external hard drive advice

[Liverspot]

I know I should be using Carbonite, but what I would really like is an external hard drive that I can plug into all of my machines and be a universal transfer and storage system.

I use my memory stick/thumb drive to transfer small files between my different systems. Can someone recommend an external hard drive that I can plug into my xp box, my mac box and my two linux machines and be universal for all.

I understand that some Win and Mac files will not be read by some linux versions and all, I just want an external disk I can plug into all of my machines and backup/transfer files. A "neutral" disk as it were, does it exist?

Thanks all for any insight!

[PapaBear]

If you have an extra internal drive lying around jut get a USB external drive case. You can get them for only 15 or 12 bucks. I've used one for years. Sometimes I have a small drive in it, sometimes I use a larger one. Works great.

[KnoxHarrington]

To get one that's truly universal for all three, in terms of ability to read and write, you'll need to format it FAT32. Mac OS X can read NTFS, but not write to it -- though there are third party apps that can. Linux in and of itself cannot write to NTFS, but I understand there is a project to add that.

But as it is now, go with FAT32. If you format as FAT32 in Windows, you can't do more than a 30GB partition, but you can format any size drive in Linux as FAT32.

[Suspect Chin]

I use a Lacie EHD that my company gave me and I assume it would work with with Mac. Once you find a EHD that works, for what its worth, I use a free software called SyncBack to sync my files and it works well.

[boosterp]

This is a simple question that needs a simple answer but first are you looking for individual backup, say on PC or are you looking for a network HD such as if you have multiple computers in the house?

Simple, large space, and USB. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136321)

Slightly more complicated, networked so several computers can share, and a better bet if you have 2 or more computers in the house. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822165075)

[nixonfingers]

I agree that a network accessible drive would be the best solution. Here is an example (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Hard_Drives_External/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A2396872&%7Elt=popup&%7Eck=TopSellers).

[Hottub]

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[TjM]

I'm still not sold on carbonite. I don't know if I want my files "out there"