Advice needed, fairly quickly:

 

Unbeknownst to me, I enrolled in an advertising class that involves both theory AND practice - in other words, I have to do some video editing. I've been advised to buy a portable external hard drive, in which 500 GB is a "good" amount of space and 1 TB is "plenty."

 

I'm new to this market. Can someone tell me what to be looking for? I want something good, but I don't want to blow any more money than I have to at this point. I'll probably continue to use it beyond this course to back up my computer, which I've always wanted to do anyway.

Advice needed, fairly quickly:

 

Unbeknownst to me, I enrolled in an advertising class that involves both theory AND practice - in other words, I have to do some video editing. I've been advised to buy a portable external hard drive, in which 500 GB is a "good" amount of space and 1 TB is "plenty."

 

I'm new to this market. Can someone tell me what to be looking for? I want something good, but I don't want to blow any more money than I have to at this point. I'll probably continue to use it beyond this course to back up my computer, which I've always wanted to do anyway.

 

Definitely want USB 3.0 for quicker file transfers. Other than that, I'll leave it to the experts.

Advice needed, fairly quickly:

 

Unbeknownst to me, I enrolled in an advertising class that involves both theory AND practice - in other words, I have to do some video editing. I've been advised to buy a portable external hard drive, in which 500 GB is a "good" amount of space and 1 TB is "plenty."

 

I'm new to this market. Can someone tell me what to be looking for? I want something good, but I don't want to blow any more money than I have to at this point. I'll probably continue to use it beyond this course to back up my computer, which I've always wanted to do anyway.

Amazon.com check the reviews.

 

I have two different external HD's, a seagate and a western digital. Both have been solid. The smaller one is 1TB, speeds are fast as long as the drive is somewhat new.

 

Here is an example.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Backup-Deskt...rnal+hard+drive

Edited August 27, 201312 yr by RockRaines

Definitely want USB 3.0 for quicker file transfers. Other than that, I'll leave it to the experts.

 

While I agree Thunderbolt or USB3 is the way to go, it's only good if his PC also has USB3 capabilities.

 

If not, he can get a 3 terabyte USB2 drive for like 90$ at CostCo.

Edited August 27, 201312 yr by Y2HH

While I agree Thunderbolt or USB3 is the way to go, it's only good if his PC also has USB3 capabilities.

 

I just assume everyone has a nice, modern machine like me.

My laptop has a USB 3.0 port and the machine I'll be using to do the video editing is the coolest most souped up thing ever, so I'm sure it does too.

And the Nexus 4 is now...$200.

 

https://play.google.com/store/devices/detai...4_8gb&hl=en

 

That's got to be the best bargain in the mobile industry ATM.

You may want to add unlocked since so many people are used to paying $200 for a subsidized phone.

Debating between this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Power-2-5-In...=A25SITGFW0OQJA

 

which was reviewed favorably here:

 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-...ble-hard-drive/

 

but I'm also looking at:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-Ex...bs_595048_price

 

because it's a little cheaper, but perhaps more vulnerable to damage.

 

And then I'm just generally feeling bad because these things apparently have a high rate of failure

Debating between this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Power-2-5-In...=A25SITGFW0OQJA

 

which was reviewed favorably here:

 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-...ble-hard-drive/

 

but I'm also looking at:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-Ex...bs_595048_price

 

because it's a little cheaper, but perhaps more vulnerable to damage.

 

And then I'm just generally feeling bad because these things apparently have a high rate of failure

 

I wouldn't worry too much about it, I've owned many such drives from many different manufacturers and have never had a problem. These high rates of failures you read about make me question how these people are treating their equipment. I'd venture to guess I use this type of stuff more often than most, and like I said, no issues regardless of manufacturer.

 

Keep in mind, I also carry an iPhone around without a case, and have never broken one or scratched one badly, either. I'm just not a clumsy mess.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about it, I've owned many such drives from many different manufacturers and have never had a problem. These high rates of failures you read about make me question how these people are treating their equipment. I'd venture to guess I use this type of stuff more often than most, and like I said, no issues regardless of manufacturer.

 

Keep in mind, I also carry an iPhone around without a case, and have never broken one or scratched one badly, either. I'm just not a clumsy mess.

