What external Hard drive can I get to use w/ my iMac and Macbook pro w/ Lion software? I have never used one. I need to back up my photos, iTunes, documenta, etc., Im a nursing student and very worried about losing my stuff. Any suggestions?

I have had my macbook pro and desktop since 2008 now.  I have never had time to just sit down and learn about time machine and external hard drives.  I am in nursing school and barely have time to breathe, so when I try to read the threads, all the tech terms run together.  I have been referred to LaCIe, but I read some things saying problems with Lion (which I am highly disapointed in so far-but like I said, I have not had a lot of time to sit down and try to figure out out the kinks), Is there a good external harddrive anyone reccommends that will be easy/simple (not because I am lazy- I literally have no time w/ all my school work to figure out something complicated) , and go with my desk top and lap top?
My laptop started messing up in class the other day, and it has a lot of memory left, so I don't understand.  It kept freezing up like a PC.  Ever since I downloaded Lion, it seems my computers have gotten slower. ;(    I have MacKeeper downloaded on both of them. I cleaned stuff off, it seems to be working better right now. But I am still soooo scared that something will happen and I will lose all of my info.
I would be grateful of any advice/suggestions that anyone can give me. 
Thanks

the BEST that exists (fact, not opinion) are Hitachi
best options for the price, and high quality HD:
Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or  $65 per TB on 2.5"
Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim perfect for use with a notebook
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 15mm thick  2TB drive (have several of them, lots of storage in tiny package)    $100
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
*This one is the BEST portable  external HD available that money can buy:
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $88
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+7 2 00+RPM
Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"
Hitachi is the winner in hard drive reliability survey:
Hitachi manufacturers the safest and most reliable hard drives, according to the Storelab study. Of the hundreds of Hitachi hard drives received, not a single one had failed due to manufacturing or design errors. Adding the highest average lifespans and the best relationship between failures and market share, Hitachi can be regarded as the winner.

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