... for backing-up purposes. I'm using a PC, running Windows XP. Chances are I'll be getting a new PC within a year, and that'll be running Windows 7.
My internal hard drive is 150GB in size, and it's currently half-full. Not a hell of a lot of data, granted, but it takes forever to backup on DVD, which is why I'm looking at externals. (I'm looking at externals rather than anything internal, because I want to be able to cart it around with me if I'm ever out of town, in case the house burns down or something.)
The Western Digital "My Book" drives are in all the stores, so I was thinking of getting a "My Book Home Edition." Googling around, though, a lot of people seem to complain that the Home Edition sometimes tends to die unexpectedly within months. Maybe that was a problem with an earlier version of the Home Edition, but not the newer versions? (Some of the reviews date back to '07.) No idea, so I don't know if the complaints are worth taking notice of. Perhaps I should go for the "Essential Edition." Or another brand entirely. I'm not keen on going higher than $200ish, though. And I'm in a small town, so not a lot of stores to check out -- Dick Smith, Leading Edge Computers, Bing Lee, Good Guys...
Another thing worth mentioning: I'm across the road from a beach, in a town with a saltwater lake. So lots of corrosion.
Any thoughts?
(And yes, I know, I know: "Here's a thought: buy a Mac!")