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Portable Storage?
An anonymous reader asks: "I need a portable storage solution, as I strongly desire to keep my personal stuff separate from my work stuff. In the past I have used some types of portable external hard drive (via USB connection), but I wasn't too pleased with the quality of the barebones models I found at Fry's. With so many new types of portable storage out (USB keys, 2.5" drives, full drives with enclosures, etc) I would appreciate some feedback from others using this type of device regarding what their favorite brand or model is. Remember: bigger storage is better, as is smaller size."
usb and ethernet, well done
www.ximeta.com
The latest Slashdot meme.
Super small, good capacity. Done.
40 GB, plus music, for $399? Why would you choose anything else?
If you're oging to be accessing your data from online enabled computers try a good online storage solution. They often cost less than the portable drives or keychains and there's nothing to get lost or stolen.
Syquest is the BEST!
Not many people have the drives anymore, making my data very secure.
In fact when I find working drives I break them to insure my security...
Get an Iriver. I have an IH140 or something like that 40 gigs, plus an MP3 player.
http://www.commaecho.com
You absolutely need a punchcard as your solution!!! You know papers are very cheap nowadays... And you can use without any special devices.. Just excute your Hex Editor and need a punch and bunch of papers.. Or you can just use your pen or pencil!!!
It's a firewire harddrive with the right drivers. Noone looks twice at the thing, becasue most people think it's just for music, so your boss isn't gonna think you're smuggling out sourcecode.
Oh, and it plays music.
- Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
Get an iPod or iPod mini. Not only are fairly well concealed (not many 'normal' people know that they're anything beyond just a portable mp3 player), they pack a lot of space. A friend of mine just got back from Japan for a study abroad program and used his iPod frequently to transport files between computers on the network there (apparently you didn't have much in terms of personal space on their network). Worked on every machine he tried it on and was quite rugged.
And hey, it's an MP3 player, too.
Cheap, lots of space, stylish, and plays MP3s to boot.
"Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
I've got a 512 mb Kingmax USB key, and it's awesome - never had any hassles with it. my dad has got a whole range of sizes of theirs and has had for a few years now - he's happy with them.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find more storage in a smaller form factor than an iPod (classic or mini). And what you don't need for your files, you can use for music.
Besides, if you're a mac user, you will soon be able to seamlessly carry your home directory around (Google for Home on iPod).
Just my $0.02
WARNING: I'm now a Mac zealot :)
The answer is Firewire and Lacie or a iPod. Self powered and with a Mac either can easily be used to boot the host computer from -- my Lacie is the backup for my Application directory tree and User accounts which can be booted from with the loaded host OS [X].
Yes, they can both work with Windows too.
Use this AND be a babe magnet!!!
Why? It's too vague.
How portable do you need it? How much space do you need? What kind of interfaces do you have available? How fast does it need to be?
There is no one best storage solution, there are many different bests depending on what's needed at the time.
Throw out some more specifics, and maybe someone can help you out.
2.5" (laptop) drives are pretty damn expensive, but they are more convenient as they can be bus powered. Here's an example but I'm sure you can get them for cheaper. I'd personally rather buy the enclosure separate from the drive because I can usually get a longer warranty on the drive itself and I don't have to worry about voiding the warranty if I open the enclosure.
I personally only buy external drives for video stuff so I get 3.5" ones.
Another option would be to get an iPod or iPod mini type device.
I have a 128 meg USB keychain and I really like it. It's a Transcend JetFlash. But it's only good for documents and the occasional set of photos or MP3s.
Personally, this stuff is pretty obvious, just Google around. It's not like there's some kind of hidden mega-cube storage out there that only a few people know about. Pretty basic stuff.
You call yourself a Slashdot reader and yet you didn't check out ThinkGeek? For shame! I found this model on there that may fit your needs. I haven't used it before though, as a disclaimer.
There is a difference between "insightful" and "inciteful" other than spelling.
I was lucky enough to get my office to pay for a LaCie Bigger Disk. It's one terabyte of space, and we don't have to worry about losing my shares or work.
Striking fear in the authors of godawful fanfiction, I am here, appearing in darkness, Tuxedo Jack!
