Get a 500GB external drive for $55 (after rebate)

(Credit: Vox Products)

I'm eagerly anticipating the day when I can show you a 1-terabyte hard drive for under $100. (Be patient, it'll happen.)

In the meantime, eCost has the 500GB Vox V1 external USB/eSata drive for just $55. There's a rebate, yes, and shipping will run you about 10 bucks. But, lordy, that's a lotta storage for notta lotta cash.

Drives like this are ideal for making full-system backups, storing massive video libraries, and just expanding your available storage in general. CNET loved the V1's ease of setup and speedy performance, but wasn't wild about the bundled backup software. Of course, you can always switch to another utility if you prefer. (Check out Paragon Software's Drive Backup 9.0 Express, which offers full-system backup and doesn't cost a penny.)

The V1's specs include USB and eSata interfaces (plus cables for both), a 7,200-rpm drive, Windows and Mac compatibility, and a one-year warranty.

Except for having to wait on the $40 rebate (PDF), it's a pretty killer deal.

Beware of eCost. I have NEVER been able to get one of those items on the Cheapskate because it is a bait and switch. the last time, they overcharged me for shipping and sent me the wrong item. The Cheapskate should only carry items from reputable retailers.

[rickbroida]

FWIW, I've ordered from eCost many times and have never had a problem. (Well, actually, not true: I did receive a poorly packaged refurbished TV once, but they picked it up and replaced it, all very efficiently.)

[goober_nut]

I ordered the VOX 750GB drive a few months ago from eCost that Rick posted on this site. It came very quickly and in perfect shape. Might not be a name I've heard of before, but I have had no issues with it so far.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

You have to just be persistent. I ordered an item there and immediately after ordering the price went up. My Item was tagged as out-of-stock while the new higher price item was marked as in stock. Subsequently more order was suspended. I phoned them and got a bit af a run around. In the end I had to wait 10 more days to have it shipped, but it was still worth it.

[tkback]

Rebates are simply a sucker bet. As few as 1% of the rebates are actually redeemed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebate_(marketing)

"Carol de Ville, the vice president of sales of Marco Sales and Incentives notes ?In some cases, we do have redemption programs that go as high as forty to fifty per cent, but generally it?s about one to five per cent?. In the same article, John Challinor, advertising manager for Sony Canada remarks that ?The industry average is less than ten percent....and it can be as low as one percent. [23] "

[Jaqenn]

By counterexample, I have received four out of the four rebates that I've mailed in in the last year.

If your statement were correct, I would be a 1 in 100,000,000 case. I'm not.

I suspect those figures are either 1) false, or 2) refer to the number of people who apply for the rebate, not the number of applicants who receive the rebate.

[goober_nut]

"Rebates are simply a sucker bet. As few as 1% of the rebates are actually redeemed."

This refers to the number of rebates redeemed, not actually fulfilled by the company. How many companies do you think could stay open if they promised big rebates and never delivered?

[JonathonStriker]

I'd be one of those rare one too cuz I always get my money.

I don't know about your percentage, but more rebates aren't redeemed because people are too lazy to fill out the form and mail it.

[hardedge]

With only a 1-year warranty, is that a refrubished drive in the box?

[rickbroida]

No, it's a new drive. And AFAIK, a one-year warranty is pretty standard for an external hard drive.

[supoman]

I always send in MY rebates. I need the money!!!

[Renegade Knight]

I need the money too. That's why I don't make loans in the form of rebates.

[ikramerica--2008]

I'd also be wary of low rent external drives unless you don't care about your data. Drives just aren't made like they used to be, and many cheap enclosures seem to have a lifespan of 1 year (note the 1 year warranty, hmmm....). I've personally had 5 external enclosures fail this year, 3 of which damaged the disk inside which had to be sent back to the manufacturer. Data is not secure in these situations.

So if you buy a cheap external drive, don't rely on it for daily use data protection. Use it as a once in a while backup, or as a render/work drive for projects, etc.

[rickbroida]

I agree...to a point. You should never rely on a single solution for data protection. That's why I use a hard drive for a total-system backup, an online service (Mozy) for my most critical data, and a second PC to sync various files, bookmarks, etc. Diversify!

