The professional design and editing industry is becoming more and more reliant on external hard drives to store information. This is because of the increase in size of media files which means that file storage space is being used up fast.
Designers and editors often need a lot of storage space for their projects, so an external hard drive has become a necessary companion for these professionals. They have been around for years and have been upgraded many times over the years with advancements in technology.
In this article, we will take a look at why designers and editors need an external hard drive to store all their files, as well as what kind of needs they may have for this kind of storage solution and also take a look at some of the best budget external hard drives (SSD vs HDD) to keep their design and files organized in a way that they can work more efficiently without worrying about any corruptions.
What is an External Hard Drive?
An external hard drive is a hard disk drive that can be connected to a computer system through an external interface which is most commonly USB. External hard drives are portable devices that allow you to store data outside of your computer. External Hard Drives are small, lightweight storage devices that can be used to store data. They are available in a variety of sizes, speeds, and prices.
External hard drives are used for many purposes. They are mostly used to store data that is too large or too important for an individual to keep on their computer’s hard disk. It can also be used to enhance the available storage space of computers when the internal storage capacity of the system is not enough.
Some people use it for backing up data or transferring data from one device to another device. External hard drives are also useful when transferring large amounts of video, audio, and graphic files because they have faster read and write speeds than traditional USB sticks.
The most basic designs use a USB cable to connect them to your computer. These drives offer the advantage of being easy to carry around with your laptop or workstation, However, it should be noted that their read and write speeds are slower than those of more expensive models.
The most common design is the tower design which connects via an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi (wireless) connection for faster performance and more capacity than USB models. These models don’t require any cables for connectivity which makes them ideal for areas where there is no wired network connection like on airplanes, trains, etc.
Why an External Hard Drive is a Necessity for a Designers or Video Editors?
Designers and Video editors need a lot of storage space. It is not possible to store everything on a laptop or computer, which brings the external hard drive into the picture.
Many designers and video editors need to carry their work with them. They will not be able to do their jobs if they do not have the appropriate space on their laptop or desktop computer. This is where an external hard drive can come in handy.
Laptops and computers have a limited amount of storage space which means that it is important for designers and video editors to have an external hard drive in order to store all of their files.
Check these 3 reasons why an external hard drive can make your life as a Designers or Video Editor much easier:
- Data Protection: External hard drives are the best way to protect your data from being lost in case of a computer crash or virus attack.
- Backup: Designers and Video Editors have to have a backup plan because they depend heavily on their computers. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people in the industry to back up their files every day or even multiple times per day.
- Speed: The speed at which you can save your work on an external drive is influenced by many factors such as the capacity of the hard drive and the speed of your computer.
Things To Consider When Buying a External Hard Drive
Most laptops and tablets come with a hard drive that is less than 500 GB. They are enough for emails, documents, and some photos or videos. But if you want to store more files such as music, videos, etc. you need an external hard drive.
There are many things to consider when buying an external hard drive for editing and designs. But first, you have to know the different types of hard drives, how large the storage is, the speed of the hard drive, and the compatibility with other hardware such as flash drives. Let’s see in more detail.
HDD vs SSD vs SSHD
HDD: The HDD (hard disk drive) has traditionally been the most common type of hard drive that computers use, but it is also one that is more susceptible to failure.
SSD: The SSD (Solid-state drives) are more expensive than traditional hard drives, but they boast a number of benefits for the modern day user. Not only are they faster- capable of reaching speeds up to 540MB per second while only consuming one-tenth the power that a regular HDD would need- but they also don’t depend on any moving mechanical parts. This means that the SSD should be able to last longer than other storage devices.
SSHD: The SSHD combines the best features of both HDDs and SSDs meaning it offers all the benefits of both technologies with less risk of failure. The SSHD offers the fastest data access speeds on the market, low power consumption, no moving parts which makes it more durable, and faster data backup speeds.
Storage Capacity
The capacity of your best hard drive will depend on the type of storage you are looking to use. For instance, if you need to store videos, then your storage needs are going to be much higher than for someone who requires only document files. The average video file size is between 1-3 GBs. If you want to store videos on your hard drive, then it should have at least 500GBs.
The capacity of an external hard drive is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB), with 1 TB being equivalent to 1024 GB; experts recommend having 2-3 TBs of storage space for multimedia files like photos and videos when using it as your primary storage device.
The size is the most important factor because it determines how much data can be stored on the device. The last factor is compatibility. If you’re looking for a portable hard drive that you can take with you on the go, it’s important to make sure that it is compatible with your laptop or tablet. So before buying an external hard drive make sure that it has enough space for all your files and future needs.
