Network storage, SSDs, drives, and memory cards, plus how I back up my data.
The Transcend TLC 480GB 2.5-inch SATA III SSD was an Amazon Gold Box Deal in December 2016, dropping from US$126.99 to US$86.99, with free AmazonGlobal shipping. I bought it to replace the ageing HDD in my eight-year-old MacBook Pro.
The SanDisk Ultra 200GB MicroSDXC Card was an Amazon Gold Box deal in March 2016 at US$59.99. That's a remarkable drop from its US$399.99 launch price just a year earlier, making this high-capacity card finally affordable.
The Synology DS216+, launched on 28th January 2016, succeeds the DS215+ and retails in Singapore for S$499. This high-performance 2-bay NAS for small offices and home users features a dual-core Intel CPU, AES-NI encryption, Btrfs support, and 4K transcoding.
Amazon ran a 48% discount on the Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD in November 2015, dropping it from US$149.99 to US$74.99. It also qualified for free AmazonGlobal Saver shipping to Singapore on orders over US$125, making it a great deal.
The SanDisk Dual USB Drive Type-C launched in Singapore in April 2015 for S$99, in a single 32GB size with a two-year warranty. It's a USB 3.0 drive, backward compatible with USB 2.0, though I have no USB Type-C devices.
The Western Digital My Passport Wireless, WD's first wireless storage drive, launched in Singapore on 29th October 2014. It comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, though only the 1TB and 2TB are sold here, at S$299 and S$399 respectively.
WD makes the best hard drives and Synology the best NAS. I run two Synology units at home with WD drives: a DS210j on two WD Green 1TB since 2010, and a DS413j on four WD Red 1TB since 2013.
The SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.0 Flash Drive is the smallest drive I've seen, about the size of a Singapore 20-cent coin, with read speeds up to 130MB/s. It sells from S$13.90 for 16GB up to S$52.90 for 64GB.
Launched on 8th April 2014, the USB 3.0 Seagate Backup Plus Fast Portable Drive is a 4TB hard drive delivering transfer speeds up to 220MB/s. Weighing 307g, it retails for S$449, offered only in black.
The USB 3.0 Western Digital My Passport Air is the best-looking portable hard disk to complement your MacBook Air or Pro. It comes in two capacities, 500GB at S$129 and 1TB at S$219, in an anodised aluminium enclosure weighing 160g.
Launched on 8th April 2014, the USB 3.0 Seagate Backup Plus Slim Portable Drive comes in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, in four colours, Blue, Black, Red, and Silver, working on both PC and Mac. Prices start at S$89 for 500GB.
A huge Western Digital fan, I use their products for all my backups, so I'm sharing their article 'Smarter Ways To Backup Your Data'. I personally run a Synology DiskStation DS413j NAS fitted with four 1TB WD Red hard drives.
Strontium recently launched its Nitro Plus range of MicroSDHC cards. Rated UHS-1 (U3) for 4K Ultra HD recording at 3840x2160, the Nitro Plus offers write speeds of at least 30MB/s and read speeds of at least 80MB/s, in three capacities.
The SanDisk Connect Wireless Media Drive is a pocket-sized drive with either 32GB or 64GB of built-in flash plus an SD card slot. Measuring 65mm square and weighing 77g, it's encased in solid aluminium. The 32GB retails for S$139.
Western Digital announced the My Passport Pro on 31st March 2014, the first portable, Thunderbolt-powered dual-drive with an integrated Thunderbolt cable. Thunderbolt powers it directly, so no separate power source is needed. Built for Mac, it ships pre-formatted with HFS+.
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive, announced last month, is SanDisk's first dual USB drive, with 16GB at S$20, 32GB at S$35, and 64GB at S$60. It's aimed at Android phone and tablet users wanting to move photos and videos.
The WD My Cloud lets you store files and media on your personal cloud rather than relying on third-party services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. The 2TB sells for S$239, the 3TB for S$289, and the 4TB for S$399.
I bought the Victorinox Swiss Army Slim 2.0 USB Flash Drive (32GB) at Woodbury Common Outlets, having little else to buy there as I'm not into branded goods. It cost US$22 after tax, a bargain next to Amazon's US$38.99.
On 17th October 2013, Western Digital launched the new My Passport Slim. It's the first thin drive to offer up to 2TB, a metal enclosure, and 256-bit hardware-based encryption. The bundled WD SmartWare Pro software backs up your data.
I'm a huge fan of WD Red hard drives, running four of them in my Synology DiskStation DS413j with no trouble. WD Red drives are designed and tested for 24/7 operation and the demanding needs of home and small-office NAS.
Western Digital announced the My Passport Ultra in May 2013, essentially a premium version of the popular My Passport. Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB, it comes preloaded with WD SmartWare Pro backup software, Dropbox integration, and hardware encryption.
Launched on 19th April 2013, the SanDisk Cruzer Orbit USB Flash Drive features a 360-degree swivel cover and weighs just 4g, with a ring hole for your key chain. Its only downside is USB 2.0, to keep the price low.