I would like to download some stuff. Naturally my laptop does not have a disc drive so I'm thinking about getting an external USB drive to do so. Are there any brands that are better than others or some min. specs I should be looking for? My downloads would be some photos I want to sort and maybe edit, a few old games, and a older version of word perfect I liked using. My neighbor recommended Asus or LG but he's not that much more technically savvy than I am and that's not much.
external usb drive?
- Thread starter GaryMX5
- Start date
I use Sandisk external SSDs. They are compact, and no moving parts to worry about.
First, get one that matches the fastest connection/transfer speed that your computer supports. If it's anything half-modern it should do USB3. Next, don't consider anything other than solid-state (SSD). As for brands, stick with Seagate, Western Digital, etc. Walk into Best Buy, Walmart, etc and anything they have that meets these will be fine for your usage.
How much storage do you need? Sounds like a 128GB thumbdrive would work since you didn't mention any videos or anything that would take a ton of space, but you also mentioned your laptop is out of space? What size HD does it have?
I usually buy SanDisk or Lexar. Get one with USB A and C.
More than that, you probably should so with an external hard drive.
I usually buy SanDisk or Lexar. Get one with USB A and C.
More than that, you probably should so with an external hard drive.
I would like to download some stuff. Naturally my laptop does not have a disc drive so I'm thinking about getting an external USB drive to do so. Are there any brands that are better than others or some min. specs I should be looking for? My downloads would be some photos I want to sort and maybe edit, a few old games, and a older version of word perfect I liked using. My neighbor recommended Asus or LG but he's not that much more technically savvy than I am and that's not much.
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
Solid state drives are like 3-4x the cost they were just a year ago due to data centers gobbling up memory. My advice is to buy the cheapest mechanical hard drive that Best Buy or Walmart has on their shelf.
Depends on how much speed you need. I have used Samsung 512Gb thumbdrives, sandisk 2TB portable SSDs and even NVME SSD enclosures with great results. Buy quality brand names that show high speeds
First off,
do you mean a memory stick, a hard drive, or ssd? all 3 can be usb devices.
also photos no issue but programs need installed.. how exactly are you copying word perfect? and games? Might have issues.
are you talking about backing up programs already installed on your computer?
I'm not sure you are using downloading with the normal definition.
Just trying to understand what you are doing and trying to accomplish.
do you mean a memory stick, a hard drive, or ssd? all 3 can be usb devices.
also photos no issue but programs need installed.. how exactly are you copying word perfect? and games? Might have issues.
are you talking about backing up programs already installed on your computer?
I'm not sure you are using downloading with the normal definition.
Just trying to understand what you are doing and trying to accomplish.
Costco has SanDisk external portable hard drives. 1, 2 and 4TB. Prices are fair and the specs are good. $149, 219, $379.
Really nice little units, high quality NVMe memory, shock resistant silicone case. Generally they have the 2TB in the warehouse.
Really nice little units, high quality NVMe memory, shock resistant silicone case. Generally they have the 2TB in the warehouse.
Clearly my lack of knowledge is impacting my request. I'll explain as simply as I can. I need a device that I insert a CD into and it downloads/transfers the info on that CD into the computer. I thought that was referred to as a external USB (optical) drive but can also mean or misconstrued as an SSD external storage device . I have ample storage with 500 gb of internal storage and a external 1tb SSD device. Sorry for being (basically) computer illiterate.
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So you are looking for an external CD/DVD drive??
They are very inexpensive and my preference would be a name brand vs. the off brand Amazon/ebay ones
Dell, HP, ASUS, LG come up often. https://www.google.com/search?q=nam...AFHb73C5IQ8NMDegQIDxAW&biw=1869&bih=919&dpr=1
With my new workplace Dell desktop I ordered the Dell DW316 external dvd. It works fine and has Dell support.
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Propflux01
$100 Site Donor 2026
Any quality memory stick will work; however, an external USB SSD will be faster and usually larger in capacity. Crucial, Western Digital, Samsung, Sandisk, Lexar, are all good brands. There's only about 4 companies making NAND flash and 2 or 3 companies making controllers that other brands use, so almost every drive available ends up being some combination of those companies.
Go with SanDisk. I've had the longest life so far out of them.
It sounds like you are looking for an external CD/DVD drive that connects to a USB port on your laptop. Here is an inexpensive one that gets good reviews on Amazon:
Amicool CD Drive
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The Dell appears to be exactly what I need. Thankyou!
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Highway to hack. Best to use a name brand bought at a business with a reputation at risk. USB memory has been gone from the corporate world for years - and for good reasons …
The Samsung T7 Shield is pretty nice. I've had mine for work purposes for ~7 years and the case is rubberized. Unfortunately the price of it has shot up because of the recent price hikes.
This doesn't make sense, really.
Nope - OP said one of the things they needed this for was for "some photos I want to sort and maybe edit" too.
