EmailBest Reviewed
External Hard Drives
- Best external hard drive LaCie d2 Quadra *Est. $125
- Best portable external hard drive Seagate FreeAgent Go *Est. $70
- Mass storage external drive, network capable Western Digital My Book World Edition *Est. $170
- Fireproof, waterproof external drive ioSafe Solo *Est. $140
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Best portable external hard drive
- Reputation for reliability
- Versions for both Mac and Windows
- Low cost per gigabyte
- Small and light
- Slower than most desktop drives
The Seagate FreeAgent Go is a portable hard drive that doesn't need an external power source; it's powered through your computer's USB port. Professional reviewers recommend the FreeAgent Go more often than any other external hard drive, and user reviews say this drive performs reliably over the long haul.
The FreeAgent Go comes in separate versions for Windows and Mac. The USB-only Windows version includes good backup software, reviews say, and it comes in 250 GB (*Est. $70), 320 GB (*Est. $80), 500 GB (*Est. $105) and 640 GB (*Est. $120) capacities. A USB version for Mac comes in the same sizes -- 250 GB (*Est. $90), 320 GB (*Est. $140), 500 GB (*Est. $120) and 640 GB (*Est. $165). The Mac version lacks backup software, although it's compatible with Apple's Time Machine backup software. A Seagate FreeAgent Go Pro for Mac (*Est. $160) version is offered only in the 500 GB size, but it adds FireWire 400 and 800 ports, as well as a dock that's optional with the USB-only models. Experts say the dock makes it easy to connect your FreeAgent Go to your computer, without having to fiddle with cords.
The Seagate FreeAgent Go has been on the market for a few years, and many review sources pick it as a top product. However, most of those sources tested the FreeAgent Go a couple of years ago. Experts at TomsHardware.com and ConsumerReports.org test the most current model of the FreeAgent Go, and we found plenty of recent owner reviews at Amazon.com. There are fewer reviews at Newegg.com, but the pattern of satisfaction is similar.
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Our Sources
The Seagate FreeAgent Go ranks as one of the best portable hard drives in this six-drive test. The reviewers particularly like the optional dock.
Review: Roundup: Hand-Held Hard Drives With Up To 500 GB, Patrick Schmid and Achim Roos, May 15, 2009
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org tests a few portable hard drives, including Seagate FreeAgent Go. Testers concentrate on the drives' ease of use.
Review: Backup Systems, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
3. Amazon.com
In more than 325 user reviews, the average rating for the FreeAgent Go is 4.5 stars out of five. The vast majority of owners say that the drive does its job reliably.
Review: Seagate FreeAgent Go, Contributors to Amazon.com
4. NewEgg.com
Newegg.com offers reviews of the Seagate FreeAgent Go in multiple capacities and versions. Some get no or only a few ratings, and others pull in more than 40. In most cases, a pattern of satisfaction emerges, with all but a handful granting the drive a four star or five star rating.
Review: Seagate FreeAgent Go, Contributors to Newegg.com
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