External hard drives provide detachable storage space for computers, games consoles, tablets and smartphones. With an extra 500GB to 8TB of storage space at your disposal, you can organise your media collection, making it ready for holidays, or transport essential presentations and videos to professional events. Basically, external hard drives are the kind of accessories that all computer owners should have.
This hotukdeals buyer's guide explains the various types of external drive, what to look for when buying an external drive, and how to get the best possible external hard drive prices. All the best external hard drive deals and offers can be found on the hotukdeals external hard drive listings.
Not too long ago, computer users had a limited range of storage options. They could either rely on the internal storage space that came with their systems, expand that internal space, use floppy discs or CD-ROMs, or buy bulky separate hard disks to stand alongside their computer.
None of these solutions were ideal, and some were simply beyond the technical means of most computer owners. However, this all started to change around the year 2000, when small external drives started to come into fashion. The key innovation was Flash memory. Actually invented by Toshiba technicians in the 1980s, Flash was a form of "solid state" memory, which required no external power source to store data and had zero moving parts. This made it the ideal way to store data on small-scale external drives (or "sticks" as the first versions came to be known).
By the late 2000s, companies were offering USB hard drives as competition for SSD drives, and digital consumers suddenly had plenty of choice, including small, fast and secure hard drives that could store as much as 10TB of data. Now, whatever your data needs, you can find an external storage solution, whether you opt for SSD or HDD devices.
This buyer's guide is going to focus on Hard Disk Drives (HDD) as opposed to Solid State Drives (SSD), although it's important to note that you can choose between the two.
In HDD devices, data is stored magnetically, as on old floppies. In modern drives, data is held on a rotating disc called a platter, which is physically read by an actuator arm in a similar process to a stylus on a record player.
Solid-State Drives (SSD) contain fewer moving parts than HDD drives, which means they are often the quickest way to access your data. SSD uses flash memory, similar to RAM, to store data. But because SSD uses electrical cells to quickly send and receive data, SSDs generally become slower over time, which is an important thing to consider.
Because of the way both SSDs and HDDs are made, the key things to look for when buying an external hard disk are a) it's capacity and b) its performance. Let's look at both in a little more detail.
Capacity was first measured in megabytes (MB), then gigabytes (1GB is 1000MB) became the standard, while terabytes are now common (1TB is 1000GB). For many people, a 5TB drive will, to all intents and purposes, deliver limitless storage space (although some data-hungry businesses may find that space becoming cramped much more quickly).
Performance refers to how quickly the disk can access its various blocks. Look for what is known as the seek time, which ranges from 4 milliseconds for high-end drives, to as much as 15 milliseconds for run of the mill products. Between 9 and 12 ms is just about the norm these days.
Setting up external drives can seem daunting to first time users, but it's not an insurmountable technical challenge. These days, drives from leading manufacturers like Seagate are extremely easy to get up and running, whether you are using Windows or Mac OS.
Most of the time (assuming you haven't bought a SATA drive), all you'll need to do is insert the drive's USB connector into your computer's USB port. Windows should automatically detect that you've connected a new drive. To make sure, head to Explorer and check the drives section. Your newly installed external drive should be there and ready to use.
If you are using an Apple Mac device, the process is slightly more complex. In that case, you'll need to ensure that the drive has been reformatted with the Mac OS system. To do so, head to Finder, then choose the Utilities folder. Pick the "Launch Disk Utility" option, then pick your external disk. Choose the "Erase" option, then press the "Volume format" tab and choose "Mac OS extended". Then name the drive and you're done. So it's not really that complicated after all.
Your files will be stored with Microsoft's NTFS system on your hard drive.
There are two major types of external hard drive: desktop-class drives and notebook-class drives (not counting SSD drives, which we'll look at a bit later).
Desktop-class drives – These tend to be more powerful and come with 3.5-inch mechanisms inside their casing. Because of their greater capacity and physical size, this type of external hard drive tends to be used statically, often by businesses who need to supplement the storage space on their servers. They tend to generate more heat, so usually require efficient fans, and aren't ideal for travelling with due to their bulk (and relative fragility). You'll generally find desktop-class drives with capacities of anything up to 8 TB.
Notebook-class drives – These smaller and more portable hard drives are ideal for travellers. Coming with capacities of up to 4TB (in most cases), they lack a little on the capacity front, but are far more slimline thanks to their 2.5-inch mechanisms.
Within these two classes, you may well encounter HDD and SSD varieties. The differences should be obvious when you glance at the price tag. SSD drives are almost always much more expensive than HDD drives of the same capacity. They are much faster and more reliable, so for some people that's a price worth paying. On the other hand, the difference is so stark that most everyday shoppers will probably want to opt for an HDD.
Having said that, there may be instances where an SSD drive is essential. If you have to move around sensitive documents that you can't afford to damage, SSD drives are a great option. They lack moving parts, which makes them much less susceptible to mechanical failure. This also makes them a great option for upscale travellers who can afford the higher prices SSD drives command.
Why do people even need external hard drives? Well, there are plenty of reasons. Here are just a few of them for you to think about:
Backing up sensitive data or documents – Everyone has documents that they can't afford to lose, and storing them on an external drive tends to be a convenient, safe way to do so, especially if you aren't keen on using services like the Cloud. You can get hold of drives with fingerprint scanners too, adding an extra layer of security.
Storing entertainment media – It's easy to build and build your music or film collection, only to run out of internal capacity. But with an external hard drive, you can easily solve capacity issues and declutter your computer's hard drive at the same time.
It's a great insurance policy – While backing up documents is vital, an external hard drive can also be configured to provide a total backup for your internal disk, allowing you to boot your computer if the system fails, a particularly handy feature for business owners who need to think about disaster recovery issues.
