There are several critical factors regarding the selection of a terabyte external hard drive. The interface is especially significant, as data transfer speeds are limited by the bandwidth of the interface. The typical options are:
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
WiFi, HDMI, S/PDIF – for HDTV recording and playback
USB 2.0 – 240 Mbps is typical, 480Mbps theoretical maximum
eSata – up to the transfer rating of the drive, typically 3.0 Gbps
IEEE 1394a – Also known as Firewire – speeds approaching 480Mpbs typical
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet with speeds to 1.0 Gbps – 1GbE
Most consider the Ethernet terabyte external hard drive as a Network Attached Storage (NAS). These are specialized drives and are not considered in this article which examines the more traditional methods of connection: USB, SATA and Firewire.
Many external drives – especially at the mid- to high-end price ranges – have multiple connection options. To avoid disappointing performance, an external SATA – eSATA – capability is highly recommended. Most modern high-end motherboards and case enclosures are supporting eSATA. If the system does not have an eSATA port, they are readily available for less than $10.
Terabyte external hard drive prices range from less than $100 to $800, depending on options. Multiple bay versions are available for RAID applications.
One option to consider is an external terabyte hard drive with integral disaster protection. Protection can include fire ratings of 1500 degrees for 30 minutes, total water immersion for 3 days with depths up to 10 feet, theft protection and with disaster recovery services – usually 1 to 5 years. The ioSafe line with prices $225 to $400 is an inexpensive price for peace of mind.
Encryption is strongly recommended for any portable data device. Some terabyte external hard drives have built-in AES encryption with code keys or PIN pads. These units are operating system independent. Depending on the strength of encryption, prices run from $600 and up. If less than 1TB is an option, smaller drives – e.g., 250GB – with super-strong 256-bit encryption can be found for $100 and up.
Terabyte external disk drives are also used in sophisticated audio and HDTV applications. These units can be found in the $200-250 price range. They typically support NFTS and FAT32 directory structures and handle 1080i recording and playback. One advantage to this drive is that it is not a DVD drive, per se. No pesky country codes are applicable.
Whatever the requirements, there is a large selection of terabyte external hard drives designed and readily available at reasonable prices.