The presence of a hard drive additional
protection against dust and moisture.
This feature is typical for external models (see "Execution") — they are the most susceptible to negative factors. The degree of protection against dust and moisture can be different, it should be specified separately in each case. Nevertheless, additional security anyway has a positive effect on the reliability and durability of the media.
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USB port. Powering an external hard drive directly through the USB connector used to connect to a computer. The advantage of such disks is that they do not require a separate power supply — thus, they can be used even with laptops in the absence of an electrical outlet. However, it is worth considering that the power of the current supplied through the USB connector may sometimes not be enough to start the disc — especially if the connection is made through a USB hub at the same time as several other devices.
— Thunderbolt. Powered directly through the Thunderbolt connector — the same one used for the main connection. For more information about the connector itself, see “Connection Interfaces”, otherwise this option is completely similar to the USB power supply described above (adjusted for the fact that Thunderbolt does not use hubs).
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Power supply. Power supply of an external drive from a separate unit connected to a standard 220V network. Such drives may have a connection interface other than USB, are free from problems associated with insufficient power supply, but their mobility is limited by the availability of electrical outlets.
A special
case is included with the hard drive. Such a cover facilitates the transportation of the device, protects its body from dirt and scratches, and even protects it to some extent from bumps and shocks. It also comes in handy to protect delicate items in the neighborhood of the hard drive from contact with its hard case. It makes sense to pay attention to models with a case if you plan to frequently transport the hard drive from place to place.
Due to the specifics of the application, only external hard drives are currently equipped with a case (see "Type").
Main material used for external hard drive enclosure (see "Performance").
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Plastic. The most common option. Plastic is light, cheap, quite practical, including has good strength properties. In addition, it allows you to create cases of complex shape and almost any colour.
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Metal. Usually, aluminium-based alloys are used for metal cases, but other options are also found. Anyway, such cases are much stronger than plastic ones, and also have a stylish appearance. On the other hand, in terms of impact protection, this material has no advantages over plastic, but it costs much more, and it can weigh much more (depending on the specific alloy).
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Rubberized. In this case, it usually means an additional external coating of rubber applied to a plastic or metal case. All rubberized cases are classified as shock resistant (see Features/Features) — thanks to their softness and resiliency, this coating provides additional protection against impacts. In addition, this material does not slip in the hands, thereby reducing the risk of dropping the device.
— Leather. Housing made of hard material (metal or plastic, see above) covered with natural or artificial leather. Such a coating plays an exclusively aesthetic role: it gives the hard drive a solid appearance, actually turning the device into a fashion accessory. At the same time, the use of
...leather significantly affects the cost; so paying attention to such models is for those for whom the design of the drive is no less important than the functionality.
