External hard drives have become a popular option among consumers due to portability and security. Unlike internal hard drives typically found within a computer or notebook, external hard drives are located outside of computers. Not only does this allow for easy storage of files, but it also makes transferring much easier since external hard drives typically operate using a USB connection. In terms of security, external hard drives are usually considered more safe than their internal hard drive counterparts, largely due to the fact that one can easily take their external hard drive wherever they go, as opposed to leaving an internal hard drive vulnerable when away from home.

Connectivity

One of the lauded features of external hard drives is how easy it is to connect one to different computers. Using a simple USB cable, all computers are readily designed to accept an external hard drive. With technology evolving, users find themselves with even more options for connectivity. Many external hard drives today feature cutting edge technology that allows for files to be transferred at a much faster rate than ever before. FireWire, allows for lightning fast transfers in comparison to the standard USB port. A Firewire 800 port is approximately twice as fast as a USB or FireWire 400 port. Unfortunately, FireWire has yet to become standardly built into every computer, so most users will use USB ports to connect their external hard drives to their computers.

Compatibility

Another convenient feature of external hard drives is compatibility. Unlike many programs, external hard drives have no problems between operating systems. Users can use external hard drives with Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux. As a result, it is much easier for users to save files onto an external hard drive since they can rest assured that if they go cross platform, they will still be able to access their files.

Portability

Unlike internal hard drives, external hard drives are easy to remove and can travel with a user wherever he or she may go. Coming in two standard sizes of two and a half inches and three and a half inches, external hard drives take up little to no space and can easily be held in the palm of one’s hand. One of the most interesting capabilities of an external hard drive is the ability to boot operating systems from these hard drives.

Security

External hard drives are much less susceptible to computer security threats. When users connect to the internet, they are exposed to various threats including but not limited to trojan horses, malware and spyware. However, since external hard drives are not associated with the main desktop tower, the files on the external hard drive are not vulnerable to these security threats. Thus, many users have turned to external hard drives for storing their valuable files. Biometric security and other security interfaces are now available for external hard drives for enhanced protection.

Conclusion

It is no surprise that external hard drives have become a popular choice by users for meeting their storage needs. Unlike internal hard drives, external hard drives offer users a great deal of freedom with their portability, compatibility and connectivity. Furthermore, external hard drives offer a safe and reliable way to transfer and store files. External hard drives are sure to continue to provide users with a great alternative for storage.