I agree that bigger is better, always, but I'm sure money comes into it, and 1 terrabyte is huge. Janie didn't say her computers were connected, or that her son actually has his own computer. But you can use the same external hard drive to backup your PC if you want to. I think formatting issues are over (PC types feel free to jump in). I swap files with one of my kids (HAH, he'd be insulted, turning 30 next summer) by loading a thumb drive. He takes it home and unloads it to his PC with no fuss. He brings me files the same way. It's the new form of sneakernet.

My first external hard drive was for the Apple IIGS. 2 MEGs! Enormous!