Drive issues are always coming up. Things change w/ any manufacturer and individual experience varies greatly. I look at the warranties, that helps, also reviews of course.. I have still had good luck w/ seagate, samsung and fujitsu. I am more wary of wd and hitachi. I find many hitachi drives that don't make it. Going by manufacturer is difficult. Only so many factories and everything is outsourced to india nowadays and I believe that will only get worse. Best to simply get a decent drive w/ good warranty and just put it in a decent enclosure if you need an external unit.

No need to think outside the box....
    Just make it invisible.