SCOTTY - I NEED TO SET UP A NEW EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE FOR M Y MACBOOK PRO - OTHER ONE DIED. WHAT IS CURRENT REC FOR PURCHASE AND I WILL PICK ONE UP BEFORE YOU ARRIVE. 
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There are two drives I currently recommend based on a user’s needs.  The desktop model Seagate Backup Plus requires power from an AC outlet.  It has the advantage of costing less for more space and is generally more reliable as it is not meant to be moved around.  But the negative is that it must remain plugged in to the wall.

The Seagate Backup Plus portable drive is smaller and only has to be plugged in to your computer.  It powers over USB and does not require any other power source.  It has the advantage of being portable and small but the disadvantage of costing more for less space and is less reliable due to the fact that you’re going to be moving it around more often.  

Spinning hard drives are basically metal record players.  They have a metal disc and a metal needle that moves across the drive as it spins.  These moving parts fail quite often and that’s why we have backup drives.  They are not to be trusted.  Just like tires on a car.  They are also not to be trusted.  That’s why we carry a spare.  

Hope that helps.