Upgrading memory... is it possible? and What's an external hard drive?

I just got a Inspiron 9300 and I only got 80G of harddrive. All the things I wanna do with this laptop include downloading a lot of programs. Would it be possible to upgrade the harddrive or is it a lost cause to do that? Someone told me that something called an external hard drive could be used. What's that and can it be used on a laptop?

80g memory! I have 1 I think you mean harddrive size.



Yes, external drives can be used with a laptop, as long as the laptop has a USB or Firewire connection. You could replace the drive with another one...but that leads to some complications regarding compatibility and actually cracking the case open and doing surgery through the wires...easier to go with an external. An external drive is the same as an internal, but it comes in its own little case, and can easily be transferred between PCs.

You've got an 80gb Harddrive, which is enough to download a whole bunch of things. As for as RAM, I have no clue. Yes you can upgrade the HD to a bigger one and also add more RAM. As for an external HD, it's basically a additional HD in an external enclosure/case that connects via USB, firewire, parrallel port or PC card slot. The most popular are the USB and firewire (due to speed and easy connectivity). Externals are good because you dont have to get rid of your 80gb installed and you can also hook up the external to other computers to transfer data to mulitiple sources.

okay, well first things first, it confuses people to refer to hard drive space as memory cause usually people think of ram when you say that. Anyways, the biggest hard drive I found for a laptop is 160GB, but it costs like $355, so unless you have a lot of money to throw around, it's basically out of the question. An external hard drive is a regular sized hard drive (laptop ones are smaller, partly wh ythey are so much more expensive for the same data size) but in a case that holds it and converts all the plugs it uses to thingsa more easily used outside of computers. Anyways, you can get a large external drive for pretty cheap comparatively, for instance a 160GB external will run just over $100, and you'd have 240gb total compared to 160 anyways with not going for a new internal drive. Plus you have to reinstall windows and all the other things that came with your laptop to make the internal work, not to mention it won't be covered by your warranty. External's aren't as fast, though, so if you're using a program that takes up a lot of hard drive space, it may not run great. And finally external's need a usb or, preferrably, a firewire connection to plug into the laptop. I think that's about all there is to say

well, like seagate, and other companies. 300gb for like 220. here is just one source
here

and there are many mores that are probably cheaper w/ 300gb. yes external hdd are better than any other external stored medias and its much better. consdiering u have 80gb. it'll probably fill up quickly if you are that much of a download junkie. i have a 100gb and am constantly deleting videos to free it up.

Ok, I reworded what I said in my first post. I get confused with the terminology all the time. Luckily some people understood what I meant.

I'd say that upgradeing the internal hard drive would be a lost cause, 80GB is a good size hard drive for a laptop, but if you need more than an external hard drive would be a good choice. But keep in mind that external hard drives require a power outlet, so you couldnt easily use it on the go.

So the RAM can also be upgraded? Is the 2G a lot more noticable than the 1G?

Not much of an increase from 1gb to 2gb, but you'll definitely see a difference from 256mb to 1 gb.

my laptop came with 512, which was enough to get by, I threw in an extra gig and now I have more memory than I know what to do with, though I usually use my desktop anyways