A hard disk drive is the biggest component of storage in a computer. It is where all of the data in a computer, including the operating system, applications and all user files (movies, music, photos etc) are permanently stored.
Over time, disk drives have evolved from being a few megabytes in size to over 1.5 terabytes. As is usually the case with almost all components of a computer system, this evolution has been accompanied with a steep decrease in price and a vast array of options to choose from.
Some of the key characteristics to look for while researching hard drives include:
Size - this is usually the most important factor while choosing a hard drive. Sizes range from 40GB (gigabytes) to over 1.5 TB (terabytes).
Disk speed - the speed of data access is determined by, amongst other things, the disk speed. The higher the speed, the faster data is transferred. Disk speeds are measured in RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) and can range from 5400 - 12000 RPM, with 5400 and 7200 being the commonly used speeds.
Internal/External - hard disk drives are either encased in the computer (desktop/laptop) or they are used externally. At the very minimum, every computer has an internal hard drive that's used to store the operating system, applications and basic data. This drive can be augmented with an external, portable drive as well to increase storage capacity.
Interface - this determines how the hard drive connects to the computer. Internal hard drives almost always have a SATA interface while external drives have more options for interfacing - USB, FireWire and eSATA (External SATA).
Given these parameters, the decision to purchase a hard disk drive should always be evaluated from a usage standpoint: how is this drive going to be used?
For a computer that's primarily used for emailing/internet surfing and storing an average amount of data (photos, music, games etc), a basic, cheap, entry-level internal hard disk drive is more than sufficient. This would typically be something in the range of 120-140GB with a disk speed of 5400 RPM and a SATA interface. If, over time, storage needs increase, an external USB/FireWire-based hard drive would be an excellent way to supplement existing drive space.
One striking aspect about hard disk drives is that prices have declined sharply over time, and continue to do so. Just in the past 5 years, the average price per GB has fallen from about $1.15/GB to as low as $0.15/GB. With prices so low, consumers don't have much motivation to buy a hard drive, with, say, a capacity of 40GB, when they can spend a few extra dollars and get almost quadruple that capacity.
Some of the popular manufacturers of hard drives include Seagate, Western Digital, Hitachi, Toshiba, Fujitsu etc. Each of these manufacturers has drives available in every price segment and it's easy to find a cheap, reliable and high-quality drive.
Online retailers are an excellent place to start searching for deals on hard drives that are suited for every budget and requirement. When buying a hard drive, it's usually cheaper to buy from a retailer than from the drive manufacturer. The same warranty is offered but with a significantly lower price and, frequently, with perks like free shipping.
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