| Hard Drives - External versus Internal | | Print | |
drive with your PC or device can be difficult. It is not just an aesthetic decision, but
rather one that should be based on your needs versus the pros and cons of each
type of drive.
The first thing you should consider when you begin looking for a new storage device
is, no matter what kind will be whether you need or want an internal or external
device. They each have their own sets of pros and cons, so it is important to be
educated on each.
The first, and most obvious, benefit of an external hard drive is that it is easier to set
up and get started with, especially if you are a computer novice. In most cases, it is
a matter of simply plugging in the proper power source and USB cables, installing
the proper drivers (which your computer will often lead you through), and you are
ready to start using your external storage drive. This is really the best way to go if
you are not confident or at all interested in messing around with the wires and cables
inside your desktop or laptop.
A second, and perhaps less obvious benefit of the external memory drive, is that
they are much easier to share between different users. Most of the USB/FireWire
hard drives available today are “plug and play.” This set up makes it simple to move
the drive from one machine to another, since you simply unplug the drive from one
machine and plug it into another.
You can, then, more easily transfer files from home, to work, to school, or
to a friend. The value of the convenience alone may be worth it to you, depending on
your individual situation.
On the other hand, the downside of an external storage drive is that they are
certainly slower than internal ones. Internal drives usually are connected to the
computer through IDE/ATA busses, which are what support higher data transfer
seeds than USB busses, which is how most external storage drives are connected.
Also, in a simple manner of cost, since external drives generally have their own
casings, they are often more expensive than internal drives.
As a general rule, internal drives are both faster and less expensive than their
external counterparts. The biggest, perhaps most obvious, drawback of the internal
storage devices is installing them. So, if you decide to go the internal route, look for
a package that includes with it all of the cables and hardware required for
installation.
You will also want something that has a manual that is illustrated and easy for you to
understand. In addition, good installation software can make or break it. If the
package is a good one, even the most novice PC user will be able to install in internal
drive. Another advantage of internal storage drives is the price. As a rule, the
greater the capacity of the media involved with the storage device, the cheaper the
price per megabyte, but obviously the price is higher per device. Either way, since
internal storage devices do not require their own casing, they run cheaper than their
external counterparts.
The disadvantages to internal storage drives are more on par with their convenience.
With most internal storage drives you lose the ease of user changing. You will have a
much more difficult time removing an internal drive and transferring it to another
person’s computer. Of course, if you are using a laptop, such convenience is a little
less necessary.
There are obviously a number of factors to take into account when making the
decision between internal or external storage solutions. You must figure out what
kind of access speed you need, how much backup storage you will need, overall
storage needs both now and in the future, how much security and privacy you need,
and a number of other memory factors.
The thing is that in the end, you will do fine whether you select an internal storage
drive or an external storage drive. Storage devices are more affordable than ever
with more space available than ever. So make an educated guess at what is best for
you and go for it, you really can’t go wrong either way.
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