external USB hard disk

[rookie1010]

Hi
I wanted to buy an external hard disk. My understand is Lacie, Freecom, Sony are good makes.

I looked in the sub 100 pound range, and came up with this list.
can some one suggest how i can narrow it down and select one hard disk, i am even more confused since ext. USB2 hard disks from the same make having quite a difference in their sizes are more or less for the same price.

can you suggest some features which an external hard disk should have?

Freecom Classic 80GB USB2 ext HDD
Freecom FHD-1 40 GB USB2
Western Digital Series II 80GB USB2 7200rpm 2MB cache
Iomega Desktop 80GB USB2
XIMETA Portable NetDisk 80GB USB2 2MB cache 7200rpm
Lacie P2 Model USB2 Mobile 40GB with USB2 Cables
Freecom FHD-2 PRO 20GB USB2 Ext HDD
Freecom Classic 120 GB USB2 ext HDD
Western Digital Series II 120GB USB2 7200rpm 2MB cache
Lacie P3 Model 160GB 7200rpm Ext USB2 Hard Drive inc Cbl
Iomega Desktop 120GB USB2 7200rpm
Freecom FHD-1 80 GB USB2
Iomega Host powered 40GB USB2

 

[BxSlipSk8718]

go with western digita; your best bet seagate and west make the best HDD's

 

[rookie1010]

i checked out the external hard disks (USB2), most of them have 2 megs of cache.

should i settle for 2 megs of cache or go for 8 megs of cache

i came across these three devices

Maxtor One Touch 160gb Combo USB 2.0 & Firewire 7200rpm 8mb Cache - External Retail

Lacie 160gb Ext Firewire 800 400 & Usb2 Hd 7200rpm +

Western Digital 160gb USB 2.0 External 7200rpm 2mb cache Retail with 2year Warranty

of these maxtor has got a 8 meg cache, i don't know about the lacie device and the WD device has a 2 meg cahce.

i also learnt that maxtor is a new player in the external drive market. should i go for it?

 

[Blind_Arrow]

WD or Seagate = quiet operation, obviously 8MB cache buffer is recommended, specially in external

 

[rookie1010]

is there any WD/seagate with 8 megs of cache out there?
how is maxtor as a make?