I'm gonna get a new PC soon, and am wondering if I should have a few HDs installed internally, or use USB external drives. In my current PC, I'm using externals. The reason I'm upgrading is because one of my inernal drive just died, and the PC is kinda old, just an excuse to get a new one. Fortunately, I've backed it up. On a related note: should I wait for Windows 8?
Thanks,

if it were me... i'd get a few TB of internal drives (sata 6 Gb/s set up in raid configuration), then have an external dock or hot swappable bay so that i could back up to external drives. ideally, the external drives would be stored off site for better disaster recovery.

it sort of depends on what format you're working with in general. uncompressed would probably require raid, hdv, regular hd's.

i favour external hd's.....

For me, internal raid 0 for workspace. Backups and archives to externals.

Trying to be realistic about how long to archive, I don't think I've ever gone back more than two years for client's projects. I do have a personal project, a long-term documentary that goes back 7 years...

My preference is external HDD with USB 3.0 specs. I am using the Bufflao 1TB HDD which is very rugged and has high transfer speed. The high speed is also sustainable over a period of time

I use externals all the time and even the USB2.o drives handle AVCHD footage with ease and no issues.

I find it a lot easier to have a cupboard full of drives with a date-to-date sticker on them and when clients from 18 months ago want some data it's easy to locate and keeps my internal drive free for just the OS and applications.

Chris

exactly like chris.... foolproof system so far - and boy, can i be a fool at times ;-)