Best external file storage?

[gheba_nsx]

I understand this, but my point is that they are 9 years old (going 10 sometime soon) and they still work. So the 2-5 years lifespan seems a bit alarmistic.

FWIW, I kept them in the normal CD case in a normal temperature room. The brand used are very different (Mitsui, TDK, Kodak, Sony, Princo, no names, ...)

 

[demigod]

I understand this, but my point is that they are 9 years old (going 10 sometime soon) and they still work. So the 2-5 years lifespan seems a bit alarmistic.

FWIW, I kept them in the normal CD case in a normal temperature room. The brand used are very different (Mitsui, TDK, Kodak, Sony, Princo, no names, ...)

Yeah the 2 to 5 years thing is a bit overstated. I'd say more 10 to 15 years lifespan. Just don't leave them in the sun.

 

[nchopp]

Yeah the 2 to 5 years thing is a bit overstated. I'd say more 10 to 15 years lifespan. Just don't leave them in the sun.

Bit of a simplifcation - it really will depend on several factors, the biggest being storage methods and brand\type of media used. ALWAYS go with a good name brand (Ritek is my preferred).

If you're looking at external hard drives, I'd highly suggest looking at Lacie. They have some very quality drives for reasonable prices. I have 1tb of Lacie external storage here at home, and I've yet to have problems with any of them - been running some of them for 3 years now.