Transfer speed
Transfer speed is one of the most important aspects of an external hard drive. External hard drives are used to store data that needs to be transferred from one location to another. A slow transfer speed may lead to data loss during transfer which causes a lot of inconvenience for users.
The transfer speed is usually measured in bytes per second (BPS) or Megabytes per second (MBPS). It indicates how many bytes or megabytes are transferred per second. For example, a USB 3.0 external hard drive can transfer data at up to 1,500 MBPS; whereas, an SD card transfers data at up to 1,200 MBPS.
If possible, the best choice would be a USB 3.0 connection which has a maximum transmission rate of 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps for newer devices. Thunderbolt 3 devices are available on the market, offering transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.
Portability and Durability
Portability refers to how easy it is to carry the hard drive around with you or easily moved from one place to another. External hard drives are designed for portability because they are often small and lightweight. The durability of an external hard drive is important because they are used outside of the safety of your home or office, which can put them at risk for damage due to accidents or theft.
Compatibility
The first thing that needs to be discussed is compatibility with different operating systems. This is because there are many different operating systems out there and if the external hard drive is not compatible with at least one of them, it’s not worth the investment. Almost every operating system has a specific file system, which means that if the external hard drive can’t read it, it will be rendered useless.
Compatibility with different file systems might not seem like an important thing, but it actually is because, without compatibility, you can’t use the external hard drive.
Budget
There are a number of hard drive options to choose from, and they differ in price and features. On a budget? Consider an affordable option that may sacrifice some performance. Only pay more if you have the budget to do so and want more advanced features.
What are the Best Brands of External Hard Drives?
External hard drives are not just for backing up your computer data but also these portable USB hard drives are used in many other ways in our lives.
For example, External hard drives can be used in your car to play music or video on the go, they can be used to store movies, photos, and other files on them which you can later plug into your TV or laptop. Below we have mentioned some are the best brands of the external hard drives in the market;
1. Seagate Ultra Touch HDD
The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD 2TB External Hard Drive is the perfect storage solution for your data. It can be used to back up or store your photos, videos, music, and documents on the go.
The Seagate Ultra Touch HDD is powered by USB-C (USB 3.0) which ensures high-speed data transfer rates of up to 5Gb/s. And features a fingerprint reader with 256-bit AES encryption for security purposes.
It also comes with an automatic backup software called Seagate Dashboard which goes beyond basic backup features by giving you complete control over how and what you back up on your computer.
This hard drive also has an automatic file recovery feature that lets you protect yourself from accidental deletions, lost files, or hardware failures
Specification
Capacity: 2TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.0 Type-A
Weight: 0.15 kg
2. Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD
Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD is a portable and wireless storage device. It easily connects to Wi-Fi and supports various formats like FAT32, exFAT, NTFS and HFS+. This is a great way to transfer data between your computer and the external hard drive without cable.
The Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD has 2TB of storage capacity. You can backup your files by just dragging and dropping them into this external hard drive on Windows or Mac computers. It also enables you to access and share files with others nearby using DLNA or AirPlay.
Specification
Capacity: 2TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.0
Weight: 119g
3. Toshiba - Canvio Gaming Hard Drive
This is not your average external hard drive. Toshiba has combined the convenience of a portable hard drive with the performance of a desktop hard drive to provide consumers with a new level of freedom and flexibility while gaming on the go.
Canvio Gaming is compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, and PC gaming systems. You can choose to play on whichever console you like without any hassle. This portable hard drive is equipped with specialized software that’s always on. The “Always-On” mode is ready to respond when you’re in the middle of a game, so you can spend more time winning
The drive features two USB 3.0 ports that allow for speeds up to 5 Gb/s and can connect to any PC or Mac® laptop with no additional drivers needed. The Canvio Gaming is also HDCP compliant, meaning that it can stream 4K Ultra HD content from select video streaming services*. It also comes in black, which makes it look sleek and stylish next to your gaming console or notebook computer.
Specification
Capacity: 2TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.0, USB 2.0
Weight: 150g
4. Transcend Rugged External Hard Drive
The StoreJet 25M3C is the only portable hard drive in its class to offer a USB Type-C connector. The StoreJet 25M3C features the latest USB 3.1 Gen 1 technology with data transfer rates up to 5Gbps and is compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 (SP1), and Mac OS X (10.8-10.11).
The StoreJet 25M3C has a compact design that is sturdy enough to withstand drops of up to one meter on concrete and other harsh surfaces.
The StoreJet 25M3C also features automatic backup software for both Macs and PCs in order to help users protect their data in case of theft or loss.
