Green drives are definitely best for storage use, though I wouldn't say server-grade as they're not reliable enough in my opinion. At least, not for high-use servers.
 
To be honest, I do not see the point of a 1TB SSD. If you have that much data you shouldn't be keeping it internally on your computer. For best performance you should have a medium-capacity SSD (I like the 480GB ones) which then uses an external volume with multiple standard HDDs for storage in some sort of redundant array (what configuration you go with depends on personal need).
 
I have to say, though. The recommendations on learning more about computers is great advice. I have to say that as a tech-savvy individual it always seems like I have more problems with my computers than others but what I think is more accurate is that I notice all the little problems that I have. However, I know how to fix just about all of them at this point.

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dougoftheabaci said:

People who don't backup their computers are asking to lose everything. It's only a matter of time. Back up regularly and test that backup just as regularly.

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There are two kinds of people in the world, those who backup and those who wish they had.

Guys I am not computer illiterate.
 
Regarding the Acer aspire one netbook which is 2 years old. The OS became corrupt so I installed windows 7. The hard drive has been making clicking noises since 1 month after I bought it and the hard drive health is at 16% S.M.A.R.T. test anyways.
 
The Toshiba CD drive failing could be partially my fault. I fiddled with it a tiny bit I admit. But the hard drive last time I checked was at 18%.
 
 
My new Acer has no excuses for a failed drive. Picked up a new Hard Drive today and reinstalled windows with my key. Back up and running.
 
Finally I will say I do use them portably and carry them in a 16" laptop bag around town. It could be possible the bumps from taking it places had an impact on their reliability.
 
 
S.M.A.R.T. tests reveal that my Acer (new) laptop had 100% health in it's drive. It didn't completely fail it was just making harsh sounding click noises so I recorded it as a fail and replaced the drive with a new one.
 
Last but not least I am known as a computer guy and people constantly ask me for computer advice.
 
I only ask questions if I try everything that I would assume would fix my problem and it doesn't work.

Clicking is the first audible sign of impending HDD failure.  I'm guessing you move and bounce around your laptops a bit while they boot, run or go into sleep/hibernate which is inevitable w/ slow running netbooks.  Low processing power, low RAM = overworked HDD and no doubt netbooks have cheap ass hard drives.  Your asking for all sorts of trouble.  Platters spin under a moving drive head separated by less than the width of a standard human hair (depending on hair color).  Now imagine moving or shaking it while it's running.  I remember all the laptop failures due to people using them in bed typing on their laps and what not.  Blocking the ventilation ports, rocking the laptop while the HDD was accessing.  All user error.  That's why companies that care about reliability like IBM/Lenovo who make my Thinkpad have been using G-sensors in their drive bays for ages.  I don't care anymore since all my boot drives are SSD in everything PC or Laptop.  My Thinkpad has had water spilled on the keyboard, been jarred, dropped, covered in sand and crushed by a tank breach.  Still works, though I did have to replace the cracked Pelican case.  Lifetime warranty, heh.  No Apple or Acer would have survived that.
 
Get a solid SSD for boot, if you need storage get an external like a passport.  Your wasting your time and money for laptops otherwise IMO.  Get a Thinkpad too.  Mine will outlive 10 Acers and have been through hell and back.  Especially compared to netbooks.  Nothing gets cheaper than a netbook.
 
FYI, S.M.A.R.T doesn't guarantee anything.

Agree with Anaxilus 100%. Well, mostly. I don't think you're doing it wrong if you get a laptop without an SSD given how cost-prohibitive they can be, but I would go so far as to say it's something you should upgrade to at some point.
 
And he's definitely correct about how rugged a good Lenovo Thinkpad. They're the brand built for engineers who travel. For those of you who know an engineer you know what that's impressive and for those of you who don't, just imagine the worst nerd with the highest standards and multiply by a factor of eleven. The only reason why I also highly suggest ASUS is because I know they use high-grade components and because they make some very powerful laptops for the price.
 
As for the "No Apple" bit, that was the pelican case, not the computer. And you'd be surprised about modern Macs. They're actually the most well-built consumer laptops you can buy without something like the GE Tough Books. They are, after all, three solid pieces of high-grade aluminum.
 
To be honest, anyone who buys a netbook, in my opinion, is wasting money. Tablets make infinitely more sense for the same purpose and if you want the features of a laptop it's far better to get a laptop.

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dougoftheabaci said:

Agree with Anaxilus 100%. Well, mostly. I don't think you're doing it wrong if you get a laptop without an SSD given how cost-prohibitive they can be, but I would go so far as to say it's something you should upgrade to at some point.
 
And he's definitely correct about how rugged a good Lenovo Thinkpad. They're the brand built for engineers who travel. For those of you who know an engineer you know what that's impressive and for those of you who don't, just imagine the worst nerd with the highest standards and multiply by a factor of eleven. The only reason why I also highly suggest ASUS is because I know they use high-grade components and because they make some very powerful laptops for the price.
 
As for the "No Apple" bit, that was the pelican case, not the computer. And you'd be surprised about modern Macs. They're actually the most well-built consumer laptops you can buy without something like the GE Tough Books. They are, after all, three solid pieces of high-grade aluminum.
 
