Dane Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 So I am looking for another external hard drive. I currently looking at the Western Digital My book 4 TB. Alot of the reviews on amazon and other websites seem good. Does anyone have one of these and if so, would you recommend it? I mainly want it to backup files and folders as I go on, and backup of pictures (I lost an entire collection because I thought it was already backed up, and it wasn't). And some videos and an image of my PC. I'm only looking to spend at max $150, amazon and my local walmart has the 4tb model for around $125. I was going to also get some cloud backups, like crash plan. But with everything I want backed up, would take a ridiculous amount of time since I only have 3MB up and the stuff i'd put in the cloud is over 100 gig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted April 19, 2015 Moderator Share Posted April 19, 2015 I always liked to get the 2.5/3.5 hdd and external separate. Normally, in the end, it's cheaper. And you get better warranties in most cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I always liked to get the 2.5/3.5 hdd and external separate. Normally, in the end, it's cheaper. And you get better warranties in most cases. I always liked to get the 2.5/3.5 hdd and external separate. Normally, in the end, it's cheaper. And you get better warranties in most cases. All a MyBook is - when it gets down to brass tacks - is a NAS that can either attach to a single PC or to a router (as a form of SAN or NAS) to provide centralized storage (or backup capability) to an entire home network. Following the BYO approach IS usually cheaper - depending on the drive you use, you can get better warranties. (That's why I got into BYOPC.) However, some folks are uncomfortable using a screwdriver. That's why MyBooks - and their competition - are popular today. I have nothing against the MyBook - the largest of my desktop's three hard drives came from one. (A "plugology error" by the original owner fried the external electronics - the drive itself held up just fine. They bought a replacement - which got the data backed up, and moved on, while I got the now-emptied drive as payment for services rendered.) If you are considering a MyBook - either pre-assembled or BYO - I prefer the router-based connection because it supports the entire network. (If your router supports USB connections, you're good to go - if not, how old is your router? Yes, I'm serious - if your router supports AT LEAST dual-band N, it will, more likely than not, ALSO support such a connection.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 All a MyBook is - when it gets down to brass tacks - is a NAS that can either attach to a single PC or to a router (as a form of SAN or NAS) to provide centralized storage (or backup capability) to an entire home network. Following the BYO approach IS usually cheaper - depending on the drive you use, you can get better warranties. (That's why I got into BYOPC.) However, some folks are uncomfortable using a screwdriver. That's why MyBooks - and their competition - are popular today. I have nothing against the MyBook - the largest of my desktop's three hard drives came from one. (A "plugology error" by the original owner fried the external electronics - the drive itself held up just fine. They bought a replacement - which got the data backed up, and moved on, while I got the now-emptied drive as payment for services rendered.) If you are considering a MyBook - either pre-assembled or BYO - I prefer the router-based connection because it supports the entire network. (If your router supports USB connections, you're good to go - if not, how old is your router? Yes, I'm serious - if your router supports AT LEAST dual-band N, it will, more likely than not, ALSO support such a connection.) My current router is a netgear WNR2000v2. I only need this one PC backed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted April 19, 2015 Moderator Share Posted April 19, 2015 All a MyBook is - when it gets down to brass tacks - is a NAS that can either attach to a single PC or to a router (as a form of SAN or NAS) to provide centralized storage (or backup capability) to an entire home network. Following the BYO approach IS usually cheaper - depending on the drive you use, you can get better warranties. (That's why I got into BYOPC.) However, some folks are uncomfortable using a screwdriver. That's why MyBooks - and their competition - are popular today. I have nothing against the MyBook - the largest of my desktop's three hard drives came from one. (A "plugology error" by the original owner fried the external electronics - the drive itself held up just fine. They bought a replacement - which got the data backed up, and moved on, while I got the now-emptied drive as payment for services rendered.) If you are considering a MyBook - either pre-assembled or BYO - I prefer the router-based connection because it supports the entire network. (If your router supports USB connections, you're good to go - if not, how old is your router? Yes, I'm serious - if your router supports AT LEAST dual-band N, it will, more likely than not, ALSO support such a connection.) Yeah, you normally have to break the case to get the drive out. For further testing. Breaking the casing normally voids warranty. I had a mybook (around 2007) that was so loud, I couldn't stand it. So I tried taking it apart. It was a nightmare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romero Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I have one and connect it directly to my PC via USB to take regular backups (not with the bundled software though) but don't touch it otherwise. Works fine, cannot complain. Bought it because another 3TB MyBook was almost full, but that one has never given me any problems either (and neither one is loud). Yeah, I would recommend it to anyone in need of a large external drive for backing up their data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceelf Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I prefer the router-based connection because it supports the entire network. (If your router supports USB connections, you're good to go - if not, how old is your router? Yes, I'm serious - if your router supports AT LEAST dual-band N, it will, more likely than not, ALSO support such a connection.) You might want to check out smallnetbuilder at some point...most routers seem to have terrible read/write speeds on their USB ports. (Maybe you know this already, but.