movies, 250,000 songs or 650,000 photos), and the last thing you want to do is risk losing everything without recourse to another backup

With all this in mind, the below external hard drives really stand out from the crowd:

WD My Passport Essential SE 1 TB Portable Hard Drive (USB 3.0/2.0):

I have reviewed this drive elsewhere (see Best for… Value for Money), but it really does deserve another brief mention here, as it really stands out as a high performing external hard drive. For its capacity, this 1TB size model is extremely portable, easy to set up and use and sports phenomenal transfer speeds when used in USB 3.0 mode. It does come with pre-loaded Western Digital software, but you don’t have to use it, and can simply be used as a drag and drop drive instead. Currently a bargain on amazon.co.uk at over 40% off (approx. £100)! Read more >>>

Freecom 56067 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive Quattro:

This drive from Freecom supports 4 connection types -hence Quattro presumably – namely FireWire 400, FireWire 800, USB 3.0 and eSATA (and is also backward compatible with USB 2.0). For it’s capacity, it’s really not that big, and will sit fairly innocuously on your desk, but does need external power to run (comes with the drive). Cleverly, the Quattro has been designed in such a way as to do away with the cooling fan, with heat absorbed through its aluminium frame instead, which is a neat solution and means the drive is silent (no annoying whirring sound…). The model below is the 2TB one, but also comes as 1TB or 3TB as well. Read more >>>

Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB External Hard Drive:

This drive from Western Digital is truly one of the best desktop external hard drives available today specifically designed for Mac users in mind (it will work for PCs as well but comes pre-formatted for Macs). It gets a 5 star rating for its huge 2TB memory, super fast FireWire 800 data transfer, ease of installation, great looks and bargain price (currently 40% off RRP on amazon). All in all a great buy for all Mac users looking for extra storage. Read more >>>

Buffalo DriveStation 2.0TB USB 2.0 External Hard Disk Drive:

Retailing at around £100 at time of review, this drive from Buffalo is probably best described as a solid midfielder, not going to get much in the way of goals, but plays a vital role for the team. Included here as a highly rated external hard drive that provides great value for money. Does the job it’s there for, is plug and play out of the box and doesn’t make a lot of noise. Solid. Read more >>>

LaCie Starck Desktop Hard Drive 2TB:

We know that LaCie are big into their design collaborations (see Best for… Style for the collaboratively designed portable external hard drive), and this drive is no exception. Based on size and weight, it’s definitely a desktop drive, and has a clever touch sensitive surface which launches the bundled Lacie back-up software or a backup program of your own choosing depending on whether you use a short tap or long touch. Plus you can get it in this 2TB version and in a 1TB version as well. Read more>>>