Q:I need a new external hard drive. Should I get a USB 2.0 drive or one with both eSATA and USB connections?

A: Most home users need not worry too much about eSATA (external Serial AT Attachment).

This technology, based on the SATA cables that connect internal hard drives, transfers data much faster than USB 2.0 and FireWire connections. But few computers include e- SATA ports. For example, Dell and HP only offer them on a handful of desktops and laptops; Apple doesn’t provide them on Macs. Most hard drives, in turn, only support USB (Universal Serial Bus) and FireWire.

If you’ll move large files back and forth and plan to buy a higher-end desktop or laptop in the next year or so, an eSATA-compatible drive could be a good investment. Otherwise, stick with USB or FireWire. The latter connection is especially useful on most Macs, where it keeps too-scarce USB ports open. Another tip: Get a “bus-powered” drive, which will run off your computer’s power supply and won’t need its own wall outlet.

Dust clogs phone jack

Q: My Palm no longer works as a phone—when I place a call, the speakerphone icon vanishes from the screen, and I can’t hear anything.

A: This highly annoying situation can occur when debris accumulates in the headphone jack of a Treo or Centro phone. Apparently, Palm uses a mechanical switch to route the phone’s audio output to a wired hands-free kit; if this sensor gets incorrectly tripped, Palm’s software can’t do anything about it.

The simplest fix is to take a hands-free kit (borrow one from a friend if necessary) and plug it and unplug it rapidly, several times in succession. This should dislodge dirt, dust or lint accumulated inside the jack.

Tell iPhoto not to open

Q: How can I stop iPhoto from opening every time I sync my iPhone with my Mac? I don’t use the camera on the phone all that much.

A: The only fix is to tell iPhoto not to open when a camera is plugged into the Mac—not only an iPhone, but any camera. In iPhoto’s Preferences window, change the “Connecting camera opens” menu from “iPhoto” to “No application.” Assuming you plug in your iPhone more often than your camera, this may not be too bad. You’ll just need to remember to launch iPhoto on your own when you want to import photos; once it’s up and running, it will see the camera and offer to grab your pictures.