Triple interface connection; drop protection durability; fast transfer speeds (especially with FireWire 800), three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included; exposed ports susceptible to dirt.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mac and PC users alike will appreciate the Iomega eGo Portable's triple interface connectivity that lets you choose from USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800. Combined with a rugged enclosure, free data protection software, and a robust three-year warranty, this drive is a great example of well-rounded hardware. We thoroughly recommend it both for average consumer as well as data-hounds on a budget.
Triple interface connection; drop protection durability; fast transfer speeds (especially with FireWire 800), three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included; exposed ports susceptible to dirt.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mac and PC users alike will appreciate the Iomega eGo Portable's triple interface connectivity that lets you choose from USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800. Combined with a rugged enclosure, free data protection software, and a robust three-year warranty, this drive is a great example of well-rounded hardware. We thoroughly recommend it both for average consumer as well as data-hounds on a budget.
Triple interface connection; drop protection durability; fast transfer speeds (especially with FireWire 800), three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included; exposed ports susceptible to dirt.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Mac and PC users alike will appreciate the Iomega eGo Portable's triple interface connectivity that lets you choose from USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800. Combined with a rugged enclosure, free data protection software, and a robust three-year warranty, this drive is a great example of well-rounded hardware. We thoroughly recommend it both for average consumer as well as data-hounds on a budget.
Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (320GB, midnight blue)
EDITORS RATING
8.5
SPECS
320 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5", 8 MB, 5400 rpm
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; faster throughput than the competition; rugged enclosure protects drops up to 51 inches; lightweight; three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The eGo Portable continues Iomega's tradition of slim, feature-rich external hard drives, this time sporting a sleek new design and an extended warranty. The bundle also includes a suite of three different software solutions that back up your data and protects your computer, and at an affordable 30 cents per gigabyte, we're happy to endorse the Iomega eGo Portable once again.
Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (250GB, ruby red)
EDITORS RATING
8.5
SPECS
250 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5", 8 MB
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; faster throughput than the competition; rugged enclosure protects drops up to 51 inches; lightweight; three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The eGo Portable continues Iomega's tradition of slim, feature-rich external hard drives, this time sporting a sleek new design and an extended warranty. The bundle also includes a suite of three different software solutions that back up your data and protects your computer, and at an affordable 30 cents per gigabyte, we're happy to endorse the Iomega eGo Portable once again.
Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (320GB, ruby red)
EDITORS RATING
8.5
SPECS
320 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5", 8 MB, 5400 rpm
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; faster throughput than the competition; rugged enclosure protects drops up to 51 inches; lightweight; three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The eGo Portable continues Iomega's tradition of slim, feature-rich external hard drives, this time sporting a sleek new design and an extended warranty. The bundle also includes a suite of three different software solutions that back up your data and protects your computer, and at an affordable 30 cents per gigabyte, we're happy to endorse the Iomega eGo Portable once again.
Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (320GB, silver)
EDITORS RATING
8.5
SPECS
320 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5", 8 MB, 5400 rpm
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; faster throughput than the competition; rugged enclosure protects drops up to 51 inches; lightweight; three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The eGo Portable continues Iomega's tradition of slim, feature-rich external hard drives, this time sporting a sleek new design and an extended warranty. The bundle also includes a suite of three different software solutions that back up your data and protects your computer, and at an affordable 30 cents per gigabyte, we're happy to endorse the Iomega eGo Portable once again.
Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (500GB, ruby red)
EDITORS RATING
8.5
SPECS
500 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5"
THE GOOD
Inexpensive; faster throughput than the competition; rugged enclosure protects drops up to 51 inches; lightweight; three-year warranty.
THE BAD
Power cord not included.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The eGo Portable continues Iomega's tradition of slim, feature-rich external hard drives, this time sporting a sleek new design and an extended warranty. The bundle also includes a suite of three different software solutions that back up your data and protects your computer, and at an affordable 30 cents per gigabyte, we're happy to endorse the Iomega eGo Portable once again.
Small footprint; lightweight; fast transfer speeds; eSATA and USB 2.0 connectivity.
THE BAD
Expensive; traditional external hard drives offer four times the storage space for 13 times less; proprietary cord required for eSATA connection.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although the Transcend SSD18M solid-state drive is astronomically expensive, the price is balanced with its tiny footprint and impressive transfer speeds. It's easy to geek out on the beauty of the design, and even though hardcore nerds will love its versatility, the simple fact is that bargain-hunting consumers can get much higher capacities for a lot less, at least for now.
