BUSlink 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive: Good Semi-Portable Storage
Written: Dec 23 '07 (Updated Jul 17 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to connect and use, large capacity, reliable
Cons: Plugs into outlet rather than powering off of USB, not as portable as some alternatives
The Bottom Line: This drive is ideal for users looking for a stationary drive to supplement their desktop's hard drive space. The power adapter and large size aren't great for portability.
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| noangels's Full Review: BUSlink (UII-160) 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive |
A miniscule dorm room necessitated a switch from compact discs and my stereo to a digitized music collection on my computer. I spent hours ripping CDs to my desktop which had, at the time, a mere 80 gigabytes (GB) of hard drive space. I would be foolish to expect my computer to happily accept 30 GBs of music, while still maintaining excellent performance. My miniscule dorm room soon necessitated portable storage for my computer. Talk about needy…
The BUSlink 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive was the first portable storage device I ever purchased. My portable storage collection has since grown to include several other external hard drives, numerous flash drives, and a few memory cards. The purchase decision for this drive was rather simple; the capacity was well above what I was looking for (100 GB), the price was reasonable for the time, and it was a USB 2.0 hard drive.
Connecting and Powering The Hard Drive
As the description of the product would suggest, this hard drive connects to your computer via USB 2.0. It works as a plug n’ play device; simply plug it in to use it. No software is needed with Windows XP. It is as easy to hook up as fitting the little rectangular connector into the matching port. It isn’t any more difficult to hook up than it is for an adult to play with a toddler’s toy that involves matching the various blocks into their matching slots on those colorful boxes.
The only other requirement for connecting this drive is power. This drive comes with a power adapter to connect the hard drive to an electrical outlet. The need for an external power source limits the portability of the BUSlink 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive to a degree. This wasn’t too much of an issue for me as I primarily use it to supplement my desktop computer’s hard drive space. The few times I have had to transport this drive with me it was fine; just a tad inconvenient to carry the hard drive, the USB cable, and the power adapter (which is cumbersome).
Usage
This drive is just as easy to use as it is to connect. Once the hard drive is plugged into your computer and powered, it will appear and function like any other drive on your computer. I simply drag and drop files and organize it. I mostly use this drive as a backup for multimedia files, documents, and setup files. With a capacity of 160 GBs, I found it to be more than adequate for my purposes. I have been able to store all of my music (approximately 40 GBs at present time), my photos, my documents, my videos, and my setup files, with plenty of space to spare.
Between the usage of USB 2.0 and the 7200 RPM spindle speed, this drive has been fast enough for my needs. I play music on iTunes directly from this drive and I have experience no delay between hitting play and the music starting, nor does it every skip or pause during playback. I have had similar experience with video playback. Transferring large amounts of data to and from the drive has been very efficient, as well. Often, out of sheer laziness, I slack off on backing up my system. Rather than dragging all of the newest data into folders on the drive, I prefer instead to replace them entirely. I use this drive in conjunction with a more portable hard drive and sometimes drag entire collections of music or photos from one to the other. This process usually takes about 15 minutes, which is reasonable for the amount of data typically being moved at once.
Temperature-wise, this drive is very stable. Even when completing a large transfer or playing music from it for several hours straight, this drive does not become hot to the touch. Usually it becomes a bit warm, but nothing of concern. When it isn’t in use or it is only being lightly used, it is quite cool. I have experienced no decrease in performance when the drive does become warm. This has not varied with my usage. At one time I left my external hard drive at all times for weeks. Now I usually only power it when in use. Both of these held no consequences for the drive’s performance.
The BUSlink 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive is on the loud side of external drives. It always emits a low hum, which is louder when it is initially powered. It isn’t anything too bothersome, since it has been in my bedroom since its purchase and it has not affected my sleep a all, despite my reputation as a light sleeper.
I have only used this drive with Windows XP and Vista, and I have experienced no compatibility problems with either operating system.
Design
This drive has a sleek, futuristic look, with a black face and a silver metal casing. The casing is ribbed, allowing you to stack the drive with other BUSlink portable storage devices. The drive is one of the larger external hard drives I have owned. Weight-wise, it is like carrying a full size hard cover book. The drive is portable, but not very portable that you can stick it in your bag and take it wherever you go. I’d estimate it to be about 2.5” High x 7” Wide x 10” Deep. It fits fine on most desk shelves and the power adapter is sufficient to reach most outlets; extending about four feet. The power switch is located on the back of the drive, which can be inconvenient to access depending on where you store it.
The hard drive feels very solid; almost too much so. The drive does not seem to move at all within the casing, which concerns me. I like to know the drive is suspended a bit to absorb any shock it might encounter. Since this drive mostly sits on my desk, it hasn’t abused, but it has survived being bounced around during the times I have transported it from computer to computer.
Longevity
I purchased this drive in early 2004 and it functioned until early 2008. Then, one day, it stopped powering.
Price
I paid $199.99 for the BUSlink 160 GB USB 2.0 Hard Drive at the time of purchase. It has since dropped dramatically in price. It was well worth the price for such a reliable portable storage device. I'd say four years is a good amount of time for the money.
Overall Recommendation
This external hard drive works well. This device will work great for those looking for a long-term, stationary hard drive to supplement their current computer's internal hard drive. Those looking for portability should note that the cumbersome power adapter, requisite power source, and large size may not make this the ideal choice for them.
Recommended:
Yes
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noangels
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Member: Jamilynn
Location: Staten Island, NY USA
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