External Hard Drive assistance?

Hard drives is a vicious arena. Everybody makes the best and they all are trash at the same time.

I am an average user and looking to upgrade by external hard drive. I want Firewire 800 and want a small compact 2nd drive with USB2.0 bus - that I can use to transfer iTunes/iPhoto to an older Mac Mini in a different part of the house.

Been looking at G-Drive, LaCie and perhaps Seagate and OWC. I have seen so much good and bad that I have become thoroughly confused and would welcome any and all comments and/or suggestions. Having trouble deciding - have been told to make sure it has encription software for security, but just not sure anymore.

PLEASE HELP!