External hard drive selection guide

When selecting an external hard drive to expand computer storage or facilitate data transfer, users should evaluate four primary criteria: capacity, format, connection type, and data redundancy.

Capacity needs vary by usage; 1 TB is generally sufficient for documents and photos, while 2 to 4 TB is recommended for video storage. Regarding format, 2.5-inch portable models are powered via USB and are suitable for travel, whereas 3.5-inch desktop models require an external power outlet but often offer more storage per euro. For connectivity, users should prioritize USB 3.0 or USB-C to avoid the speed limitations of older USB 2.0 ports.

To ensure data security, a single drive is not a complete solution. A secondary copy should be maintained on a different drive or in a cloud-based storage space. Using external drives can prevent system slowdowns caused by full internal flash memory and provides an efficient way to move large files between machines or archive completed projects.