Ah, the age-old conundrum of data backup – the bane of every techie, artist, and busy professional’s existence. You’ve got gigabytes upon gigabytes of irreplaceable files, from cherished family photos to that big project your boss is dying to see. And let’s be honest, when it comes to backing up, we’re all a little bit like children afraid of the dark. We know we should do it, but the task just seems so daunting and, well, boring.
But fear not, my data-hoarding friends! I’m here to shed some light on the world of affordable external drives that can keep your precious files safe and sound. No more excuses, no more “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Today, we’re going to explore the ins and outs of backup bliss, all while staying firmly planted in the realm of budget-friendly solutions.
The Backup Basics
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of external drives, let’s get one thing straight: a RAID is not a backup. Yes, you read that right. [1] That fancy redundant array of independent disks might give you a false sense of security, but when it comes to protecting your data from the inevitable – be it accidental deletion, ransomware, or good old-fashioned hardware failure – RAID is simply not enough.
The golden rule of backup, as they say, is the “Rule of Three.” [1] That means you should have three copies of your data: the original, a backup, and a backup of the backup. And those backups? They need to be stored in separate locations, preferably one offsite, to safeguard against, say, a fire or flood wiping out your entire setup.
Sizing Up the Options
Okay, now that we’ve got the backup principles down, let’s talk about the hardware. When it comes to external drives, you’ve got a dizzying array of options, from lightning-fast solid-state drives (SSDs) to good ol’ reliable hard disk drives (HDDs). [2]
The SSD route is certainly tempting, with their blazing-fast read and write speeds. But for the budget-conscious backup enthusiast, HDDs are where it’s at. [2] You can snag a decent 4TB or even 6TB HDD for a fraction of the cost of a comparable SSD. And let’s be honest, how often are you really going to be transferring gigabytes of data to your backup drive, anyway?
The Cream of the Crop
Now, let’s take a look at some of the top external HDD options for backup on a budget:
| Drive | Capacity | Interface | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WD Elements Portable | 2TB – 5TB | USB 3.0 | $50 – $100 |
| Seagate Backup Plus Hub | 4TB – 10TB | USB 3.0 | $90 – $200 |
| WD Elements Desktop | 2TB – 10TB | USB 3.0 | $60 – $200 |
| Seagate Expansion | 1TB – 8TB | USB 3.0 | $45 – $150 |
[3] As you can see, you’ve got a wide range of capacities and price points to choose from. The WD Elements and Seagate Expansion series are particularly budget-friendly, with 4TB and 6TB options coming in under $100. [3]
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But Pete, how do I know which one is the most reliable?” Well, my friends, that’s where a little bit of research comes in handy. [2] The folks over at r/DataHoarder have some great insights on the topic, with users sharing their experiences and recommendations. [1] And the experts at PCWorld have also weighed in, testing a slew of external drives and ranking them based on factors like speed, durability, and value.
The Ideal Backup Setup
Alright, let’s put it all together. The ideal backup setup, in my humble opinion, is a mix of local and offsite storage. Start with a reliable 4TB or 6TB HDD like the WD Elements or Seagate Expansion for your primary backup. [3] Then, every few months, grab a couple of those 1TB or 2TB portable drives and rotate them out of your home or office, keeping one in a secure offsite location.
And don’t forget about cloud backup services like Backblaze or Crashplan. [1] While they may not be the fastest option for restoring large files, they provide an extra layer of protection against physical disasters. Plus, many of them offer unlimited storage for a reasonable monthly fee.
Wrapping it Up
There you have it, folks – your guide to affordable external drives for backup bliss. Remember, data backup may not be the most exciting task, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to protect your digital assets. So, what are you waiting for? Go forth and back up, my friends!
References
[1] Pete Marovich, “Never Use a RAID as Your Backup System”, petemarovichimages.com, accessed April 8, 2023, https://www.petemarovichimages.com/never-use-a-raid-as-your-backup-system/
[2] “Best External Drives”, PCWorld, accessed April 8, 2023, https://www.pcworld.com/article/406861/best-external-drives.html
[3] “Which External Hard Drive for Cheap and Reliable?”, Reddit, accessed April 8, 2023, https://www.reddit.com/r/DataHoarder/comments/u6nasc/which_external_hard_drive_for_cheap_and_reliable/
