Difference Between a External Hard drive and a Server

[Rockonmetal]

Ok, I have multiple computers in my house, I am think about getting something that will act as like a main database/server/storage thingy. But I don't know whether to get a server or a External Hard drive

What I am going to use it for:
Saving A lot of Pictures, files and stuff *powerpoints old stuff*...
Hold Backup Files safely...
Possiblely testing out on some server side scripts.

Its Gotta Be/Have:

1. Around 200gb capacity... I do not need 350gb storage...
2. Definitly Affordable, not like $1000...
3. Reliable
4. Combatable with Wireless Network... Meaning I can save files wirelessly from my computer to the hard drive in a specific folder...
5. Easy to Maintain and Use...

*If this is in the wrong forum let me know which one to put this into... I will kindly move it...

** If you have an answer, please tell the basic stuff, Most important is Combatibility to work with wireless network... If I can't get it with it, I don't want it...

*** Thanks to all who answer this or help me out...

[boogyman]

But I don't know whether to get a server or a External Hard drive

A server is a computer, where a Hard Drive is just that... a place to store stuff. You can have many hard drives on a computer/server.

Its Gotta Be/Have:
1. Around 200gb capacity... I do not need 350gb storage...
2. Definitly Affordable, not like $1000...
3. Reliable

I got a 500g SATA Drive for just short of $200. Although you would need to be sure that your motherboard will support a SCSI drive. If you do not know, you can get an affordable IDE Drive and as for the setup, well that is just preference. its really just about doing your research and shopping around... eg online/local stores/chain stores etc etc

4. Combatable with Wireless Network... Meaning I can save files wirelessly from my computer to the hard drive in a specific folder
5. Easy to Maintain and Use...

You would need to set up a network for whatever computer the Hard Drive is going to be used with, which includes giving appropriate permissions. But after that the maintanence really just depends on what you store on it, and how often you choose to clean it up.

[Rockonmetal]

I forgot to say, We already have a wireless network set up...

So a server would be a better choice for what I am doing.

Basicly Its going to be like this for use and storage:
Family Photos, Photos, Presentations, My stupid websites, testing sites, and really really really important stuff...

Although you would need to be sure that your motherboard will support a SCSI drive. If you do not know, you can get an affordable IDE Drive and as for the setup, well that is just preference. its really just about doing your research and shopping around... eg online/local stores/chain stores etc etc

??Hun?? ENGLISH?!?! If it supports any server side script or can run I am fine with that...

[Twey]

You can also get dedicated network hard drives, which are basically minimal fileservers.

[Rockonmetal]

ok but can it do what I want 2 do with it... *see above in first post*

[Twey]

Store the files, yes, but to run server-side scripts you really want a webserver.

[boogyman]

I forgot to say, We already have a wireless network set up...

So a server would be a better choice for what I am doing.

Basicly Its going to be like this for use and storage:
Family Photos, Photos, Presentations, My stupid websites, testing sites, and really really really important stuff...

if you already have a Network, then you would just need to set up whatever you get to the network. If you decide to get a new computer then you would set up the computer to the network, if you just get a hard-drive you just need to make sure that its available to the network

Although you would need to be sure that your motherboard will support a SCSI drive. If you do not know, you can get an affordable IDE Drive and as for the setup, well that is just preference. its really just about doing your research and shopping around... eg online/local stores/chain stores etc etc

??Hun?? ENGLISH?!?! If it supports any server side script or can run I am fine with that...

look above... am not really sure what you are saying? you do not even need a server-side script for networking. a server-side script is for web stuff / backup

ok but can it do what I want 2 do with it... *see above in first post*

in a lei man terms YES

You can also get dedicated network hard drives, which are basically minimal fileservers.