Keep in mind the other post of the Slim version about US$10.00 dearer https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/154297
•Easy and simple to use - plug it in and go
•Fast file transfers with USB 3.0
•Compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
•Powered by USB port
CamelCamelCamel.
Both the expansion portable and the backup plus slim use the exact same 9.5mm Samsung 2.5" drive. The only difference is the case. Backup plus slim using metal case and comes with the backup software. The expansion portable is a bare bones drive using a thicker polycarbonate plastic type case.
If your just after a cheap 9.5mm 2.5" hard drive to use in another device such as game console or laptop etc. Just get this as it is cheaper and easier to remove compared the more expensive backup plus slim.
Easier to remove, how?
The expansion is sealed with clips so easy to open and reuse the case with another hard drive. The backup plus is stuck closed with adherasive rather than clips so more difficult to remove without damaging the case if you plan to reuse it with the old driver your replacing.
Are seagates the HDD's that if they fail (the controlelr etc) you can still rip the HDD out and put it in an external case? or are those western digitals?
Is $107 a fair price for 2TB? Can you get on a cost efficient basis anything 3TB or 1TB for a cheaper dollar for TB basis? If not then I may snap this up as you need 2 backups of the same computer HDD I've been told? One for backing up, and one backing up the backup? Lol.
Or is that overkill?
Is $107 a fair price for 2TB?
Yes. You won't beat it locally.
Can you get on a cost efficient basis anything 3TB or 1TB for a cheaper dollar for TB basis?
For portable externals, it doesn't get too much better than this for major brands like WD and Seagate. You might find cheaper with Lacie, Toshiba, Samsung or something, but this is the lowest ever price on Amazon.
Also, I don't think they have anything bigger than 2TB for 2.5" portables.
as you need 2 backups of the same computer HDD I've been told? One for backing up, and one backing up the backup? Lol.
Not a bad idea, depending on what you're backing up.
Or is that overkill?
Again, depends how important the data is to you. The super important stuff you should do this for. For other things, things you know you can get again, take a screenshot of what's on the drive so you know what was on it, and get it all again if the drive dies.
The cheapest this has been locally was $114.40 delivered during the recent Ebay 20% off sale from The Good Guys. ($111.64 after 2% ebay deal from cashrewards).
Hmm that'd be alot of screenshots though.. Pictures, documents, the 'memories' i guess… movies and music would be excruciating but you can live.
Ok, seem slike a decent deal. How about my original question though - are seagates the ones that can be removed from the drive if the controller/cable fails inside, and inputted to an external 2.5" case that you buy - just an easy way to save the drive and contents. I heard that either western digitals or seagates portable drives had a permanet/welded controller, and hence once the case/device broke you couldn't rip it out and salvage it in another external case.
Also - how are 'cheaper' brands like Toshiba and Samsung specifically, when it comes to external hdd's? Trustworthy? or still better to go seagate or western digital?
@SaberX: Set your view to List mode, then maximise the window. You should see a lot, most likely everything.
Then go and do the same to sub folders (you shouldn't have that many really, if you're organized).
Hmm that'd be alot of screenshots though.. Pictures, documents, the 'memories' i guess… movies and music would be excruciating but you can live.
This is only for stuff you know you can redownload. Stuff you can't (i.e. personal stuff like photos and documents, and your music) you should make either two backups, or one backup and a cloud backup. No need screenshots for this.
Also - how are 'cheaper' brands like Toshiba and Samsung specifically, when it comes to external hdd's? Trustworthy? or still better to go seagate or western digital?
I believe brands like these or Verbatim, Lacie, Dell, etc are rebadges of other brands like Hitachi. I don't have enough info on reliability. Anything I tell you would only be anecdotal and not a large enough sample size to give you meaningful information.
I don't skimp on storage though. I go with premium brands.
Use a disk cataloguing program on your HDD. It's the easiest way to inventory everything. I employ WhereIsIt, but that isn't free.
For freeware, you could start your search here: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/best-free-file-disk-…
Has anyone used amazon recently for these sort of external HDD purchases. I'm now working off site, if they deliver to home do they leave it at your door style postal, or are they sign for delivery orders, so that if im not home they will be kept at the post office indefinitely? Don't want to risk it otherwise…
I'm not sure about how amazon does their global shipping but when I ordered a few items from Amazon US with delivery to a US mail forwarder they were sign for delivery orders. Is auspost collection/parcel lockers an option for you.
wondering…. but won't global mailing cause mishandling by post officers since hdds are fragile to knocks?
or no issues with anyone getting an external hdd off online sites like amazon - postal not rresulting in any physical failures?
was just about to order but it hit me that this would be the first time getting something as fragile as hard drives delivered? Are they usually (the 2.5") resilient to not only amazons packaging and shipping , but the local aus mail. not sur ehow they handle it, i don't think they mark it fragile, but i assume like anyone they manhandle and chuck things in the boot to deliver… which for a little non ssd hard drive sounds like a death note?
Still this price is great… but buying in store somehow feels more reassuring that it was properly delivered and handled? Comments? Plus any dead on arrival or medium term issues from postage and handling will be hassle to return to amazon?
I ended up ordering… incase as usual i wake up and amazon adjusts prices… i note if you use USD conversion to AUD via amazon they charge roughly $111 AUD. used my 28 degrees mastercard in local USD currency, so i assume it will go by 28 degrees fx rate (usually favourable, to XE.com precision) - if so i anticipate around $104 or just under AUD… $7 difference for a mere click of buttons.
anyway hopefully arrives safely. would be great to hear of anyone else who's been buying via amazon and stuff - hard drives, other 'fragile' electronics… i do recall getting one hard drive delivered (jb hi fi?) but of course it's within aus so less 'bumping and handling', at least i think? and their importing of thegoods in bulk would be handled alot safer…i assume.
I've done it before many times and no problem.
I presume that's how your local DSE gets their stock too.. by couriers or truck.
anyway hopefully arrives safely. would be great to hear of anyone else who's been buying via amazon and stuff - hard drives, other 'fragile' electronics… i do recall getting one hard drive delivered (jb hi fi?) but of course it's within aus so less 'bumping and handling', at least i think? and their importing of thegoods in bulk would be handled alot safer…i assume.
Do you think there's less bumping and handling because you bought it locally? It was still sourced from overseas because we don't make them here.
These things are sturdier than you think, or else Seagate will get millions of RMAs each day.
Just ordered one, thanks!
Only 16 left in stock!
Thank you, just in time
Is the thickness the only difference? Looking at dimensions, one is 0.5" thick, the other is 0.6". Pretty negligible if you ask me.
What else is different?