External HD of Internal HD in enclosure?

[PearlChoco]

I want to throw my heap of backup DVD-R's away and replace them with a simple external HD drive, but I can't decide between 2 methods:

1. An external hard disk drive;
I would choose the WESTERN DIGITAL Mybook 250GB USB2.0 External (about $125 where I live).

Or:

2. An internal hard disk drive, put in a portable enclosure;
I would choose a comparable HD, like the WESTERN DIGITAL 250GB-KS 16MB SATA300 7200RPM ($84), using the ICY BOX silver IB-360STUS-BL External USB 3.5 Inch enclosure ($48).

As you can see, there is no real price difference. Method °2 leaves me with an overall better disk drive (16MB, SATA), but since I'll be only using the USB connection (one of my pc's is pretty old) I don't think that would make much of a difference. And wouldn't the external MyBook HD have better shock protection?

Your advice please!

 

[sailer]

I would go for option #2. That gives you more future useage, in case you decide to mount it internally in a new pc at a later date. Also, I think the ICY BOX should provide enough shock protection, long as you aren't using it as a football or anything.

 

[maury73]

The internal solution is absolutely better.
Anyway making backups on HDD is the more insecure way of doing it! It can be very hard to detect a failure until you will not need the backup data... I personally always keep regular backups on DVD and all offices and coporations use DVD or tapes... thinks twice before doing it!

 

[PearlChoco]

I would go for option #2. That gives you more future useage, in case you decide to mount it internally in a new pc at a later date. Also, I think the ICY BOX should provide enough shock protection, long as you aren't using it as a football or anything.

Thanks for the reply.
Do I need any special setup for an externally connected SATA drive? My current setup uses 2 internal EIDE drives, but my MB should definitely be SATA ready.

 

[maury73]

If the enclosure has USB connection, you won't have any special issues, since the SATA controller is integrated in the enclosure.

 

[PearlChoco]

If the enclosure has USB connection, you won't have any special issues, since the SATA controller is integrated in the enclosure.

I know, but besides the USB interface, the enclosure also has a SATA connection which I'd prefere to use for the far higher transfer speeds..

 

[sailer]

If you have a long enough SATA line, you might be able to run that into the case and to a SATA connection on the motherboard. Also check the motherboard itself. Mine has an external SATA port just for an external SATA hard drive, for example.