Not sure if this is the right place for this but I figure someone could help me out here. I'm looking to buy an External hard drive, any suggestions as to which to get? I basically just plan on storing PJ music/video on it (I have a laptop so not that much space on it). Pretty much looking for something thats really user friendly and on the cheaper side. Any help would be appreciated.

External storage has come a long way over the last couple years... there's a lot of good options out there. The best advice I can offer is what I've been doing over the years... When I need new external storage, I got out and find a deal on a laptop hard drive (if you have a MicroCenter nearby, they have some excellent deals, as does Newegg) and an inexpensive USB enclosure and roll my own. There's nothing wrong with the turnkey solutions from Western Digital or anyone else. I've just found that I'm able to save a bit of money by doing my own rather than buying a name brand.

For specifics though, Seagate drives have always treated me very well, as has Samsung and even Fuji/Hitachi as far as laptop drives go. I'm not usually too picky about enclosures, though I do prefer aluminum construction. I like using laptop drives as they can be powered from the USB port. Standard 3.5" drive enclosures always need their own power brick, and that always isn't handy. The downside to laptop hard drives is that the price per gigabyte is a bit higher, though that gap seems to be closing of late.

I actually have some extra laptop drives that I was going to put up on Craigslist and a few other sites at which I trade computer hardware. If you're looking for an inexpensive setup, PM me and we can chat further.

Doc

I have "made" three of my own and I have limited knowledge of these things. It's very easy.