Just get something that has decent reviews and USB 3.0. With USB 3.0 and a platter drive inside, the USB connection is no longer the bottleneck. Even if your computer doesn't have USB 3.0 now, it will someday, so it's worth having it on an external drive.
As for brands, there is a difference between drive brands. And there is a difference between drive models within a specific brand. That said, if you're buying an external platter drive, you very likely won't know what is inside, so it doesn't matter much. If you want to be sure you're getting the best chance at a very reliable drive, buy a drive and an external enclosure yourself. Otherwise, just get one with decent reviews and call it good.