Need smart people help(DVD/USB stuff)

[biggestmexi]

Ok i bought a DVD player that support USB. (AWESOME)

But i wonder how long a life of a hdd will be if i plug it into my pc D/L files to it and then unplug and plug it into my DVD player. (yes external HDD enclosure with seagate drive)

and then do this over and over.

Is there a huge problem with that if i shut it off to move it?

[KingGeno]

Well.... Why do you have an external hard drive?

I have one for backup/storing some excess video files and software. When I don't need it I disconnect it from the computer. I've hot-swapped this external HD for about 2.5 years, and I hope longer. I may be lucky. Reconnecting it a lot isn't the best thing in the world, but it should still last long.

If you are worried, pickup up a really big thumb drive at WOOT.com (http://www.woot.com) the next time there is one up there. There was a 8GB thumb drive for 18 bucks a few days ago.

[biggestmexi]

Well.... Why do you have an external hard drive?

I have one for backup/storing some excess video files and software. When I don't need it I disconnect it from the computer. I've hot-swapped this external HD for about 2.5 years, and I hope longer. I may be lucky. Reconnecting it a lot isn't the best thing in the world, but it should still last long.

If you are worried, pickup up a really big thumb drive at WOOT.com (http://www.woot.com) the next time there is one up there. There was a 8GB thumb drive for 18 bucks a few days ago.

I have this 750g for movie storage and pictures basically. My home pc is VERY old.

It has only 50g in it. I have several flash drives although they are only 1G.

i notice they now have like 32G flash drives !! wow. i got this HDD cheaper than those.

[KingGeno]

I wouldn't worry bout it then. These external hard drives are used for swapability a lot. Realistically, the most you will get out of them is 3-5 years if you are lucky. Its debatable whether or not the constant plugging in of the drive is bad for it. The problem lies when you plug it in, and the hard drive has to speed itself up to the RPM's to start. With the constant swapping, that could burn out.

[biggestmexi]

I wouldn't worry bout it then. These external hard drives are used for swapability a lot. Realistically, the most you will get out of them is 3-5 years if you are lucky. Its debatable whether or not the constant plugging in of the drive is bad for it. The problem lies when you plug it in, and the hard drive has to speed itself up to the RPM's to start. With the constant swapping, that could burn out.

I figured there could be some problems.

wish i had the money for Solid State - :wub:

[KnoxHarrington]

But it's not actually an external HD, is it? It's an internal in an enclosure.

I'm not sure if that makes it more or less reliable. I can see it both ways.

I agree with the advice to just get an 8 or even 16GB flash drive for what you want. You should be able to get a good one cheap.

[KingGeno]

Flash is the way to go for your convenience. I recently installed a new receiver in my car (radio head unit), and it has a USB plug on the front. It works great, although I use my ipod more.

As for solid state. I can't see myself spedning money on a 32GB solid state when I can get a 1TB external hard drive for much cheaper. It will shrink in price, but they are already talking about holographic data storage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_memory). Apparently Nintendo is looking into this technology for the follow-up to Wii.

[biggestmexi]

Flash is the way to go for your convenience. I recently installed a new receiver in my car (radio head unit), and it has a USB plug on the front. It works great, although I use my ipod more.

As for solid state. I can't see myself spedning money on a 32GB solid state when I can get a 1TB external hard drive for much cheaper. It will shrink in price, but they are already talking about holographic data storage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_memory). Apparently Nintendo is looking into this technology for the follow-up to Wii.

i did a report on that when i was in highschool