To be honest, anyone who buys a netbook, in my opinion, is wasting money. Tablets make infinitely more sense for the same purpose and if you want the features of a laptop it's far better to get a laptop.

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I bought mine about 2 years ago on a whim because i needed basic computing. Why not it was only $250. Personally i feel the exact opposite. Tablets are crap considering you can get a netbook for 1/2 the price that can achieve 10 times as much as a tablet. With the exception of the HP touchpad as they were on sale for $99. But personally i will never buy anything HP.
 
For example. If your going to buy an ipad buy a full laptop instead for the same price.
 

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dougoftheabaci said:

 
As for the "No Apple" bit, that was the pelican case, not the computer. And you'd be surprised about modern Macs. They're actually the most well-built consumer laptops you can buy without something like the GE Tough Books. They are, after all, three solid pieces of high-grade aluminum.

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Those Macbook screens will pop right off and they flex quite a bit.  They're not bad but they ain't a Thinkpad w/ a Magnesium roll cage.  Didn't mean to imply they were (anymore).  They do have the best power connector in business.  Jobs did make the Thinkpad his target for the Macbook.  First thing he did when he came back to Apple.  They still aren't mil-spec to the same degree.  If I did have a plastic Macbook in the Pelican it would have been toasted too.  Perhaps even an Air.  The weight of a tank breach would pop the plastic Macbook like a tomato and probably dent the Air so bad it would deform..  There was a slight gash on the Thinkpad but the roll cage did it's job.  Pelican + Thinkpad = Win.  If you click on my Thinkpad and T61 links you might be amused.  =)

Macbooks are three pieces of very thin high grade aluminum. I got bamboozled by Steve Jobs into buying a 15" Core Duo Macbook several years ago. The top cover of the screen was easily dented. Shallow dents on the top caused stuck pixels on the LCD screen. The cooling was horribly insufficient - totally unacceptable. Despite Apple's high prices, they put in the cheapest 5400rpm drives they could find - which often meant HD failure. After a year and a half on the road, my Macbook started to die. It's definitely not a good laptop if you need ruggedness.

Just an amusing aside.  A friend and myself were visiting his sister in Nawlins.  One night we happened to be in the living room when we all needed to get on our laptops.  Her husband is an MIT grad in CS, my friend's an Engineer and I'm just a random loser.  Regardless, we all whip out our Thinkpads roughly at the same time and start clicking away.  My friends sis (MIT grad and Doctor) decides to get in on the action and whips out her Macbook.  We all look up at her after her Macbook makes the ubiquitous 'gong' sound on boot up.  We look back at each other, shake our heads and start giggling.  You had to be there.  

LOLOLOLOL! Oink. Oink. ROFL. Snark. Heeheehee.

 
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anaxilus said:

Just an amusing aside.  A friend and myself were visiting his sister in Nawlins.  One night we happened to be in the living room when we all needed to get on our laptops.  Her husband is an MIT grad in CS, my friend's an Engineer and I'm just a random loser.  Regardless, we all whip out our Thinkpads roughly at the same time and start clicking away.  My friends sis (MIT grad and Doctor) decides to get in on the action and whips out her Macbook.  We all look up at her after her Macbook makes the ubiquitous 'gong' sound on boot up.  We look back at each other, shake our heads and start giggling.  You had to be there.  

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I'm tired of this kind of nonsense. The implications that if you use Macs you obviously don't know about computers (especially given that time and time again I've proven myself to be one of the more knowledgable people on this site in that regard) is insulting. It's something that Mac users have to deal with quite a bit and all it shows is a high level of ignorance and intolerance of different perspectives on the part of the ones making the jokes.
 
Frankly, I'm tired of defending my point of view against people who wouldn't listen no matter how valid my arguments.
 
I'm done.

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dougoftheabaci said:

I was actually hoping this wasn't going to turn into a "Macs are dumb, lol!" thread but there it goes... Again... Oh how I love you PC users. Me: There are some very good PCs. Macs are good, too. PC users: MACS ARE DUMB! LAWL! IDIOT MAC USERS!
 
I'm going to go now.

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Aw....c'mon.   
 
Geez, have a laff.  If it makes you feel better I hate Sony Vaio's, Dells, HPs and Acers.  Don't be hurt.    It was Thinkpads not PC's btw.    The joke was more about the hardware than the software.  I guess I won't share the time she saw her brother replace the battery in his Droid.  
 

Na, Anax and I were just messing with ya.

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anaxilus said:

 
Geez, have a laff.  If it makes you feel better I hate Sony Vaio's...
 

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Unfortunately, they don't make Thinkpads anymore (Lenovo does not count.), so I had to get a Vaio. All our Dells, HPs, and Lenovos at work kept failing. I'm at a loss at what to do.
 

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purrin said:

Unfortunately, they don't make Thinkpads anymore (Lenovo does not count.), so I had to get a Vaio.

All our Dells, HPs, and Lenovos at work kept failing. I'm at a loss at what to do.
 

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Mine has the IBM logo on it still.  Which model Lenovos were failing and why?  Maybe they went cheap on some component but the right models still maintain the Mil-spec ratings. 
 
I've been pointed towards higher end Asus and heard great and bad things about the CS so not sure.  Clevo and Sager always intrigued me but none are Thinkpads.