I'm on the hunt for a durable external hard drive to safely store my photos, videos, and office documents. My budget is capped at around $70. I've been eyeing two options: the WD 1TB My Passport and the Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive, but I'm primarily concerned about their long-term durability. I'm steering clear of SSDs for now, though I've spotted the Lexar ES3 1TB SSD which is also within my budget. I'm curious whether Lexar is a trustworthy brand. Any opinions on which option is the most reliable?
3 Answers
That Lexar SSD sounds like a great deal! SSDs are way faster than HDDs and, since they don’t have moving parts, they’re much better for portability. Seriously consider it if you're dealing with large files like videos; it'll save you a ton of time.
Honestly, when it comes to durability, HDDs aren’t your best bet. They’re pretty fragile, especially if you drop them, whether they’re running or not. Since you care about durability, I'd recommend looking at SSDs instead. They’re much more reliable for portable use and won’t crash if you bump them around. Lexar has a solid reputation, so the ES3 could be a good option!
Thanks for the info! I didn’t realize HDDs were so delicate.
I used to swear by HDDs, but I've switched to SSDs completely for my external drives. They just handle travel and vibrations way better. Plus, for your needs—storing photos and videos—an SSD will really speed things up. If you're worried about costs, you could even consider getting an internal SSD and a cheap enclosure. Just make sure the enclosure is well-ventilated to avoid overheating issues.
I’ve heard similar complaints about overheating; is that a common problem?
Sweet, I appreciate the recommendation!