External hard drives and burners getting faster, flatter

By Thomas Schoerner Nov 27, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Munich - External hard drives and burners are hardly new to the computer market. But, thanks to USB 3.0 connections, new formats and slimline construction, they are getting faster, flatter and more reliable. Some can even double as network storage units.

This is key for notebook users, who have rejoiced as their machines have gotten ever thinner and lighter. But that diet regime has meant that many manufacturers have been cutting out optical drives and extra hard drive space. For those who think that's a problem, there are external devices.

If you just need to transport a few gigabytes, then a USB stick remains your best option. But if you start talking about moving terabytes, then it's time to grab an external hard drive, which comes in either 2.5 or 3.5-inch formats.

'The larger 3.5-inch hard drives come in sizes of up to 3 terabytes (TB) with very fast drives that can reach the top transfer rates of up to 160 megabytes (MB) per second,' says Oliver Ketterer of German publication PC Magazin. But external 3.5-format drives need their own plug, which can make them bulkier.

Today's 2.5-inch drives can hold about 1.5 TB, but Ketterer says there are other advantages. 'They are slower than their big brothers, but aren't as power hungry, since they are linked to the computer via USB.' That makes the 2.5-inch models the better travel partners. There are also models that are resistant to shocks and water.

When thinking about connections, opt immediately for the USB 3.0 standard, which most new computers support. 'USB 3.0 has the fastest transfer rates. On top of that, the data is sent over in full duplex protocol, meaning that it travels in the same speed in both directions,' says Ketterer. Compared to its predecessor, the new standard moves data about six times faster.

There's another advantage. All older USB connections remain compatible, so a USB 2.0 port can be used, even if data will move slower. As a bonus, external drives with USB 3.0 connections aren't that much more expensive than drives with other connections.

Mac users remain on the outside. Their computers don't support 3.0, but the company is hoping for success with its own Thunderbolt connection.

A fall from the desk does not have to mean data loss with all external drives. A test of 30 devices by German publication Computer Bild showed that all 2.5-inch models survived several falls from heights of more than 50 centimetres without losing data.

On the other hand, 12 of 16 of the 3.5-inch versions didn't stand up to the same test. An endurance test also showed that some of the larger models build up a lot of heat over the long term, which could shorten the device's lifespan. Smaller devices managed to keep cool, and under the suggested 50 degrees Celsius.

Advanced users can even use a USB-ready drive to turn their external device into a home central data receiver, reports German computer magazine c't. To do so, use your PC to make the drive accessible from the entire network or just connect it directly to your network router.

'Even simple network hard drives include extra functions like integrated file-sharing networks or streaming servers, which can then transmit pictures, videos and music files via DLNA to computers or televisions,' wrote c't.

The winner of Computer Bild's test was the 3 TB My Book Essential from Western Digital in the 3.5-inch category (about 150 euros/202 dollars). Under the 2 TB models, the Drive Station from Buffalo (199 euros) won. And, among the smaller devices, the Prestige SuperSpeed from Iomega, with its 1.5 TB (130 euros) and the S2 Portable from Seagate with 1 TB for 100 euros were the winners.

If you want to read and write DVD and Blu-ray discs, you'll need a separate external drive. Ketterer recommends a DVD burner or a Blu-ray combo drive: 'Both burn any kind of blank CD or DVD you can find on the market.'

As a bonus, the combo drives can also play Blu-ray discs with their high-definition films. If you're going to use the drive underway, look for one in a slimline housing. Most burners compensate for their higher energy consumption by coming with a USB connection cable.