[genarosicaeros]

ikramerica--

" I'd also be wary of low rent external drives unless you don't care about your data... Data is not secure in these situations... don't rely on it for daily use data protection. Use it as a once in a while backup, or as a render/work drive for projects, etc. " -- Data needs to be backed up in two mediumds, that is two hard drives, or more if you want to, including burning DVDs, but the minimum required is a two devices set up. You should not "rely" on a hard drive, you need to "use it" and use it along with another one where your data will be copied.

Hard drive companies do not sell you protection, nor a safe heaven for your data. If you really care about your data you should stop buying expensive hardware and instead buy two cheap ones so your data is properly backed up. When one of the devices dies, because it will, you have the other one, and you should always replace the broken drive right away. Backup or else.

;-)

[JonathonStriker]

This is not like some kind of dream thing. 500GB drives are getting cheaper period, and can run from about $60-$120 on a more reputable online store like newegg.com or tigerdirect. Newegg also does rebates in some rare cases.

Here's a drive that newegg currently offers a $20 rebate for (currently $69.99 after rebate as of (091908)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822204078

Meanwhile, never heard of eCost, or Vox, so I'm pretty skeptical of something that looks cheap with a cheap price tag.

[lostatsea]

I wish you wouldn't promote items that put your readers at risk. And rebates are a profit racket, they expect you tor forget you even sent in for the rebate and if you remember not receiving a check you have to jump through hoops to get them to pay up, if they do at all. You're better off promoting a good deal at a place like NewEgg.com. Boycott rebated products!

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

I personally switched from turbotax to taxcut because of rebates. Years ago I missed the mail in deadline (15 days after purchase) and was declined. I've also seen dirty tricks like putting the UPC code on a sticker on the shrinkwrap instead of on the cardboard, you trhow the UPC in the trash and can't find it when filing. Other tricks included very short valid date ranges on checks and limited supply rebates (the worst!)

[stephen7144]

I'd be very careful of any external hard drive. After the failure of 5 external hard drives in three years (three different brands), I use external drives for quick and easy backups but do not count on them as permanent. I also backup all the same data to optical discs to be sure the data is safe. I've not yet had an optical disc of any kind fail on me. The drive industry would be doing users a better service by creating much more stable drives, at reasonable cost, rather than promoting the low cost traditional hard drive.

[mobycat]

Newegg has a 1TB Western Digital drive for $129. Granted, it's not an external, so you still have to buy a housing...but that's dirt cheap.

[rickbroida]

For the record, I try very hard to avoid items that require rebates, as obviously some people have very strong feelings about them. That said, in all my years of buying stuff, I have never failed to receive a rebate. Not once. Consequently, I don't consider them scams. Certainly there have been some shady rebate practices over the years, but I believe they're the exception, not the rule.

[kjfasimpaur]

Rick, rebates aside, why do you continue to promote offers from vendors with absolutely awful reputations? Check out some feedback on eCost:

http://www.bizrate.com/ratings_guide/cust_reviews__mid--18045.html

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/eCost

Caveat emptor!

[rickbroida]

Point taken. I rarely post eCost deals anymore for precisely that reason.

[dye187]

Rick posts stuff from Woot every once and awhile, and they're legit. I've bought over 10 different items from them with no problems whatsoever. As far as eCost goes, I have no input. I've never purchased anything from them before.

[wgself]

VOX 500GB USB / eSATA External Hard Drive ( EXSA-35C-500G7K )
500GB Capacity, External, USB 2.0 & SATA, 3.5" Form Factor, Max: 12Mbps (Full Speed Mode) Data Transfer Rates, 7200 rpm Spindle Speed, 8 MB Buffer Size
Price: $96.99
Availability: Temporarily Out of Stock
Ecost Part #: 40683037
Manufacturer: Vox
Mfg Part #: EXSA-35C-500G7K

[seljoy]

I just cancelled my order. Now this item and another micro disc I bought are both back ordered. Called and was on hold for almost 30 minutes before I got a live person to cancel the order. This is the second time I bought something from The Cheapskate suggestions and both were total waste of time and money. There won't be a third time!

[Jim_Thompson]

eCost is a Scam! I placed the order on 09/19/08. PayPal processes the order. eCost claims the order was never placed ... however they will accept a new order without the rebate. Shame on them! Run away from eCost ... don't walk ... they will pick your pocket!

[mikescnetposting]

It has been said 100 times but let me add. VOX REBATES ARE A SCAM. Please remind any retailers that carry them of that fact.
http://mike-is-reviewing.blogspot.com/2009/02/vox-eternal-hard-drives-rebate-scam.html