What is the downside of external hard drives?

They are less secure, susceptible to fire and water damage.

How long do external hard drives last?

The average lifespan for an external hard drive is 3 - 5 years considering no damage occured to the drive.

What is an external hard drive?

It is a portable storage device with an enclosure and cable allowing a computing device to connect through interfaces to the hard drive.

Which is better external HDD or SSD?

HDDs are cheaper and you can get more storage space per rand. SSDs, however, are incredibly faster, lighter, more durable, and they use less energy.

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External Storage

Need more room for your data or a fast, reliable way to triple back up your files?

An external hard drive is the world’s go to for convenient, portable, and reliable storage, offering extra capacity for your files, photos, videos, and important documents. It’s an ideal solution for expanding storage beyond your internal storage, securely backing up data, or transferring large amounts of information between devices.

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4TB LaCie STNA4000400 External Rugged Pro5 SSD

SKU: STNA4000400

R14,972.00Incl. VAT
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16TB Seagate LaCie 2big Dock 2-Bay RAID 3.5″ External USB Type-C Powered HDD

SKU: STLG16000400

R18,111.00Incl. VAT
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20TB Seagate LaCie 2big Dock 2-Bay RAID 3.5″ External Powered HDD

SKU: STLG20000400

R20,378.00Incl. VAT

External Hard Drive Buying Guide: What to Look For in 2024

An external hard drive is a portable data storage device that connects to a computer or other compatible devices via USB, Thunderbolt, or other interfaces. It consists of a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) housed in an enclosure, providing additional storage space for files, backups, and media.

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What to consider when buying an external drive?

Below we have listed several key features of an external hard drive that one must be on the lookout for when buying.

Storage Capacity:

It is always best to plan beforehand how much storage capacity you will need. One easy way to do this is to look Ranges from a few hundred gigabytes (GB) to several terabytes (TB).
Connectivity Options:
- USB (3.0/3.1/3.2): Common for most drives; offers fast data transfer speeds.
- Thunderbolt: Provides higher transfer rates, ideal for professionals working with large files.
- eSATA: Allows for high-speed connections, useful for desktop drives.
Portability:
- Size and Weight: Compact, lightweight designs are ideal for on-the-go users.
- Durability: Some drives are designed to withstand drops, spills, and extreme conditions (e.g., rugged or shock-resistant models).
Speed:
- RPM (Revolutions Per Minute): For HDDs, higher RPM (e.g., 7200 RPM) generally means faster data access.
- Read/Write Speeds: Measured in MB/s; SSDs (Solid State Drives) offer faster speeds than traditional HDDs.
Encryption and Security:
- Hardware or software encryption to protect sensitive data.
- Password protection features to prevent unauthorized access.
Compatibility:
- Ensure the drive is compatible with various operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and devices.
Power Source:
- Bus-powered: Draws power from the computer via USB, making it more portable.
- External power supply: Generally found in larger, high-capacity drives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the downside of external hard drives?

They are less secure, susceptible to fire and water damage.
How long do external hard drives last?

The average lifespan for an external hard drive is 3 - 5 years considering no damage occured to the drive.
What is an external hard drive?

It is a portable storage device with an enclosure and cable allowing a computing device to connect through interfaces to the hard drive.
Which is better external HDD or SSD?

HDDs are cheaper and you can get more storage space per rand. SSDs, however, are incredibly faster, lighter, more durable, and they use less energy.

4TB LaCie STNA4000400 External Rugged Pro5 SSD

16TB Seagate LaCie 2big Dock 2-Bay RAID 3.5″ External USB Type-C Powered HDD

20TB Seagate LaCie 2big Dock 2-Bay RAID 3.5″ External Powered HDD

External Hard Drive Buying Guide: What to Look For in 2024

What to consider when buying an external drive?

Storage Capacity:

Connectivity Options:

Portability:

Speed:

Encryption and Security:

Compatibility:

Power Source:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the downside of external hard drives?

How long do external hard drives last?

What is an external hard drive?

Which is better external HDD or SSD?