Internal HDD w/external case VS External USB HDD

[G]

It makes more since to have a huge internal hdd in an external case rather than having a USB hdd, because they are so much cheaper per gb. Is there something that makes a USB hdd that much better to justify paying more per gb?

[Vietnamese Crippler]

I would think the extra price of a USB HDD is from the manufacturing required to put the HDD inside the case.

One "drawback" I can see with the internal HDD + enclosure is if that USB HDD can come with more possible connections (i.e. eSATA, USB 2.0, Firewire), but you can buy enclosures with those connections, though they will be more expensive. Also, the USB HDD tend to be much better built than enclosures.

Besides those points, IMO, no, there is no reason to buy a USB HDD over an internal HDD/enclosure combo.

[KYR]

Plus, I like the portability of an external USB HDD so I can connect up with my work Laptop or friend's PC for file sharing.

[Jura]

I need a big one for all my pr0n and stuff.

[Kapoutman]

From experience, external USB HDDs are just built to last longer/resist to shocks. During college, I went through four HDD in an external case in a period of 3 years. It was a very simple use, carrying it around in a backpack and using it to backup work, etc. As for my USB HDD, the one I have for work has been working since I started there in 2005, and I'm not even its first owner. I just think that they make sure there are less moving part in the USB HDDs. If you're going to use it at home simply as extra storage and back up, a normal drive in a case will do just fine.