Making external HDs on the cheap

Computers & Mobile Craft & Design Workshop

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

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July 30th, 2007 18

I’ve written a review on Street Tech of the Ultra 3.5″ hard drive enclosure that TigerDirect is selling for under $20. I knew rolling your own external HD was easy, but it’s mindlessly simple, and you can save some money. For instance, TigerDirect sells an 80GB Ultra drive (a WD HD in an Ultra case) for $90. You can buy the same drive for $45 and the case for $20, saving yourself $25 for less than five minutes work. Or you most likely have an HD in an old computer you can yank, re-case, and use as an external backup drive. That’s what I’m doing.