Specification
Capacity: 4TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.2, USB 3.1 Type-C
Weight: 294 g
5. Samsung X5 Portable SSD
The Samsung X5 Portable SSD is an external drive that has a lightweight, slim design so it’s easy to carry around. It has a capacity of 2TB. The Samsung X5 Portable SSD is USB-C compatible, which makes it easy to plug into the latest MacBook Pro or the new Dell XPS 13.
The Samsung X5 Portable SSD is also available in 512GB and 1TB storage capacities.
Specification
Capacity: 2TB
Connection Interface: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0 Type-C
Weight: 0.23 kg
6. LaCie 2big RAID External Hard Drive
The LaCie 2big RAID is an external hard drive. It comes with USB-C and USB 3.0 ports. Unlike other external hard drives, this one has an Enterprise-Class storage capacity of 16TB which ensures that there is plenty of space for backup.
The 2big RAID can be used for both personal and professional use.
Specification
Capacity: 16 TB (2 x 8 TB)
Connection Interface: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0 Type-C – A
Weight: 2.9 kg
7. Buffalo - MiniStation External Portable Hard Drive
Buffalo is a well-known brand in the external storage devices space due to its high quality and performance. They make it up to our top list for this category with the MiniStation 1TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive – Black.
The Buffalo MiniStation has an excellent product design, 3.0 speeds backward compatible with USB 2.0), and will work on any PC or Mac with USB connectivity.
The Buffalo Technology external drive Turbo – 1TB is a portable hard drive that has a dual interface and is USB-C and USB 3.1 compatible. It can transfer speeds of up to 5 GB/s for working with large files.
It also has a lightweight, bus-powered design that fits inside your bag to take with you on the go, and an integrated carry handle for easy transport. This external drive only weighs 185 grams, which makes it a stylish accessory that looks good with any outfit or laptop bag.
Specification
Capacity: 1 TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.0
Weight: 184g
8. LaCie Mobile Drive Portable External Hard Drive
LaCie Mobile Drive is the best external hard drive for most people because of its affordable price, 5TB of storage space, and USB-C connection.
It is the best external hard drive for most people because it has a large capacity of 5TB that can store almost everything they need. The LaCie Mobile Drive also has a USB-C connection which allows you to transfer photos, videos, and music between your computer and LaCie Mobile Drive at high speeds.
This makes it easier to upload content on this device without having to wait too long.
Specification
Capacity: 5TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.2, 3.1 Type-C
Weight: 0.41 kg
9. G-Technology ArmorATD All-Terrain Rugged Portable External Hard Drive
The G-Technology ArmorATD 4TB is a rugged portable external hard drive. The ArmorATD is designed for rugged use in the field, with a rubberized exterior to resist dust, dirt, and water intrusion. It also has a locking port to prevent accidental data loss.
The G-Technology ArmorATD 4TB can be customized with one of four colors to suit your needs. It is compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C 3.0 ports and offers an impressive transfer rate of 140 MB/s (USB 3.1) for lightning-fast transfers of large files like HD video.
Specification
Capacity: 2TB
Connection Interface: USB 3.0 Type-C
Weight: 0.23 kg
10. SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE PRO - Enterprise-Class Desktop Hard Drive
The latest enterprise-class desktop drive from SanDisk delivers the performance and capacity for demanding video editing and post-production workflows. With up to 12TB of storage capacity in a single drive, G-DRIVE PRO gives you the flexibility to handle massive files from multiple HD video cameras with ease. With its dual Thunderbolt 3 ports and USB-C connector, you can connect any Mac or PC with a USB C port. It also features a 7200RPM 128MB cache for increased throughput when transferring large files such as 4K video footage.
This SanDisk is an excellent investment for people who need to store a lot of information.
Specification
Capacity: 12TB
Connection Interface: Thunderbolt 3, USB Type-C
Weight: 1.04 kg
Final Verdict
If you do not already have an external hard drive, we highly recommend that you go and get one as soon as possible. The reason for this is because the amount of data and storage on computers and laptops is limited and can fill up quickly.
External hard drives are great if you need more storage space than what your computer offers, as they provide a lot more room for all your work. They also make it easier to transfer information between devices such as computers, laptops, or tablets.
An external hard drive makes it easy to back up your work so that if anything were to happen to the device where the information is stored, it would be backed up elsewhere and not lost forever.
In a nutshell, a hard drive can make your life easier without having to worry about corruption. It is not connected to a computer or laptop, that is why it is one of the safest ways to store data from a computer in a single unit.
Above, We discussed some of the benefits of an external hard drive for those working in the design or editing field. What do you think is it worth it or not? Share your thoughts.