I purchased this originally to use on vacation for storing pictures from my digital camera. I got used to carrying it around and it will soon be replacing my laptop as the 'take home every night' device. It plays MP3s and has a CF slot built in. Very practical device.
Just out of curiosity, why do you say tape drives are good for long term backups? What about them makes them last longer? I would have chosen good optical discs for long term storage as long as they're kept in dark dry places.
Maybe I'm just operating on past experience with floppies and I don't trust anything magnetic and plastic for long periods of time.
256 megabytes of storage.
I switch between Mac an PC quite abit and this is perfect as it does not require a driver for MacOS v9.1 or higher or for win2000 and XP.
"To Err is Human To Forgive is Divine neither of which is Marine Corp Policy"-My SNCOIC
... and extremely fragile. Repeat after me: HD is bad. Once it takes a hit, it becomes shit.
(Signed, "one fourth of my hdd mp3 is now bad sectors after having accidentally dropped it")
Sheesh.. Who wants only 20/40 GB or even less space? (iPod, CF, etc.)
Use a Firewire/USB2 to a small 3.5" combo enclosure (some are barely larger than the drive, which is damn small).
250+ GB... works on USB1 (ie. everything), USB2, and Firewire systems. No worries.
What is it, stupid question time?
Dear slashdot, I am looking for some kind of input device that allows me to enter words onto my computer. Can you help.
Seriously, why is this on the front page - when anyone with half a brain can figure out the answer is either a $40 USB key or an iPod or equivalent depending on the size.
It's absolutely minute - far smaller than any other USB key device I've seen. It has a funny shaped contact at the end that looks like it shouldn't fit in a USB port but works perfectly.
It's made of study plastic and comes with a wallet-sized carrier/protector slightly larger than a credit card. Mine is a mere 64mb but they come in flavours all the way up to 1gb.
It works out of the box with no problems. You can use a small utility that comes on a mini-CD to add a password protected partition.
It even has a cool LCD embedded under a thin layer of plastic that gives a funky glow when transferring!
Heartily recommended. (Usual disclaimer: no relationship whatsoever with manufacturers or retailers other than I like their product.)
I've got a 40GB 3.5" hard drive in an external case with USB 2.0 and FireWire ports. The flexibility is nice, but I almost never use one set of ports. The biggest hassle is the external power supply. It's just one more brick to carry around, and it's a non-standard part, so I can't even get another one without buying another (frankly overpriced) case. Very high PITA factor.
The iPod, with an extra dock, is a far superior solution. And the bonus of playing your tunes allows you to completely separate your stuff from your employers stuff. There's no ambiguity. Personally, 25-40% of my laptop's drive is given over to music, so an iPod would be the ideal solution for me.
I've toyed around with several portable solutions, what I settled on is an internet server accessable from my smartphone.
The main problem with the portable solutions I've tried, such as zip disks, cd burners, usb doohickies and handheld storage is that you need to actually carry it around. And hassle with hooking stuff up to use it. Things you have to carry around can get broken.
Also, you have the issue of instant access anywhere. Sure you can use a USB keychain, but can you read it at the mall without a device?
In any event, you need a device, that device might as well be your cell phone, since you carry it everywhere. The smartphones out now have little insertable media; this might do the trick for you, but you still have the issue of syncing and all that bother.
So my solution is to keep my data on broadband server, access it from anywhere with my smartphone, access from work/home on my broadband connection.
The best of all worlds, even backed up regularly by the sever admins.
Look at that mess.
No budget requirement, except small.
No physical size requirement, except small.
No capacity requirement, except big.
So basically, you don't know what you want, probably don't know why you want it, what it has to do, or what you're willing to spend on it, but you want the answer?
Good luck.
Don't know; Don't care; Don't ask
How about going with DVD-R9 discs, or is it DVD+R9 discs that I'm thinking of?
Never mind..
It would be cool if it didn't suck.
>wonder if there are any wireless hard drives?
like this?
I'll second the vote for an iPod if you want more than that. I just bought a 20GB 3G iPod from our local university bookstore for $250, since the new 4G model just came out.
If you're bringing a lot personal of stuff to work every day, you're better off just getting a bus-powered USB2 2.5" hard drive enclosure. Or finding a way to shift your stuff onto a server that's accessible from work. For example, I have all of my emails on Gmail, so I don't need to think about humping them 'round on a drive.
