| l hard disk drives are ideal for backing up your hard | | | | interfaces will do the job, however, be sure to |
| drives or storing additional media separate from your | | | | purchase an external hard drive with the same type |
| internal hard drive. Photos, videos, and digital music | | | | of port interface that your computer has. |
| have all become so popular in recent years that | | | | Choose an external hard disk drive with the capacity |
| computer users need a place to put it all. CD's, DVD's, | | | | at least as big as your computer's largest hard drive, |
| although very useful for many applications, do not | | | | but preferably much larger. You will then have the |
| have the capacity to hold PC backups and are not all | | | | capacity to backup your important files or mirror |
| that convenient. However, the prices of external hard | | | | clone your current internal hard drive. The most |
| disk drives have come down so much during the last | | | | popular External hard drives have the following |
| 2 years that they are perfect for backing up and | | | | capacities: 250 GB, 320 GB, 500 GB, 750 GB, 1000 GB |
| securing your important, irreplaceable data. | | | | ( 1 TB) or 1.5 TB. Some manufacturers are now |
| The two most common interfaces for hooking up | | | | selling external hard drives with 2 or more TB's. Most |
| external hard disk drives to you computer are USB | | | | of them come with the USB 2.0 interface and some |
| and FireWire with eSata now becoming popular also. | | | | with FireWire interface. The latest external hard |
| USB has been around for years and is standard on | | | | drives are being fabricated with Wireless USB |
| just about all computers today while FireWire ports | | | | connection, which allows transfer rates of up to 15 |
| are newer and if you use a digital video camera with | | | | MB's /second. This provides for the fast data |
| your computer you probably already have one. In | | | | movement and frexiblitiy required in today's graphic |
| terms of access speeds the latest eSata standard | | | | environment. It allows the backup of data whenever |
| offers the fastest connection, but that comes with a | | | | it is in range up to 30 feet, similar to a direct |
| price. USB 2.0 and FireWire can cover most of your | | | | attached storage device. What will the future bring in |
| general needs without having to upgrade your | | | | this computer age? Only your imagination can |
| system with the newer eSata card. Any of the | | | | conceive! |