Tag Archives: calculators

What To Consider When Buying External Hard Drives

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Investing in a good external hard drive that will come in handy not just for transferring your files to a new computer, but also for backing up important data is essential for any computer user. To say that lives were saved by the external hard drive is an obvious exaggeration. But to at least claim that the device has kept people’s sanity in check is a good call. How many computer users nearly broke down right after their own desktops crashed on them. Not backing up your files is the equivalent of drunk driving in the computer world. That’s why external hard drives have become necessary to all computer users.

But what type of external hard drive should a first time buyer get? What are the considerations to be made when purchasing an external hard drive? What kinds are best for back up? Storing large data such as films? What’s the best external hard drive for transferring files? Perhaps if you’re selling a used desktop, you already have an external hard drive that’s been around since you got the computer. When should you replace the external hard drive that you have?

Choosing the right external hard drive depends mostly on your specific needs. If you want to get one that’s strictly for backing up a used desktop, you’ll need an external hard drive that can “image” a whole computer. These are the type of portable drive that allow for an easy backup and booting system, which means you can restore an entire computer when disaster strikes. A good brand for this kind of external hard drive is the slender and light 1TB drives from Clickfree.

If you need a large storage space for data, you can’t rely much on portable drives. You’ll need a slightly bigger frame for your extra storage needs. First of all, you have to go beyond the one-terabyte space. Maybe around 4-6 terabyte of space is enough to cover your images, movies, and other important large files. This external hard drive is recommended for businesses dealing with large valuable data, but it shouldn’t stop you from getting one for your personal computer. This can go a little high on the price tag, but there are quality drives that fetch for under $250.

But for those on a budget, you can start with a 500 gigabyte drive that’s also portable and easy to store. Be careful not to go way below the standard prices or else you won’t get your money’s worth. After you sell a used desktop, surely you’ll have more than enough for a new portable drive.

For those who need to bring their data with them when they travel, durability is equally important as portability. You can get external hard drives cased in durable material such as titanium or aluminum. These drives should be able to resist moisture, chemicals, and withstand impact.

The upside of external hard drives, apart from their amazing capacity to save our data, is that you can sell them again, granted they’re still functional. Selling used external hard drive is a smart way to fund the next one. Not only that you also maximize energy and save on raw materials.

Selling a used external hard drive to buy a new one? Visit: www.Guzu.com. Guzu is one of the most reputable recycling firms that buy used electronic gadgets such as hard drive, cell phone, computers, laptops and calculators.

Legislation to Fund Agencies for the Promotion of Electronic Recycling

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The US House of Representatives aim to reconnect with private and government firms in establishing better disposal of electronic waste. The bill on e-waste, authored by Representative John Serbanes is backed by the information that households and businesses throw about 1.9 million to 2.2 million tons of electronics in 2005 alone. It is very likely that this number has grown significantly over the years following the constant demand for new technology.

Under the new proposal, federal agencies will be given an allocation of $60 million, to be distributed over the next three years. The said funds will be used to conduct studies on how electronic gadgets, particularly computers and cellphones, should be properly disposed of and/or recycled. Serbanes hopes that if this bill passes Congress, then the 350,000 tons of recycled gadgets will dramatically increase.

Environmental Poisoning: The Threat is Real 

The main issue associated with electronic gadgets is that they are made of hazardous chemicals in small amounts. Examples of these harmful chemicals are mercury, lead, beryllium, brominated flame retardants and cadmium. In some cases, PVC plastic is also used – another known pollutant commonly found in landfills.

If these chemicals reach the groundwater, they can infiltrate piping systems and end up in homes. Mercury and lead cause serious ailments in children and pose survival threats to developing fetuses in pregnant women. Prolonged exposure can also lead to extensive damages in your blood, nervous and reproductive systems.

But even if they do not get mixed with groundwater, they can still be equally harmful. Brominated flame retardants, found in circuit boards and casings, cause learning and memory problems. Cadmium affects the bones and kidneys while PVC is very toxic even in minimal amounts.

These chemicals are released in the environment through the incorrect processing of electronics during recycling. Other than that, they are also released when gadgets build up in landfills, exposed to the elements.

Proper Recycling Helps Third World Countries 

Used electronic gadgets that are properly recycled via private recycling firms can be used to extract spare parts for compatible devices. Sometimes, they are reconditioned and then sold to retailers in third world countries where the demand is great for such technology but the supply is poor.

However, if the recycling process is not properly completed and discarded electronics are directly shipped to other countries, it will just be synonymous to transferring the health threats to another nation.

States Should Implement Local Guidelines on Electronic Waste

Aside from the bill pending in Congress, states have also begun to create laws on proper e-waste disposal. Let’s take for example Maryland. In the state of Maryland, companies that manufacture electronic devices are required to pay $10,000 to support state-initiated recycling programs. And unless an inter-company recycling program is implemented, these companies will also have to pay an addition of $5,000 annually.

At present, 24 other states have come up with their own guidelines for the disposal and recycling of electronic waste.

With the support expressed by both the national and local governments for e-waste management, US is nearing a future of reduced carbon footprint and increased optimization of used technology.

You can support this advocacy by selling your old electronics that you no longer use, such as cell phones, calculators, laptops, xbox, and DVD player, to www.guzu.com. Doing so, you are not only helping save the environment but also earning money from items that you are no longer useful to you.