Computer crashes are probably the most devastating event of a person's technological life. Not to mention one of the most expensive. So how many times do I gotta tell ya? Back up that data! It's easy to do, and once you do it, you'll not only have peace of mind but will have all of your photos, music, and personal documents safely out of your computer in case of any crazy power surge or (knock on wood) worse. Check out three easy ways to back up your most important data in this slideshow.
OK, so I know aesthetics aren't everything, but even though I bought myself a nice-looking external hard drive to back up all my data, sometimes I just want to find a safe place to keep it out of the way and off my clean desk. If this sounds familiar to you, and you have an iMac or a cinema display, listen up: the BackPack is here to save you.
The BackPack attaches to the backside of your iMac's stand, and is height adjustable, so you can secure two or maybe even three shelves on the back of your machine. Store your external, your phone or iPod while they charge, or even a USB hub for more plug-in ports. And don't worry about scratches — there's no drilling or screws involved. I'm all about saving and utilizing space to the max, and for $30 bucks, you know I've got this on this year's back-to-school list.
Looks may be deceiving, but don't be fooled: I promise this is a sexier and sleeker version of the eGo drive I reviewed last year.
This much lighter, third generation, 320GB drive offers built-in antivirus software and an impressive rugged aluminum exterior that can withstand a 1.3 meter drop, which you know as well as I do is very important when you're lugging around a device that holds your important data.
Online, this puppy will cost you around $95, which is pretty affordable, considering I've heard of similar devices going for upwards of $150.
After a few months of use, I had some issues with my first eGo drive, so I was pleased to hear Iomega is offering a three-year warranty on the third gen drives. What really irks me, though, is that these drives are primarily built for PCs, not Macs. The included USB cord comes with a cord to plug into your drive and two attached USB cords to plug into your laptop. On many Macs, there are two USB ports (on opposite sides of the laptop), so plugging in both cords is practically impossible. Although your drive may be able to run with only one USB cord plugged in, it isn't sufficient power to experience the high-speed data transfer rates. And sadly, a powered USB bus isn't included, even though there is an auxiliary power port for it. So if you really want to use it on your Mac, you'd have to invest in one.
This is the midnight blue version, but it is also available in red, silver, and black. With the noteworthy upgrades from the last eGo, I think this eGo is worthy of four stars.
I can give you multiple reasons why I love this concept piece I found on Coroflot. Not only is this hanging hard drive packed with virus-scanning software to help you track down any bugs that may have attacked your computer, but it can also recover any corrupted files, so it's actually a useful piece of equipment.
Plus, it's kinda cute in a totally out-of-left-field kind of way, and it flashes and glows in the dark while it's doing its thing. I'm hoping the concept artist releases these soon, cause I can really see myself picking one up, even if it's just for the fun of it!
External hard drives are a big enough market these days that you don't have to settle for some lame-o black or silver box. You can have your pretty and back up, too. Check out some of my favorite, most attractive hard drives that do double duty as desk decor.
![The [re-drive] Hard Drive](http://media4.onsugar.com/files/upl2/1/15111/18_2009/redrive.smallsquare/i/re-drive-Hard-Drive.JPG "The [re-drive] Hard Drive")
Now that you're singing Fergie's tune in your head, I'll direct you to this pimped-out LaCie 500GB External Hard Drive ($150). It's gold, it's artsy, it's totally chic. For any geek, this would be the next best thing to getting an actual gold brick under the tree this Christmas.
We all know the importance of backing up your data, and now you can do it dripping with style. That is, if cereal- and milk carton-themed hard drives aren't your thing. For me, there's no question which one I would prefer. Ooh flossy, flossaay!
I've already told you that it's probably a good idea to get an external hard drive to back up your data, but they aren't always the most attractive things to put on your desk. But if you have a good sense of humor, and an affinity for wacky desk accessories, then you'll totally love these External Hard Drive Cases from Meninos.
Not only are these cases fun, but they also keep your hard drive cool with a two fan cooler, and they come with a number of essential cords like the USB 2.0, an external AC adapter, and of course a power cord. I could call these kooky and silly, but one word I won't be able to use to describe these cases is: cheap. Each case comes in at $190 bucks, and if you want to buy a hard drive with the case, the price only goes up from there!
When I purchased my first computer, laptop, and MP3 player, the last thing I cared about was its color — I was just overjoyed to be able to call one of these gadgets my very own (plus they didn't come in cool colors like red or pink).
Nowadays, whether it be laptops, iPods, or USB flash drives, you can usually find your favorite gadget in your favorite color as well. But I must admit, seeing candy-colored external hard drives is a rarity. When external drives become just as popular as flash drives, I'll understand why they need to be splashed in 11 different colors like these My Passport Essential Portable Drives. For some reason, I think of black when I think of a hard drive, but then again, that's me having to adapt to hard drives being just as beautiful as every other gadget I own . . . But I do love my pink eGo, so maybe there is a part of me that cares.
What do you think? Do you care what color your external hard drive is?
Since we've started the Ask a Geek Girl Group, we've gotten some pretty awesome questions, as well as some really insightful answers from you readers. Great job! Doesn't it feel great to help others? This question, posted by TeamSugar user amers230 about external hard drives is something we all may face at some point.
"A few weeks ago, I finally took my laptop into the Geeksquad to have them fix a few things. While I was there I mentioned it had been running really slowly for a while. I found out I had less than a gig of memory left on my hard drive. The guy told me to get an external hard drive and put all of my stuff on it. Do you have any recommendations on type/brand of an external hard drive? I'd like to upgrade my iPod, so I'm thinking I shouldn't get one with less than 120 gigs of memory, but I'm also a poor recent college graduate who can't afford to spend more than $100 (but spending less would be preferable if possible.) Any good tips on how to actually move my music to the hard drive?"
To see my response, read more
