With so many information and entertainment now available online, it’s quite hard to delete those information in our hard drives once we reach their maximum capacity. We used to be content with 20GB of hard disk capacity and we even used to brag that we have a 40GB hard disk capacity. But now, 40GB is almost nothing if you’re a movie, music or TV buff. Although you can burn all your favorite shows on your CDs, it’s still better to have them all in your computer.
If you’re still clinging to your 20GB laptop or have just bought that cool ASUS EEE PC with less than 10GB hard disk capacity, you might want to purchase a hard disk enclosure and a hard disk drive to upgrade the storage capacity.
Hard disk enclosures are small boxes big enough for one hard disk. Sitting outside the computer or a laptop, it has the capacity to read the hard disk in your computer. Connecting this gadget to the computer or laptop is really easy since it uses USB 2.0. Depending on your budget there are different types of enclosures to choose from. The only common thing about these gadgets is that it connects to computers via USB and it can store files.
The basic form of enclosures allows you to store files only. That’s the most bareback of all products. Although some may come in fancy design, it’s just another storage device. But there are those models that upgrade a hard disk to the next level. Instead of reading the contents of the hard disk, the enclosure comes with complete connectors to your television. The result is, you have a media player that reads hard disks. Last but not the least is your ultimate mobile hard disk players. This type of enclosure comes with a screen that lets you watch movies and even listen to music. Some sell this as a photobank, but it is much, much more.
Before you can go out and buy an enclosure online or in your local computer store, always remember these tips:
- Check the capacity of the enclosure. Unfortunately, a hard disk enclosure will always have a limit. Don’t just buy something online if they do not indicate its capacity. Usually their capacity could be from 80GB up to 600GB or even more. The higher the price, the bigger its capacity.
- Format your hard disk – visit a computer technician so that he/she could format your hard disk as a storage device. If they are not properly formatted, computer will have trouble reading or transferring the information to your hard disk.
- If possible, purchase an enclosure with a built-in hard disk – although this is rare, it certainly beats the trouble of inserting the hard disk inside your enclosure. You don’t even have to worry about format since usually they are already formatted to be read.
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USB (Universal Serial Bus) was introduced way back in 1995. This was supported by big names of the computer world, including Microsoft and Intel. Soon enough, USB devices started to be created but the development was rather slow. But since version 2.0 was invented in year 2000 and was introduced to the public the next year, almost all peripheral devices including memory devices, mouse, keyboards and printers have been based on USB.
Aside from the mouse, keyboards and printers, there are other USB enabled devices that you can plug into your computer. Think of it as upgrading your computers performance may it be on productivity or entertainment. Here are the six devices by which you can give your computer a little kick.
1. USB Hubs – unfortunately a regular computer only has five USB ports. We don’t want to be too greedy but if you want to have so many USB based devices, you need to have more ports. That could be answered by purchasing USB hubs. A USB hub is not only an extension for one USB port, but also can be an extension for four additional USB ports.
2. USB TV Dongle – if you can’t get out of your computer but don’t want to miss their favorite shows, the USB TV Dongle is the perfect gadget for them. Just insert the device in the USB port and connect the cable connection on the other end. Your computer now becomes your cable TV. These devices usually come with a remote control and an installer where you can record the shows as you wish.
3. USB IrDA – instead of connecting mobile phones and infrared enabled devices to your laptops, the USB IrDA will convert your laptop or computer into an infrared enabled device. You can virtually connect to other infrared enabled devices usually within a meter range.
4. USB Gamepad – if you don’t have the latest PlayStation or Xbox, it doesn’t mean you can enjoy games using a gamepad. Download and install games that are gamepad enabled and use this device like you’re playing in a regular PlayStation or Xbox. Although the titles are not the same, you can still have the same enjoyment with this gamepad.
5. PlayStation 2 to USB Cable – if you have a PlayStation 2 and would like to transfer you gaming experience to your laptop, no need to purchase another controller. This device will convert your PlayStation 2 controller into a USB enable gamepad. Prepare to pay a little bit higher if you want to have a USB device that can cater to two PlayStation 2 controllers.
6. USB Modem – for faster internet connection, connect your computer directly to a modem. This will ensure that you don’t have to connect through LAN for an internet connection.
Remember that these devices usually run in Windows 98 or Higher. For Vista, check if the devices are already upgraded to work with Microsoft Corporation’s latest OS.
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The FireWire data transfer format has lost a bit of its luster in the past few years. The development of USB 2, with its slightly faster maximum transfer speeds, left the FireWire protocol in its shadow as many device makers adopted the new USB format for their products. But the 1394 Trade Association announced last week that a new, so-called “FireWire S32,” specification will allow data transfers at much higher speeds.
The new system, which will continue to take advantage of existing FireWire cables and connections, is expected to be ready in February ‘08. The S32 version of FireWire promises faster performance, and the ability to run longer connecting cables — up to 100 meters or more.
The 1392 Association are also claiming that the new FireWire protocol will reach an astonishing 3.2 GB per second of data transfer, or approximately 4 times the speed of current FireWire or USB 2 formats.
Although video cameras and a few other devices commonly use FireWire interfaces to connect to a computer, many other computer peripherals have switched over to the USB 2 system, including the majority of external hard drives. But if the new and improved FireWire delivers anything close to its claimed 3.2 GB per second transfer speeds, it is likely we will see many computer peripheral manufacturers switching back to the FireWire format.
External computer hard drives, in particular, can respond slowly with standard USB 2 or FireWire connections; but the new faster FireWire protocol — which some analysts are already calling FireWire 2 — should prevent “lag time” in accessing information on external hard drives. In fact, with speeds up to 3.2 Gb per second, FireWire 2 could render external hard drives as fast or faster than standard internal computer hard drives. This is especially good news for laptop users, who often need large external drives for data storage.
The new format will also speed up transfer of video and audio data from digital cameras, digital camcorders, or other media devices. Interestingly enough, one group that has never stopped using FireWire connectors is digital image enthusiasts. High quality digital photographs and videos take up an enormous amount of hard drive space, so digital image and video buffs are in effect the “power users” of external USB or FireWire hard drive devices.
Now it seems that the digital image and video loyalist are finally being rewarded for sticking with the FireWire format, as the dramatic increase in data transfer speeds will benefit those users the most.
While many computer users may not notice a huge difference with the switch to the new faster FireWire 2 format, those who regularly use peripheral devices of nearly any kind are sure to appreciate the difference.
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