| When you think of a computer, chances are good that | | | | The year was 1998, and a revolution was brewing in |
| you imagine the case; the computer as a whole. | | | | the computer industry. This was the time when the |
| However, what would you identify as the most | | | | USB interface was introduced to computers. This |
| important part of the computer? Would you point to | | | | ground-breaking technology enabled any type of |
| the motherboard? Perhaps you would say that the | | | | device to connect directly with a computer from the |
| processor is the most important part of a computer. | | | | outside, using the same type of interface. Previously, |
| While these are certainly vital aspects to an operating | | | | hard drives made use of a 40-pin connector and a |
| computer, the disk drive is just as important. Over the | | | | power cable (internal types and most external types). |
| years, they have undergone numerous changes and | | | | However, with the advent of USB technology, this was |
| have evolved considerably. The first hard disks were | | | | to change. |
| technically "external" devices, because they sat outside | | | | This single technology allowed different external hard |
| the case, contained within protective covers. However, | | | | drive designs to proliferate. It also enabled the birth of |
| these would barely qualify as hard drives to modern | | | | other removable media, such as the flash drive (thumb |
| users, as their capacity was measured at just 5MB. | | | | drive). Of course, the first external USB drives were |
| The Earliest "External" Drives | | | | bulky things, due to the technology available in 1998. |
| The very earliest hard drives were external for all | | | | However, as the new century approached, technology |
| intents and purposes. This is because they were not | | | | became better and better. |
| mounted within the computer frame. These devices | | | | As more efficient power sources and cooling solutions |
| debuted in the late 1950s, could store 5MB of data and | | | | were developed, the size of external drives shrank. |
| shipped with the first commercially available IBM | | | | Once clunky and cumbersome, these drives became |
| systems. Over the next few decades, things did not | | | | streamlined and small. Today, you can find myriad |
| change very much, as computer use was largely | | | | different sizes on the market. The most popular type |
| relegated to commercial interests and the home PC | | | | (for consumers, at any rate) is a bit larger than a thick |
| had yet to be invented. | | | | paperback book. However, these solutions are not |
| Almost 30 years after the debut of those systems, | | | | intended to be portable. Manufacturers designed these |
| IBM brought out the first gigabyte drive. This device | | | | for backup and storage where the drive stays in one |
| was the size of a household refrigerator, and was a | | | | place, and might hold several terabytes of data. |
| separate unit from the computer. It retailed for a | | | | Portable external drives were soon to hit the market. |
| whopping $40,000. | | | | These offered storage capacity in the hundreds of |
| The Intervening Years | | | | gigabytes, though they did not rival larger drives in |
| Between the debut of the personal computer and the | | | | terms of storage. Portable drives became extremely |
| release of what a modern consumer might recognize | | | | popular, particularly with those who used the drive at |
| as an external hard drive, there were several | | | | work and at home, as well as with students who |
| innovations. However, most of these were strictly for | | | | needed their data available to them on numerous |
| internal drives, as the need for an external drive was | | | | computers in different locations. |
| not particularly great with early systems. | | | | An interesting development that has coincided with the |
| One of the first systems to make use of an external | | | | growth of home networking is the ability to store data |
| hard drive was Apple. Their computers often had drive | | | | on an external drive connected to the network. These |
| bays that were difficult to access, and some had no | | | | drives must be connected to the home network router, |
| hard drive within them at all. In an age where | | | | but they do not have to be connected to a computer |
| consumers were beginning to demand safer storage | | | | in order to function. The router acts as a gateway, |
| for their data, this could not work. Therefore, Apple | | | | enabling data transfer between the computers and |
| introduced the ProFile in 1983. It worked by connecting | | | | other devices within a home and the hard drive. This is |
| to a special port on the back of the Apple II. This hard | | | | an excellent solution for homes where media is used |
| drive offered 5MB of disk space, though a 10MB was | | | | heavily, and many drives have specific built-in servers |
| offered later as an upgrade. | | | | for different media types, including iTunes, games and |
| It was during this time that internal drives began to take | | | | movies. |
| on their standard form factors. In fact, the shape of | | | | A Glimpse of the Future |
| the hard drive stopped changing early on with the | | | | In the future, the external hard drive is expected to |
| development and standardization of IDE technology, | | | | assume more and more a central role in home |
| with a size and shape that any modern consumer | | | | computer use. As computing devices shrink and |
| would recognize. The most popular form factors have | | | | "tablets" and netbooks come to the fore as preferred |
| included 5.25", 3.5", 2.5" and 1" consumer form factors. | | | | technology, external drives will need to be available for |
| Additionally, any of these drives could be setup as an | | | | immediate access to stored data and to provide |
| external drive, so long as power and data cables were | | | | immediate backup, as well. Consumers will come to |
| able to be connected to the drive outside the | | | | demand that these devices be able to integrate with |
| computer case. Of course, these were not what most | | | | their network, and new advances in technology will |
| people would consider "removable media" in the sense | | | | likely provide some innovative solutions. Some |
| of modern external hard drives, flash drives and other | | | | examples include integrated router/hard drive units, as |
| storage devices. | | | | well as central server/hard drive solutions for media |
| 1998 and Beyond | | | | and entertainment purposes. |