Hard-Drives for Laptops

[funkylad20]

I need a bit of advice. I have a new laptop (Packard Bell EasyNote) and I would like to purchase a hard-drive for it so I can keep all of my MUSIC and PHOTO'S seperate to my computer (I have a lot!). I need to therefore purchase a seperate HardDrive I guess? If so, any recommendations? And also, DOES IT HAVE TO CONNECT VIA WIRES? Are wireless ones on the market?
I guess also that I need to start backing up my laptop...using the same harddrive??
Thanks!

[Ethel]

Wireless hard drives are available - but they are much more expensive than wired:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000H DUKAU/shopzilcouk-computer-software-21/ref=nos im

You can buy large wired hard drives that are nicely compact and in all honesty I would recommend wired.

Here's a selection:
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/793/xx/xx/101/ 9/criteresn.html


If you want to store only music and photos you do have another option - a large capacity mp4 player, such as ipod, creative zen or archos. Mine is 60gb and perfect for music, photos and vids, all of which can be played on the device, or through my pc or tv.

[funkylad20]

Thanks Ethel...but can you tell me, is the wirelss one ok? I mean, is the technology ok yet for this to be used? Ideally I'd like the wireless one as I can shove it in a room out of the way with the modem and current access point...right?

[Ethel]

I can't see any reason why the wireless hd should not work as you want - and it does have a huge advantage inasmuch as it is also a wireless printer server, so you can plug your printer in to it and print off wirelessly.

You must make sure you are familiar with wireless security and file sharing though to make it work smoothly and safely.

I quite fancy one myself now. :)

[Ethel]

And if you do decide to buy one, I didn't shop around for that link, so don't know if that is the best one on the market or the best price.

Research before you buy.

[ACtheTROLL]

But wireless WILL be much slower

Max burst transfer rates
wireless 54Mb/s
usb 480Mb/s
(theoretically at least)

and wireless is always vulnerable to external influences (other networks, microwaves, mobile phones) etc etc etc

[Shazza36]

Please make sure you do back it up- we're having nothing but trouble with our Packard Bell Easynotes , got both my lads them for xmas and they are driving us mad one has already had to have the hard drive replaced and came back from repair worse than it went and last night my son was typing away on it and it just fell apart! My hubby has been trying to rescue the other one for the last 2 weeks now as all our holiday pics are on it and the hard drive has totally corrupted- he's currently trying to get the pictures off so it can go for repair because they just start by wiping the hard drive. So get backing up!