Looking for External Hard Drive recommendations.

[Endangered Specie]

Looking for External Hard Drive device (for purpose of BACKUP).

I need a significant amount of storage (like 500GB), and I prefer external (despite the higher prices, Im not willing to dig into my PC ;), and Im going to use them as back up so I can pull them out and lock them away). My question is which HD company would you consider to be the most reliable brand, as in won't die or corrput. (I'm not terribly concerned about price, most the companies have some configuration that will get me about $1 a GB even if it means buying several little ones)

These are the companies Ive heard of:
LaCie (Ive had one of these for a year and its done me well, but Ive heard bad things about there newer stuff)
Western Digital
Maxtor
Seagate
Sony

Any information/experience/opinions are appreciated (not just about the companies but about backing up in general ;))

Thanks!

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. Seagate is my first choice

followed by Maxtor and then Hitachi (used to be IBM). DO NOT use a Western Digital- they're junk.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Really?

I've have had my WD 120G running for 6 months with absolutely no problems. Very quiet and fast, too.

I wouldn't recommend Acom....had one and that crashed and died on me....for no apparent reason.

[Berserker]

3. I have been

using a Maxtor for 3 years and I have never had a problem.

[Endangered Specie]

4. kick for more advice

[bemildred]

5. Seagate. nt

[salvorhardin]

6. Seagate n/t