 

LOL well I am a clumsy mess, but at least the people having these things fail for no reason are less common than it might seem. I'll hedge my bets with the water/drop proof one.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, I've owned many such drives from many different manufacturers and have never had a problem. These high rates of failures you read about make me question how these people are treating their equipment. I'd venture to guess I use this type of stuff more often than most, and like I said, no issues regardless of manufacturer.

 

Keep in mind, I also carry an iPhone around without a case, and have never broken one or scratched one badly, either. I'm just not a clumsy mess.

I carry my two-year-old Droid X2 without a case and drop it constantly. The back is beat up, but the screen is fine. I don't get how people are constantly breaking their phones. The only phone I've ever broken was an old flip phone, and that was because the hinges snapped after having it for a few years.

I broke my Motorola SLVR when it was in my pocket. I squatted down and apparently my pants were too tight because the pressure broke the screen. My dog chewed up a Samsung slide phone I had. I dropped first iPhone on its face and its screen shattered - got a free replacement though because so many of those iPhone 4s were breaking and Apple apparently felt bad.

Also, despite my experience with the broken SLVR, the RZR and related phone line was f***ing awesome. Nobody thinks about them anymore (and for good reason) but the design on those things was baller. I think most of them still look sweet.

Also, despite my experience with the broken SLVR, the RZR and related phone line was f***ing awesome. Nobody thinks about them anymore (and for good reason) but the design on those things was baller. I think most of them still look sweet.

 

They were definitely the best dumbphones ever made.

I've had a bunch of big hard drives die on me lately.

I've had a bunch of big hard drives die on me lately.

 

NOOOOO

I've had a bunch of big hard drives die on me lately.

 

That's what she said

I had an HTC for two years that I dropped plenty of times and it was fine, no case either. Bought a Samsung "Rugby" because it was supposed to be "tougher" than any other AT& T phone it fell about three feet and the screen shattered. Salesperson sold me on the idea that I did not need a case for it, bulls***.

 

 

So my chromecast order finally came in last night. Pretty sleek device with some potential, especially for $35. At this point it's basically a more convenient (i.e., wireless) way to play netflix or youtube on my bedroom TV, not a full-fledged phone/tablet-with-all-the apps-on-TV device. I got a 2nd one for travel purposes. It'd be great if they eventually get HBO GO, Sunday Ticket, and the DirecTV app on there. They also need to add support for casting mobile chrome content, not just desktop chrome content.

So my chromecast order finally came in last night. Pretty sleek device with some potential, especially for $35. At this point it's basically a more convenient (i.e., wireless) way to play netflix or youtube on my bedroom TV, not a full-fledged phone/tablet-with-all-the apps-on-TV device. I got a 2nd one for travel purposes. It'd be great if they eventually get HBO GO, Sunday Ticket, and the DirecTV app on there. They also need to add support for casting mobile chrome content, not just desktop chrome content.

I'm thinking it might make sense to grab these up now before pretty much every streaming app embraces it and they quadruple the price.

 

Did you test it out with Netflix? How's the resolution? HD on a 10" tablet is quite a bit different from HD on a 46" television.

Edited August 29, 201312 yr by Steve9347

I'm thinking it might make sense to grab these up now before pretty much every streaming app embraces it and they quadruple the price.

 

Did you test it out with Netflix? How's the resolution? HD on a 10" tablet is quite a bit different from HD on a 46" television.

 

Is it? I haven't really noticed that. The HD looked the same to me as netflix through my samsung TV or ps3.

Can I stream pretty much anything (Hulu, bootleg shiz) via a Chrome tab or what?

Is it? I haven't really noticed that. The HD looked the same to me as netflix through my samsung TV or ps3.

I thought I read that Chromecast is one of the few ways to get Netflix in 1080p.

Chromecast doesn't stream the media from your phone or tablet. Instead, it receives instructions from the phone or tablet to fetch the video based on what the tablet or phone tell it, then it rides your WiFi to get that content. Basically, think of your phone or tablet as a remote for the Chromecast. That's why when you stream, you get full HD video instead of a 10 inch screen magnified.

 

BTW, got mine the other day and it's pretty badass. It's supposed to be adding HBOGo and Hulu soon.