Portable Hard Drive: Any recommendations?

[hunterx280]

So my WD portable hard drive has slowly been crapping out of me and I've decided it's time to get a new one. I want to avoid WD because they seem to die on me quite frequently. Any recommendations for a USB powered portable hard drive? I would like to get at least 250GB, maybe a Seagate or something along those lines.

Thanks!

[KingGorilla]

You can just crack open the enclosure and buy a new disc drive.

[hunterx280]

You can just crack open the enclosure and buy a new disc drive.

I don't think it's the drive itself. I think its the controller. It seems that it doesn't want to be read by PCs but occasionally it does. I'm hoping to get a couple more uses out of it so I can actually get my data off of it.

EDIT: I guess I could try just to make sure. I think I have a small laptop hard drive just lying around wanting to be used. It's only 80GB but it'll be a test of whether or not swapping a drive will work.

[KingGorilla]

It may also deduce if you only need to drop 10 bucks on a new enclosure, over a whole new drive. Enclosures, even 2.5 inch ones, can be had for under 10 bucks.

[Lance Uppercut]

I wouldn't buy a $10 enclosure. For a bit more, you could get a high quality aluminum one.

[J Arcane]

It may also deduce if you only need to drop 10 bucks on a new enclosure, over a whole new drive. Enclosures, even 2.5 inch ones, can be had for under 10 bucks.

With hard drive prices what they are now, the shop I hang out at has begun to just build our own portable drives but just buying an enclosure and that drive and assembling it ourselves. It ends up being cheaper than the retail stuff you find by quite a large margin.

[harle]

I know you are not a fan of Western Digital, but if you decide to look at any of their portable HD's, here is a pretty good deal:

Product: Western Digital 250GB My Passport™ Elite Portable Hard Drive (http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&jspStoreDir=Staples&productId=220351&cmSearchKeyword=WDML2500TN&fromUrl=home&cmArea=SEARCH&catalogId=10051&langId=-1)
Price: $79.99 - $25 off $75 purchase (Link (http://www.e-junkie.com/staples/product/57414.php#STAPLES+25+off+75+online+phone+coupon+In stant+Delivery+-+www.e-junkie.com%2Fstaples)) = $58 + shipping

I have a few friends who own these and every one of the drives is still alive and kicking.

[Rogue_hunter]

I wouldn't buy a $10 enclosure. For a bit more, you could get a high quality aluminum one.

For a notebook enclosure, they're all pretty much $10 now. Coolmax makes a nice one that has an eSATA port and leather enclosure.

[Roaddawg]

i personally love my toshiba passport, no power cords, just runs on USB