Labs

An external hard disk is a simple way to add extra storage to your system. There's no need to open the case and, because the drive is portable, you can also use it to easily transport huge amounts of data between computers.

Naturally, you'll pay a premium for an external drive over an internal one, but the margin isn't as big as it used to be and the sheer convenience is worth it if the ultimate in speed isn't an issue. External drives are slower in use than internal ones owing to the limitations of the USB interface. To discover the extent of this

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slow-down, we subjected this month's drives to the same test as the flash drives. For comparison, we also tested our A-Listed internal disk, the Samsung SpinPoint T, and found it able to write 256 4MB files in 32 seconds and read them back in 24 seconds. This established a baseline to illustrate the speed gap between internal and external devices.

The first external hard disk we examined was the Freecom Hard Drive Classic 500GB, a simple device with an emphasis firmly on function rather than design. Its large black case has just one light on the front indicating activity, with connections and a power switch at the rear. In our speed tests, writing and reading 256 4MB files took 1min 2secs and 42 seconds respectively -substantially slower than an internal drive, but still fast enough to be practical for everyday use.

At just £66, the Freecom offers good value. It comes in at a similar price to the Samsung internal drive and, while it can't compete on speed, it has the benefit of portability - although its bulk and overall weight of 1.1kg (including the PSU) mean you won't want to carry it around in your notebook bag.