Portable drive or upload to the cloud?

[Scarpozzi]

I'm switching jobs next week. I have about 250GB of data on my current system I want to take with me. Much of it is music and stuff I listen to at work. I have a 500GB portable USB drive that's apparently died since the last time I used it. I rarely have a need for such a thing.

Should I run out and drop $65-70 on a 1TB drive or pay carbonite or a similar outfit to take my data. (suggest other companies)

I'm currently on an Ubuntu flavor, but will likely be moving to Windows in my new job. I was going to use Ubuntu One, but couldn't get the sync app to install correctly on my system.

Thanks.

 

[sm625]

250GB is a lot of music. You could buy a $40 128GB thumb drive, and just get rid of some stuff. They are imo more friendly and reliable than a protable HDD.

How long would it take to upload that much data?

Can you get access to an open SATA port inside the system? (I just pull the cords out of the DVD drive, then plug them back in when done.) If so you could install an internal SATA drive and copy the files. I trust a full sized solid 3.5" bare HDD much more than one of those portable drives which often contain cheap notebook drives that weigh 2 ounces and feel about as sturdy as a graham cracker.

 

[Scarpozzi]

It's not just music. I mainly care about it though because it's what I sync to Google Music...so I'd like to maintain the same catalog. I've got files and a few virtual machines too that I use for work.

I thought about the thumb drive, but worry about large file transfers. I've had mixed results copying large image files to usb sticks in the past. You reminded me though. I've got a 2TB WD Red new in the box. I might be able to throw it in my USB enclosure with the failed drive and bring it in. That would allow me to format it for FAT32 and mount it.

 

[Charlie98]

Spend the loot and get a portable HDD... and a case for it.

I've got a 2TB WD Red new in the box. I might be able to throw it in my USB enclosure with the failed drive and bring it in. That would allow me to format it for FAT32 and mount it.

If you have a HDD cradle you could use it that way, too... or an enclosure would work.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Spend the loot and get a portable HDD... and a case for it.



If you have a HDD cradle you could use it that way, too... or an enclosure would work.

I guess I'll drop the cash and grab one at lunch.

Thanks.

 

[tweakboy]

Get a guard for it,,, keep it fresh,,,,,

 

[ronbo613]

I have a couple of these WD Passport Ultra portable drives I carry around with my laptop. They're nice little storage units and you can buy them at WalMart.