You could always just actually go to work and do your job instead of carrying your personal files to work to mess around with them.
I installed one recently for a guy who does a lot of video. The hardware is beautiful and has a professional feel. I didn't try it on a mac but in xp it just appeared as a drive like it's supposed to.
The iPod is fairly resilient; I've never heard any stories of hard drive failure (not saying it doesn't happen, just that it's not common). Part of that is that the drive is rarely spun up while music is playing, and, when being used as a portable HD, is spun up but quite unlikely to be disturbed.
It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
If you are going to use it between home and work, why not just get a SATA HDD and install the enternal SATA panal that comes with most new motherboards?
No drivers and only a reboot away to very highspeed transfers.
Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
Put another way, the network is your hard drive....
The last computer I used that wasn't on the net was getting DBAN'd for the junk heap, er, garage sale.
"The most sensible request of government we make is not, "Do something!" But "Quit it!"
I see a lot of posts suggesting something like an iPod, but isn't that sort of overkill? $250 just to store files? Add to that you will probably lose it within the year. Just get a USB flash drive. $20 for 128 megs or half a gig for under $60. Small, cheap, and easy to use.
Mathematics is made of 50 percent formulas, 50 percent proofs, and 50 percent imagination.
Overall it's a good idea, but very poorly implementd
Sorry, I just couldn't resist. I carry around a full Mac OS X 10.3.5 install, plus all my system fixin' utilities on my brand-spankin' new 4G 40GB iPod, and I *still* have 35GB free for tunes or other files. I like it so much, I bought my wife one, too! With a PocketDock, I can boot any compatible Mac from it and fix the internal HDD.
But, I also have a nice LaCie DataBank 20GB HDD. Bus-powered off of USB 2.0 and FireWire 400, and it's about the size of an iPod (uses the same 1.8" HDDs). I have the older 16mm thick version, but there's a 13mm 20GB now, and also a 40GB (16mm? Go look it up...). The one I have is also loaded up like my iPod.
My two older LaCie PocketDrives (2.5" 20GB) are also handy, though not as portable, as they have two FireWire ports where the DataBank has only one, so they can be daisy-chained. The PocketDrive is only bus-powered off of FireWire, but comes with an AC/DC convertor for USB usage.
The PocketDrives come up to 80GB, now, I think.
I got my DataBank on clearance at an Apple Store for 200USD. Both the DataBank and the PocketDrive work with Mac's and PC's. I'm going to get another Data Bank so I can keep one formatted FAT and one formatted HFS+.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this. At 20GBs for $300 or 40GBs for $400 (and soon [we hope] 60GBs for $500) the iPod isn't that cheap, but it works with Linux, Windows, or Mac. And with USB 2.0 or Firewire it transfers pretty quickly. And its so stylish!
Of course you could also look at some of the cheaper alternatives such as the Dell Digital Jukebox or iRiver.
http://www.frontierpc.com/productlist.aspx?Categor yID=CA-1705/
has a really good selection. If you're looking at USB enclosures, make sure you get one that either has an external power supply, or has a second USB/ ps2 connector to draw power when you're not on a powered USB hub or are on an older laptop.
Small it is...uses the the same 1.8" drive used in the ipod, available in 20GB($165) and 40GB($253) capacities.
7 &SearchEngine=PriceWatch&SearchTerm=10374007&Type= PE&Category=Comp&dcaid=1688
Product specs @: http://apricorn.com/product_details.php?ID=412
Lowest price I've found @: http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=1037400
reat it as you would most devices that store data and it will work fine.
I've always wondered about this. I don't buy anything with a portable hard drive, because my experience with hard drives since before they existed was not to:
1. Drop them.
2. Hit them.
3. Get them too hot.
4. Get them anywhere near magnets.
5. Move them while they're spinning.
It seems like all of these rules would be broken in an iPod. Do these things (iPods) last, or do the hard drive heads hit the platters the first time you drop it 6"?
I don't respond to AC's.
WTF is OSDL? Wait, I thought Andover.net owns Slashdot?
CAn'T CompreHend SARcaSm?
