gecko wrote:
> I plan to spring for a new external hard drive (USB). Anyone care to
> offer advice on what is good and what is not? What I should watch out
> for good or bad?
>
> 250GB appeals to me.

Check Fry's and www.salescircular.com for local specials. Fry's has
frequently sold 500GB external USB drives for $110.

It's possible you can buy an internal HD and an enclosure separately
for less than an external drive, but if you do, first consult
FatWallet.com's "The Official External Enclosure Thread" for both
technical informaiton and sources of bargains:

www.fatwallet.com/t/28/496281

Some enclosures can be awful, so look for something with plenty of
ventilation holes and a facility to let it stand upright securely.
Also avoid most enclosures with built-in power supplies because those
supplies are often not UL or CSA approved and may be pretty dangerous
and untrustworthy. An external power supply will almost always be UL
or CSA approved, and by being outside the enclosure, the internal HD
will run cooler.