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What is a good external USB hard drive that can withstand a tour of duty in Iraq?

October 3, 2009 - 8:35 pm

I have a family member about to embed with the Marines in Iraq for a year. She wants to back up her laptop’s data to an external USB drive. Does anyone know specifically of a USB drive enclosure designed to handle the desert sand?

A tough drive pro if your talking hard drive enclosure and not flash drive But I would recommend a flash drive for multiple reasons…

Posted usb enclosure |

4 Responses to “What is a good external USB hard drive that can withstand a tour of duty in Iraq?”

  1. Oleg N Says:
    October 4th, 2009 at 1:40 am

    ironkey
    References :

  2. been there done that got shirt Says:
    October 4th, 2009 at 2:15 am

    Ironkey USB flash drives will withstand anything, but even normal flash drives would suffice. Also, she should look into getting a Panasonic Toughbook because a normal laptop might not be able to stand up to that kind of abuse as well.
    References :

  3. G M Says:
    October 4th, 2009 at 3:01 am

    A tough drive pro if your talking hard drive enclosure and not flash drive But I would recommend a flash drive for multiple reasons…
    References :

  4. argile556733 Says:
    October 4th, 2009 at 3:51 am

    Franky, any USB External enclosure will do. And any HD inside that USB enclosure.

    "the desert sand" is not a concern to a Hard drive..

    There are laptops designed for military / outdoor exposure / drops / water / field use like panasonic "toughbooks", for exampe in mid air they detect a "drop" and immediatly park the HD. Cost here is IMMENSE. usually corps / military / whatever buy it for field use, where rain and drops might be involved.

    As far as USB connected, same price regardless. If you want a FLASH DRIVE and not a HARD DRIVE, immensly easier to survive in any conditons, can drop it from lofty heights, no moving parts.. But, if you need capacity or cost effieceny of capacity well, that’s HD… it has less tolerances.

    "sand" isn’t one of them, really, nothing as big as a grain of sand is getting into a hd, lol. Heck, the reader is 1/12th width of a human hair from the platter and that hugely bigger 1 grain of sand, nevermind HOW it got into the HD in the first place….. Water and drops (sudden G force) is the bane of HDs.
    References :

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