External hard drives to back up your PC or Mac

March 2, 2025

So you want a backup drive? Here are my top three picks. Order it now while you’re thinking about it. Everyone needs one of these!

1. Toshiba Canvio Basics (Affordable and simple)

Best for: Budget-friendly external storage and backups for Mac and PC

🔗 View on Amazon, $61.99

🎯 Pros: Affordable, plug and play, comes in different size options

⚠️ Cons: No encryption or password protection and not great for high-speed transfers

2. LaCie Rugged USB-C (Durable and travel-friendly storage)

Best for: Photographers, videographers and others who need rugged, shockproof storage
🔗 View on Amazon, $149.99

🎯 Pros: Shock-, dust- and water-resistant, plus USB-C compatibility

⚠️ Cons: More expensive and bulkier than basic external drives

3. Seagate Expansion Desktop (High-capacity storage for home and office)

Best for: Large storage for backups, media libraries and desktop use
🔗 View on Amazon, $159.99

🎯 Pros: Huge capacity, plug and play, reliable for long-term storage

⚠️ Cons: Requires an external power source and no advanced security features

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Tags: Amazon, Apple Mac, deals, external hard drive, PC, USB-C

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Happy Valentine’s Day! A little tech love

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples. It’s the perfect excuse to spread a little love in the simplest ways. A quick heart emoji, a sweet message to a friend or even just a kind word can make someone’s day. And if you’re flying solo? Treat yourself to something special and enjoy a little you time.

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Amazon Haul: It’s like Temu in the Amazon Shopping app

AboutAmazon.com

Can you guess how much money super-cheap Chinese retailer Temu raked in last year? The answer is about $54 billion, and the latest numbers show almost half that total came from American shoppers.

It’s hard to resist inexpensive stuff shipped right to your door, even when you end up with hilarious fails like this. Want a way to score Temu-like deals without giving Communist China all your personal data? Meet Amazon Haul, the new online destination for dirt-cheap finds.

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Want to get into podcasts (ahem, like mine)? You need a nice set of earbuds like these that sound great, have a 32-hour battery life and are a fraction of the price of AirPods.

I love it when things are functional … and mini. Mini is great, too.

A universal charging cable, complete with USB, USB-C, micro-USB and Apple Lightning adapters.
An emergency Advil stash (10% off).
A $9 seatbelt slicer and safety hammer for escaping a wrecked car.
An eyeglass repair kit under $5.
An Apple AirTag holder (30% off). Ta-da! Your keys are now unlosable.

I order supplements online: Mix two scoops of collagen* into your coffee or smoothie. I do this every morning to keep my skin, bones and joints happy. (Psst, it’s 45% off and you’ll get free shipping with my link.)

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🚨 50% off alert: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a massive sale. Get all the gear to lock down your home. You’ll sleep better at night.

Hearing aids 101: How they work and Kim’s top tech pick

Last year, my husband Barry got sick. We thought it was just a cold, but then, the strangest thing happened: He lost hearing in one ear because of a virus. After months of waiting, endless consultations and a lot of research, we learned how common this is.

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Practical gifts everyone will love at $10, $20 and $50

Amazon.com

Thank goodness I’m almost done shopping! I’m here to help you be a hero on Christmas morning at whatever budget floats your boat. Psst, if you need stocking stuffers, use this link.

⁉️ “Hey Kim, I still need to find the perfect gift for …” Worry not! I have hundreds of ideas for you right here. You’ll get it done in a jiffy with my picks!

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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

💰 Want to snag a deal on eBay? Researchers found the longer it takes for a seller to reject you, the better shot you have at scoring a bargain. If it’s been a couple hours and they said “no way” to your lowball, go in with a slightly higher offer. You have ’em on the hook.

Amazon switcheroo: Starting Feb. 26, you can’t download Kindle books onto anything other than an Amazon device. So, right now, sign in to Amazon, click Accounts & Lists > Content Library > Books. On the one you want, hit More actions > Download & transfer via USB.

I own a real green screen: The YouTube Shorts AI, Veo 2, whips up clips with just a few words. Like OpenAI’s Sora, type what you want and the AI does the rest. You can specify a style, lens or cinematic effect. Want to try it yourself? Open YouTube, go to Shorts camera > Green Screen > and type your prompt.