Use an external hard drive to backup music, videos, and other important files

If you’ve invested a lot of time and money into your media library, then you’ll want to make sure that you have a backup just in case disaster strikes. It’s a fact of life that your computer’s hard drive will fail, and so backing up your music, videos, photos, and other important files is essential. Buying an external hard drive also means that you’ve got a portable storage device that you can take almost anywhere — backup other non-networked computers too. Here is a list (in no particular order) of 1TB hard drives that have been selected for their performance, features, and value for money.

1. LaCie Quadra 1TB External Hard Drive – USB2.0 / eSATA / FireWire 400 & 800

As the name would suggest, the Lacie Quadra 1TB external hard drive has at least 4 things up its sleeve. Looking at the rear of the sleak glossy casing, reveals an impressive array of different connections to hook up the unit — a total of 4 in fact! As well as a USB 2.0 interface, this Lacie model also has eSATA, Firewire 400, and Firewire 800 connections. This storage solution is compatible with PC and Mac which makes it a very flexible option. The Lacie Quadra also comes with a solid 2-year limited warranty to protect your investment. If you’re looking for a 1TB external hard drive that is a good all-rounder, and also comes with a generous range of interfaces, then you’ll be hard pushed to find a better solution for a budget drive.

2. Seagate ST310005EXA101-RK 1TB External Hard Drive – USB 2.0

The Seagate ST310005EXA101-RK is a 1TB external hard drive that has a USB 2.0 interface, capable of transfer speeds of up to 480 kbps. The unit comes with a USB cable, power supply, and can therefore be used right out of the box. The Seagate drive that is provided inside the external case, runs at 7200 RPM — making it a keen performer when transferring large amounts of data. The drive also has power management features to boost energy efficiency. Overall, if you’re looking for a solid hard drive that is also backed up by a generous 2-year limited warranty, then the Seagate ST310005EXA101-RK is certainly worth a look.

3. Western Digital Elements 1TB External Hard Drive – USB 2.0

If you’re looking for a budget 1TB external hard drive to back up your music and other media files, then the WD Elements external hard drive reprents a reliable solution to protect your media. Sporting a USB 2.0 interface, this 3.5″ external hard drive is compatible with the PC or Mac. The enclosure that the hard drive sits in is made of metal, and so provides robust protection while also giving good heat dissappation to keep the drive cool. This external hard drive may not be the fastest in its class, but it is quiet and has excellent build quality considering it is a budget solution.