An external hard drive is a storage device that comes in an external casing and plugs into the computer through a peripheral port. Although it has the same capacity range as internal drives, it is more commonly used as backup or for secondary storage. It is also designed for mobile use, because it is easily transferred between computers.
Kinds of External Hard Drives include the following:
Desktop external hard drive
A desktop external hard drive is about the size of a drive bay and is usually heavy. It can have a storage capacity of up to 1,000GB (one terabyte). It is plugged into a power outlet using an AC adapter.
Portable external hard drive
A portable external hard drive is very compact and usually weighs less than one pound. It has a storage capacity between 40GB and 120GB. It is commonly used with laptops, tablet PCs, and other portable devices.
Storage capacity: Choose an external hard drive with a storage capacity of at least 120GB for storing large files, such as high-resolution photos and videos.
Interface: Choose an external hard drive with a USB interface for maximum compatibility, especially between desktops and laptops. Make sure it also works with older USB versions. For faster transfers, look for one with a FireWire interface.
Minimum system requirements: Before purchasing an external hard drive, make sure your computer meets its minimum operating system, processor speed, and memory requirements.
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