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mindovermaster Moderator Posted April 19, 2015 Moderator Share Posted April 19, 2015 I have one and connect it directly to my PC via USB to take regular backups (not with the bundled software though) but don't touch it otherwise. Works fine, cannot complain. Bought it because another 3TB MyBook was almost full, but that one has never given me any problems either (and neither one is loud). Yeah, I would recommend it to anyone in need of a large external drive for backing up their data. Mine was an older 500GB one, so really can't compare I prefer passports more, but that's me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 Yeah, you normally have to break the case to get the drive out. For further testing. Breaking the casing normally voids warranty. I had a mybook (around 2007) that was so loud, I couldn't stand it. So I tried taking it apart. It was a nightmare. Thanks, I shall remember that. I have one and connect it directly to my PC via USB to take regular backups (not with the bundled software though) but don't touch it otherwise. Works fine, cannot complain. Bought it because another 3TB MyBook was almost full, but that one has never given me any problems either (and neither one is loud). Yeah, I would recommend it to anyone in need of a large external drive for backing up their data. Thanks! no issues with it? is it normally plugged in or only when needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iogbrideau Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I have both an old 1TB WD MyBookLive NAS, and a newer 3TB WDMyClound NAS, and they're pretty good quality. I use them for storage and not really backups, as they only have one HDD each. They were the cheaper solutions I had available to me at the time and have worked really well. If I had to replace them today I would probably go another way though with a NAS that can hold multiple drives and get the drives myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidosho Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I'd go for the separate enclosure and drive option, WD's have a nasty habit of having encryption between the drive and interface controller board, especially in their Passport and Elements lines, so if the enclosure fails, getting data off is tricky, the Passports even have non standard drive boards, with a USB interface directly on the drive control board instead of SATA, as well as the encryption, so I'd avoid them at all costs if ease of recovery of data is going to be in your mind, and if you do decide to get one, have a backup plan handy. As far as I'm aware the MyBooks have *optional* encryption, so it should be disabled by default IIRC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUTZIFER Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I have the 3TB MyBook. Was great for a couple years, but went on me a little while ago. A real bummer since it was damn near full. Now my 2 TB of porn is gone, and all my game iso and software installers too. I'm probably gonna by the 4TB MyCloud next though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Would buying an internal drive and using it with an external dock be a good alternate option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romero Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Mine was an older 500GB one, so really can't compare Well I don't know about 500GB MyBooks but I have an ancient 500GB Seagate FreeAgent that's well out of warranty now but still works fine and has never been loud. Perhaps you got a bad one? Thanks! no issues with it? is it normally plugged in or only when needed?None whatsoever so far. It's plugged in only when needed and stored safely otherwise. Would buying an internal drive and using it with an external dock be a good alternate option?Sure, if you take care to store the drives properly. I have a Thermaltake BlacX Duet myself but it can be a bit of an issue though if you want to take the drives somewhere and get data off them. There are much more portable and smaller USB<>SATA adapters available but I haven't tried those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 None whatsoever so far. It's plugged in only when needed and stored safely otherwise. Sure, if you take care to store the drives properly. I have a Thermaltake BlacX Duet myself but it can be a bit of an issue though if you want to take the drives somewhere and get data off them. There are much more portable and smaller USB<>SATA adapters available but I haven't tried those. What kind of issues getting the data off of them? Sorry, I never used one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romero Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 What kind of issues getting the data off of them? Sorry, I never used one before. I meant portability issues. Sometimes I do need to take the drives elsewhere and copy data off them to other systems, but with bare internal drives combined with an external docking station like the BlacX it doesn't really make for a very portable combo. Might not be an issue for you though depending on your usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 I meant portability issues. Sometimes I do need to take the drives elsewhere and copy data off them to other systems, but with bare internal drives combined with an external docking station like the BlacX it doesn't really make for a very portable combo. Might not be an issue for you though depending on your usage. Thanks. Yeah it shouldn't get moved around too much. It should just be sitting on the desk either plugged in or not. I just have to figure out the best way to store it when not in use. Ziplock bag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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