What is the difference between these two hard drives?

[Jskid]

Seagate Expansion

vs

WD My Passport

The first is bigger and cheaper but the second has a higher rating, why? I can't decide.

 

[corkyg]

Higher rating by whom based on what? In this forum, the preponderance of anecdotal evidence would support the WD Passport. I would be practical and buy which ever one poresented the best value based on many factors, but most importantly, what I want it for. As for prepackaged externals, my preference would be a good case that would let me roll my own.

 

[greenhawk]

The first is a 3.5" drive and requires a power pack to work.

The second is a 2.5" drive and can run just from the power USB provides.

 

[wpcoe]

That surely is a significant difference, and not one that I would have figured out from the linked amazon.com pages.

 

[Coup27]

That surely is a significant difference, and not one that I would have figured out from the linked amazon.com pages.

It does state on the Amazon page for the Seagate item that "Power supply and USB 3.0 cable included".

OP - That is the difference. One is a desktop sized drive which requires external power and one is a portable drive which requires USB power.

 

[tweakboy]

Seagate Expansion

vs

WD My Passport

The first is bigger and cheaper but the second has a higher rating, why? I can't decide.

The WD Passport is the one to get my friend. Heres why.

Seagate used to be a single company. Then they Maxtor bought them. Maxtor hard drives are the worst hard drives to get they all break down, external or internal. Their making the seagate drives and their horrible I know 6 people whos external or internal maxtor has died.

Remember IBM. Maxtor is like IBM , and IBM got out of the business ....

Western Digital is #1 for mechanical hard drives.

Samsung and Crucial are #1 for ssd drives.

 

[corkyg]

Rule of thumb: 3.5-in drives require their own power module. 2.5-in drives usually do not. Some older 2.5-in externals come with a "Y" USB connector - they need two USB ports to drive them.

 

[Vinwiesel]

I've been happy with the 2T passport. (Cyber-Monday $112) It only gets used as a backup drive, but it is convenient to simply plug in the USB cord rather than finding an outlet. You also don't have the extra bulk, cords, and power adapter to lug around and store. I also had one of the old 3.5 external drives fry from the power adapter. I won't be buying any more of those.