Synology Disk Station DS409slim - NAS server, 0 GB, PC, Mac, 4 pin USB Type A, RJ-45, Standard, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The Synology Disk Station DS409slim offers fast performance, a robust Web-interface, and a generous feature set in a compact, aesthetically pleasant, and practical design.
THE BAD
The Synology Disk Station DS409slim doesn't come with any storage and is not easy enough for novice home users to use. Its Surveillance Station requires additional license fees to support more than one IP camera and its Download Station's software doesn't fully support Web sites that require authentication.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Synology Disk Station DS409slim makes an excellent NAS server for both home and small business applications, and it fits especially well in offices with limited space.
Data transfer speeds top the competition; slim profile; preloaded backup software; generous 5-year warranty; 256-bit security encryption.
THE BAD
No FireWire port; other drives charge less per gigabyte.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A sexy, slim design and backup software set make a compelling argument for the Seagate BlackArmor PS 110 external hard drive. We like the unique Try and Decide feature preloaded on the drive, and the throughput speed scores stomp the competition. Shoppers on a strict budget should look into the Fujitsu Handydrive for the best cost per gigabyte, but the BlackArmor PS 110 offers many extra features for just a few more dollars more.
QNAP TS-239 Pro Turbo NAS - NAS server, 0 GB, PC, Mac, 7 pin external Serial ATA, 4 pin USB Type A, RJ-45, Hot-swap, Hi-Speed USB, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The QNAP TS-239 Pro offers fast throughput speed and an overwhelming list of useful features. Also, it supports hot-swappable RAID configurations and has a robust, intuitive Web interface.
THE BAD
The QNAP TS-239 Pro has a long boot time, runs a little noisy, lacks a front LCD, and is relatively expensive. It also requires some networking knowhow to set up and operate.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The QNAP TS-239 Pro is a dual-bay NAS server that offers good performance and many features for a relatively high premium. It's a device best suited for those with intermediate or advanced know-how of networking.
Hitachi SimpleTough external hard drive (USB 2.0, 500GB)
EDITORS RATING
7.5
SPECS
500 GB, External
THE GOOD
Conveniently integrated USB cable; three-year warranty; local and online data backup; rubber body can withstand 9.8-foot drops and a ton of pressure.
THE BAD
No FireWire port; competitors have cheaper cost per gigabyte without rugged specifications; larger than average hardware design.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Hitachi SimpleTough is by far the most indestructible external hard drive we've tested, capable of surviving drops of up to 10 feet and up to one ton of pressure. With a built-in USB cable, two-tiered data security package, and an impressive three-year warranty, we have no issue recommending this external hard drive to shoppers looking for space and security.
Hitachi SimpleTough external hard drive (USB 2.0, 250GB)
EDITORS RATING
7.5
SPECS
250 GB, External, 2.5 in
THE GOOD
Conveniently integrated USB cable; three-year warranty; local and online data backup; rubber body can withstand 9.8-foot drops and a ton of pressure.
THE BAD
No FireWire port; competitors have cheaper cost per gigabyte without rugged specifications; larger than average hardware design.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Hitachi SimpleTough is by far the most indestructible external hard drive we've tested, capable of surviving drops of up to 10 feet and up to one ton of pressure. With a built-in USB cable, two-tiered data security package, and an impressive three-year warranty, we have no issue recommending this external hard drive to shoppers looking for space and security.
Hitachi SimpleTough external hard drive (USB 2.0, 320GB)
EDITORS RATING
7.5
SPECS
320 GB, External, 2.5 in
THE GOOD
Conveniently integrated USB cable; three-year warranty; local and online data backup; rubber body can withstand 9.8-foot drops and a ton of pressure.
THE BAD
No FireWire port; competitors have cheaper cost per gigabyte without rugged specifications; larger than average hardware design.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Hitachi SimpleTough is by far the most indestructible external hard drive we've tested, capable of surviving drops of up to 10 feet and up to one ton of pressure. With a built-in USB cable, two-tiered data security package, and an impressive three-year warranty, we have no issue recommending this external hard drive to shoppers looking for space and security.
