External Hard Drives

The world's first computer was ENIAC--a monster with 17,000 vacuum tubes and a memory measured in bits (8 bits = 1 byte). Need more computer memory? Then build another monster! In the last six decades, electronics have changed, especially computers. Laptop computers and desktop computers now have hard drives measured in gigabytes. Fortunately, at Overstock.com, their price isn't measured in giga-bucks!

When you decide you need additional computer memory--and you will, sooner or later--external hard drives are a very good choice. An external hard drive is a plug-n-play device. To install a new internal hard drive, you or your local computer technician, must open the computer case and play with the computer equipment inside. The external hard drive simply plugs into the wall outlet and USB hub. vExternal hard drives can also be unplugged from the computer when not in use, which adds to data security--if it isn't connected, no hacker or virus can get at it!

As an alternative, you can buy internal hard drives plus hard drive enclosures. A vhard drive enclosure can turn an internal hard drive into a removable hard drive (good for security). Some also include a USB hub, a digital camera memory card reader and other cool stuff.

If you need to carry a lot of data with you, the smallest hard drives are USB flash drives. Also called USB flash memory or compact flash memory, these thumb-sized external hard drives can carry a few gigabytes or many gigabytes at a very reasonable price.

Oh, right, this is Overstock.com--everything is reasonably priced.