Well, they're really on top of that Linux support. Just look at their graphic on the NetDisk page; clearly their Linux support is is Red Hot!
http://www.ximeta.com/images/ndo_diagram.gif
Since work paid for it, it's kind of nice to have up to 512 Mb always on me and be able to speak to just about any Mac laptop you can buy. Pity my PC needs a Bluetooth dongle.
Xix.
"Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
Definately the best storage for the money here. These things are great. http://www.archos.com/products/prw_500455.html If you look around a bit, you could find one about $180. 20GB and not much larger than a MiniDisc.
is my weapon of choice for this; of course, our IT policy does NOT allow portable storage in the building (sensible, if you ask me); we dont actively enforce this (I suggested copper loops around all the doors :), but a thing to consider.
/home/>username directory from my personal linux box.
15GB for my moderated music collection, the rest of the space as a mirror of my
Anyway, if ipod (I *REFUSE* to mac up the spelling of ipod) is too pricey, try a USB/firewire 2.5" hdd enclosure; relatively cheap (particularly if you take a trip to asia) and quite small, size of a small PDA; so relatively portable. Most come self powered (from usb/firewire) or with a separate USB~power cable.
Anyway, just my 0.02.
err!
jak.
It sounds like there is a need for an embedded Linux-based external storage case. Imagine a very small (but well-ventilated) external drive case that had an embedded Linux system (with Firewire, USB2.0 and Ethernet) built in. The idea would be that you could plug in any ATA drive and it would automatically detect, format, and share the drive.
This seems to be what you are looking for.
If you want something even smaller, they have a FireFly drive that's only 3.3 ounces.
For the cost of the Firefly - you might as well get the an iPod which uses the same 1.8" hard drive for about $50 more in price.
... the most popular Mp3 player on the market
You can find 15 and 20 GB iPods for $199 to $249
You get both firewire AND USB + well
It also gives you solitare and breakout to boot!
My extra 2 to reply to the parent - the iPod is the smallest drive that includes both firewire and USB (that I know of) - to me there is no comparison in terms of speed and data integrity - firewire USB2.0. Firewire is MUCH faster. Also, you most likely will have to some unplugging if you have a USB device - you usually have an open firewire port.
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
Considering the job desired (sneakernet file transfer, external storage), I wouldn't be so quick to suggest the iPod except for Mac environments. The music fonction is the main purpose for the thing, and the reason for the higher price (compared to normal media)
On the Mac side, you have really easy access to the iPod as a hard drive, including the ability to boot from the iPod. That makes the thing pretty nifty right there, but there's also the FireWire transfer rates and other niceties that let you know that Apple intended it to work with its own hardware first.
The biggest factor to consider is taking the music player to work. Some Information Denial departments frown on hard drives but allow PDAs and MP3 players. Maybe getting an iPod or a competitor with the same "access as a drive" function might be worthwhile...
Now its exposed to teh spamb0ts, you insensitive clod! :)
And its not as geeky..
I am a viral sig. Please copy me and help me spread. Thank you.
The guy should use one of the Iriver music players.
Mine has 40GB of disk space (which is what the guy needs) shows as a hard disk (which works in Linux, Winblows and that other OS I suppose), play many different digital music formats, is an FM radio, voice recorder and allows to record directly from another device (both digital and anlaog input).
The only problem is that is a bit bulky, but ehwn compared to some external disks it becomes a nobrainer when it comes to disk storage on the move.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
Remember: bigger storage is better, as is smaller size
In related news...working fewer hours and making more money kicks ass.
dude.
- Cheap
- Fast
- Good
This isn't a backup drive or something for occassional use you're talking about, you're talking about your data. Get over the barebones models and spend the money on something with a decent shockproof enclosure, a carrying case, and all the other features that make it actually "portable"This space for rent. Call 1-800-STEAK4U
Well, no, since that would be the wrong address...
Bah. At the beginning of the year, I picked up a 20GB Neuros for about half the price of an ipod. It's a USB hard drive, plays many different formats (Ogg!), is an FM radio, an FM *transmitter*, a voice recorder, and allows you to record from another device (analog only, sorry to say).
I looked at the iRiver, and liked it very much (they have some pretty cool designs), but ended up going with the Neuros. Personal choice and all, you know.
Plus, since it uses standard 2.5" drives, I put in a 40GB I got for cheap.
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.