[GTALUG] inexpensive external portable 4T drive

[Giles Orr]

On Fri, 31 Aug 2018 at 11:17, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
wrote:

> I like the 4T Seagate "portable" (i.e. 2.5") external 4T disk drives.
> They are good for backups.
>
> - 2.5" drives are physically small
>
> - 2.5" external drives only have one (USB3) cable.  No separate power
>   cable and wall-wart (3.5" externals require these).
>
> - If you don't have USB 3 on your computer I'm not sure that the drive
>   will get enough power to run.  Even if it works, filling a 4T drive
>   at USB 2 "Full Speed" is going to take a very long time.
>
> - shuckable (i.e. you can pry off the case and use the raw drive).  This
>   is good if something goes wrong.  It isn't true of Western Digital
>   drives.
>
> - unfortunate: if I remember correctly, the physical raw drive is a
>   little thicker than most 2.5" drive bays allow.  So shucking to get
>   a raw drive to install inside a notebook may not work.  The Seagate
>   2T portable externals do work.
>
> - 2.5" drives seem to handle mechanical shock better than 3.5" drives
>
> - 2.5" drives are a lot easier to store than 3.5" drives (a lot smaller,
>   lighter, and fewer bits)
>
> - cheap.  Usually $125 is possible.  Last I looked, cheaper than the
>   internal drive.
>
> Right now Staples is selling these for $99.92 + a little environmental
> stewardship fee.  And there are a lot of $15 off $100 Staples coupons
> floating about.  I even had (and used) a $25 off $75 coupon.
>
> <
> http://forums.redflagdeals.com/staples-staples-seagate-expansion-stea4000400-4-tb-usb-3-0-99-92-additional-savings-coupon-2218659/
> >
>
> (For most internal applications these days, SSDs make more sense than
> HDDs.  SSD prices seem to be starting to fall.  For a number of our
> notebooks we actually have both.)
>
> There are drives with larger capacity but they are generally more
> expensive per byte, shingled, or 3.5".  I don't yet trust shingled
> drives but a natural application for them would be backing up because
> that doesn't require random access writing, their weak point.
> ---
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I could just say "me too" but I should probably clarify.

I didn't know you could still "shell" this model - I knew the WDs didn't
support that anymore, I had assumed the same of the Seagates - that's good
to know.

I have three of this very model, bought about 18 months ago.  One has been
used fairly heavily, the other two are on a lighter backup duty - all have
performed flawlessly.  Lennart isn't a fan of Seagate as I recall and I've
usually preferred WD myself, but I've had reason to be happy with these.
And $100 is a good price.

-- 
Giles
https://www.gilesorr.com/
gilesorr at gmail.com
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