External Hard Drives........Desktop vs. Portable for iMac

Having just upgraded to a new 27" 2TB iMac, I exported all of my Master images from Aperture structure (G-Drive Desktop) to 2 2TB LaCie Ruggeds to new folder structure that will allow me then import into Lightroom. This will allow me to keep the same structure as my Lightroom Catalog. Yes there is a way to import from Aperture more easily, but it adds to collections.
Since I will have to import the images on to yet another HD, I will ask at this time what most of you are using as your Primary working drives on an iMac or other Desktop computers. Desktop AC powered or the smaller USB portables?
Are there any issues with long term durability as this primary drive will not travel much at all if ever. Are the portables becoming more reliable. All back ups will go to Lacie Rugged or equivalent for off site storage.
Just thinking ahead.
Thanks.

I always use the portable ones since there's one less power cord and brick. I don't know if there's any difference in reliability between the two. If anything, the portable ones might have an edge in that respect because they produce less heat.

I've now collected quite a few WD Passport portable drives. I like them for their size and convenience: I can slip them in my computer bag. They seem pretty reliable and make file transfers of video files a breeze. I have a SATA 7TB drive I took from an extra workstation and bought a drive enclosure for it. I think the main feature of powered external drives is that they can support larger sizes or RAID configurations.

Use a good brand, ideally one with a fan. If you want multiple drives get a docking station like this one and good brand 3.5" drives - HGST are good.

Nick5 wrote in post #18413232
Desktop AC powered or the smaller USB portables?
Are there any issues with long term durability as this primary drive will not travel much at all if ever. Are the portables becoming more reliable.

A few things to consider, and I'll use WD as an example.

With a USB portable you may not have a choice of speed - 5400 or 7200 rpm. Mostly I see only 5400 speeds.

Some portable drives include proprietary software installed. For example, WD Elements is mostly a bare HD,
where the Passport series includes cloud back-up and Hard Disk Encryption and back-up software.

Besides the HD, the USB portables may also include power supply circuitry or a small fan.
These are items that can fail besides the HD. Something to be aware of.

Is a portable USB drive any less reliable than a HD in a dock?
I can't answer that, but from reading computer forums and looking at
amazon's buyer reviews I don't see any reliability issues with the portables.