Gaming – PS4 and Xbox owners can buy external hard drives that are specially set up to cater for their needs, allowing them to store saved games and game files without cramming their systems' internal drives with content. And if you have a portable hard drive, you can also take your current status to a friend and play more.
The rise of data-heavy gaming has spurred manufacturers to design and market a whole new breed of external hard drives that are pitched solely at Xbox and PlayStation users.
All of these drives have to be USB 3.0 compatible and have a minimum capacity of 256GB, which almost all of them do. As with Mac OS, they will need to be formatted by the console before they can be used, but this only takes a short amount of time. Capacities vary but go for a maximum of 8TB for PS4s and Xbox Ones.
Within those specifications, you'll find plenty of choice. Here are some popular examples:
Toshiba Canvio Basics – Coming in a compact 500GB edition, the Canvio fits in the palm of your hand and claims to hold 15 conventionally sized downloadable games for the cost of one game. So, if you love to play on the move or use your downloaded titles on other peoples' consoles, it's a handy device to have. The Toshiba Canvio Basics also comes in 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB editions.
Seagate Expansion 1TB Portable – Seagate is one of the most famous names in hard drive design, and the company has come up with a number of drives that suit the needs of gamers perfectly. The Expansion 1TB is ideal, with its generous capacity, great value and futuristic, sleek appearance. Alternatively, you could go for Seagate's 2TB or 4TB model, which stores around 25 or 50 games respectively.
WD 4TB My Book – The 4TB My Book has a sturdier, almost squat appearance and is designed to be propped up next to your games system. Unlike other disks discussed here, the My Book has the ability to carry out system backups, allowing you to store system states of your PS4 or Xbox One. In addition to the 4TB model, the My Book comes in 3TB, 6TB, 8TB, or even 10TB.
Seagate Expansion 8TB Desktop – When we get to the 8TB models, buyers will start to see some major differences. Remember how the Canvio was palm-sized? Well, the Seagate Expansion is much bulkier and needs to be plugged into the wall. Offering the maximum capacity around, this heavy duty drive will solve gamers' storage needs for months or even years. Remember, generally the greater the capacity, the higher the price. The Seagate Desktop External Hard Drive also comes in 3TB, 4TB, or 6TB, just in case you are looking for a cheaper option.
When we are talking about capacity, how much do you really need? The answer is that one size definitely doesn't fit all. If all you need to do is backup student essays or tax documents, why bother with a 10TB drive? You'll do just fine with a smaller SSD drive and may be happy to pay a premium for the extra reliability they provide.
Then again, if you are a gamer, you'll need much more capacity. As a rule, go as high as you can. Downloads aren't getting any smaller and storage is getting cheaper all the time, so you should be able to find some incredible high capacity deals. It's worth buying the extra capacity to offer some wriggle-room in the future.
Music fans are likely to fall in between these two poles. On one hand, music collections can easily balloon out of control, so plenty of capacity is a plus. On the other, music fans often need mobile, smaller units, and it's easy to buy too much space as well. Go for 1TB or 2TB and you won't be likely to run out of space fast.
External disks aren't just useful for computer users. They can also enhance your iPhone or iPad by providing extra storage space.
The best option for boosting your phone's storage space is probably one of the few wireless drives on the market. Something like Seagate's Wireless Drives hook up with iOS and create a kind of localised "cloud" via your home's Wi-Fi network. You can take it with you in your pocket or bag and use it wherever a Wi-Di network is available.
Then there are USB drives that are designed to plug into iPhones. Devices like the Leef iBridge connect up to Macs and iPhones, allowing you to seamlessly transfer movies, documents and tunes to and from your phone.
Let's recap some of the things to remember when buying your external drive. First off, capacity is a major consideration. As a rule, for computer users, come up with a capacity that makes sense for you right now, then increase it by a couple of TB to cater for the future.
Another thing to think about is how many computers are you going to use the hard drive with? In some households and many businesses, there are three of four computers within close proximity. If you need to back them all up or provide extra shared space, go for what's known as a NAS (network-attached storage) device that can handle multiple computers.
Try to stay up to date with the latest USB technology as well. Many hard drives will be USB 2.0 compatible, but USB 3.0 is swiftly taking over. Don't leave yourself needing to upgrade your disk within a few months. Opt for a USB 3.0 device instead.
Finally, think about speed. It's possible to buy massive disks that perform sluggishly, something that can become extremely frustrating. Avoid that by checking the speed rating of your disk (in RPM). RPMs of 7,200 and upwards are fine.
Whether you are buying a networked drive for a group of computers, a tiny disk for mobile phones or a huge gaming drive, the same question applies: how can you get the best external hard drive prices?
The first thing to do is to narrow down your options to find a couple of brands and models that tick all of your requirements. Note down the manufacturer, model and capacity.
Now, head to the hotukdeals external hard drive listings. You'll find disks from major brands such as Seagate, WD and Toshiba on sale from UK merchants like Currys, John Lewis, Amazon, Argos, Western Digital and Sainsburys. When you see a deal you like the look of, double check that it features the model you are interested in, then head to the deal.
Prices often vary wildly for the same brand and model, so be sure to shop around. And be sure to take advantage of seasonal sales as well. Black Friday and the January Sales always feature big external hard drive discounts, so are excellent times to update your storage solutions.
External hard drives are essential items for businesses, students, gamers, music fans, travellers. Almost anyone with a computer, games console or phone can take advantage of their features. Whatever capacity you need, you'll find the world's leading external drive brands at heavy discounts at the hotukdeals external hard drive listings.