The Voyager Q hard-drive-docking station supports both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives. It features a practical design, all the existing connections (USB, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and eSATA), and performs very well in our tests.
THE BAD
The Voyager Q doesn't support ATA (IDE) hard drives and comes with a bulky power adapter.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Voyager Q is a versatile hard-drive-docking station for people who work with more than one internal hard drive. It saves time and spares you from having to open the computer's case.
Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 2 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server has good performance; RAID configurations; easy-to-use Web-based interface; offers plenty of storage without breaking the bank.
THE BAD
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server's Web interface is sluggish at times. Its advanced features, such as self-downloading, IP camera support, and remote access, have limited functionality. It also runs hot.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.
Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 1 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server has good performance; RAID configurations; easy-to-use Web-based interface; offers plenty of storage without breaking the bank.
THE BAD
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server's Web interface is sluggish at times. Its advanced features, such as self-downloading, IP camera support, and remote access, have limited functionality. It also runs hot.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.
Iomega StorCenter Ix2-200 Network Storage - NAS server, 4 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Removable, Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server has good performance; RAID configurations; easy-to-use Web-based interface; offers plenty of storage without breaking the bank.
THE BAD
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server's Web interface is sluggish at times. Its advanced features, such as self-downloading, IP camera support, and remote access, have limited functionality. It also runs hot.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS server makes a good, affordable backup and storage center for home and small office environments where only simple file sharing and data backup are needed. Keep looking for alternatives if you want more-advanced NAS features.
Seagate BlackArmor NAS 220 - NAS server, 2 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The Seagate BlackArmor 220 offers decent throughput speed, easy-to-use remote access, and many customization options. The server supports RAID 1 and RAID 0 configurations and is compact.
THE BAD
The Seagate BlackArmor 220's hard drives are difficult to replace and more than basic networking know-how is required to use its advanced features.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Seagate BlackArmor 220 is a good entry-level NAS server for small business and advanced users.
Seagate BlackArmor NAS 220 - NAS server, 4 TB, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
THE GOOD
The Seagate BlackArmor 220 offers decent throughput speed, easy-to-use remote access, and many customization options. The server supports RAID 1 and RAID 0 configurations and is compact.
THE BAD
The Seagate BlackArmor 220's hard drives are difficult to replace and more than basic networking know-how is required to use its advanced features.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Seagate BlackArmor 220 is a good entry-level NAS server for small business and advanced users.
The Replica backs up the entire contents of a Windows PC hard drive, operating system, and all; simple setup; restoring a system is easy; step-up 500GB model offers option for backing up multiple PCs.
THE BAD
Only backs up your entire system; you can't selectively move files on and off the drive; no Mac support; supplied USB cable is unusually short.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While Seagate's Replica will seem silly and restricting to those looking for a flexible external storage option, others will welcome the singularity of its mission to back up your entire Windows PC.
The Replica backs up the entire contents of a Windows PC hard drive, operating system, and all; simple setup; restoring a system is easy; step-up 500GB model offers option for backing up multiple PCs.
THE BAD
Only backs up your entire system; you can't selectively move files on and off the drive; no Mac support; supplied USB cable is unusually short.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While Seagate's Replica will seem silly and restricting to those looking for a flexible external storage option, others will welcome the singularity of its mission to back up your entire Windows PC.
No FireWire port; heavy aluminum casing; competition offers a cheaper cost per gigabyte; short USB cable; bulky USB plug doesn't play well with other peripherals.
THE BOTTOM LINE
LaCie clearly spent a lot of time designing the look and feel of the Starck Mobile Hard Drive, but it trips up on the basic essentials like weight, ease of use, cost per gigabyte, and transfer speed. Hard-core design geeks will get a kick out of its funky case, but everyone else should check out the Fujitsu HandyDrive, which offers more storage space for less.
No FireWire port; heavy aluminum casing; competition offers a cheaper cost per gigabyte; short USB cable; bulky USB plug doesn't play well with other peripherals.
THE BOTTOM LINE
LaCie clearly spent a lot of time designing the look and feel of the Starck Mobile Hard Drive, but it trips up on the basic essentials like weight, ease of use, cost per gigabyte, and transfer speed. Hard-core design geeks will get a kick out of its funky case, but everyone else should check out the Fujitsu HandyDrive, which offers more storage space for less.
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