External Hard Drives

Solid state drives are striving for a better performance whereas the standard hard drives are pushing the limits of the maximum data they can store.  Memory cards might hold some space, but if there is need for a large amount of space, EHDs are perfect. One company that has expertise in manufacture of external hard drives is Western Digital.  The well known brand has a great network system all around the world to distribute the latest portable storage devices.

Western Digital’s latest product Western Digital My Passport Essential SE pushes up the storage barrier to newer limits in a 2.5″ hard drive. Available in 2 capacities, 750GB (WDBABM7500ABK) and a 1TB (WDBABM0010BBK), they fit well into camera bags and along with a travel size notebook provide an excellent answer to store all your images. A stripped down version of the Western Digital’s My Passport Elite, the company has bypassed the standard SATA 2 circuitry and has a USB built in directly into the drive making it a shorter one. Not only that, there is an extra level of security with password protection and 256 bit hardware based encryption protecting your data from theft. Available in a host of colours ranging from turquoise to canary yellow, does it really deliver? Read the review to find out.

Design:

Stripped Down Version of the Elite:
The Passport Essential is built to the same size, weight and even footprint as its pricier counterpart, the Passport Elite. It essentially is the same drive with the same shape and hence is the Passport Elite in a glossier version minus the small detailed “luxury” touches. The drive looks like an address book and is small enough to be incorporated into your pocket. It has a plastic shell which is thickly built with tight seams and minimal flex and has four rubber feet that help the drive sit on non planar desktops.
The Elite has a single illuminated USB port which turns blue when the drive is communicating with the computer. There is also the Capacity gauge which helps in you to determine how much free space is actually available on the drive.  The simple clutter free design makes a fashion statement and let us hopes the drive is as simple to use as it looks.

Heaps of Colours to choose from:
WD My Passport Essential SE Portable External Hard drive is available in 11 highly glossy colours and has a wider range of colours than the plain matte finish Elite model.  But the drive is very prone to showing off fingerprints and smudges. Even without the posh look of the Elite, the Essential sports some fun loving colours and carries the same age old design ideas that made WD a favourite choice for many a people. The minimalist designs are also well thought out though we did think some of the colour choices were gaudy and could have been better off.

No USB cover:
Unlike the Elite, the Essential lacks a sliding port cover on the USB 2.0 thus exposing it to the environment. It could have at least been covered by that rubber cover we have seen on the older Passport models. It is not much of a problem if you keep the area around your drive clean and dry.

Connectivity:
The WD my Passport Essential SE has USB 2.0 connectivity and is powered using the port rather than a power adapter. The drives are preformatted and are partitioned just like the internal hard drives making it easy to use by plugging the drive to the PC.

Storage Capacity:
The drive is available in 2 capacities: 750GB and 1TB, with the latter being on the more expensive side.  The 1TB drive is capable for storing a lot of mp3 files, documents and many high picture qualities. Theoretically, assuming each song is about 4 MB, then the 1TB drive can store about 25,000 songs.

Compatibility:
The WD My Passport Essential SE drive is compatible with XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 in the Windows range and works with Mac as well. Mac OS X Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard are the list of Mac Operating systems it can work on. The file setup is NTFS and if you are a Mac user, all you need to do is to reformat it into OS X’s file system HFS+.

Setup:
The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE belongs to a new generation of External Hard Drives called plug in drives. All you need to do is to plug the drive to a USB port and you are ready to play.

Features:

Utilities:
The WD Essential SE 2.5″ External Hard Drive came preloaded with the following utilities: The WD Sync, WD SmartWare and Google Software. The Google software included has a set of browser tools and other utilities provided by Google such as Picasa Google Toolbar and Google Desktop. Though they are easy to use and highly useful, the suite is not exactly related to storage and seems bloatish.

WD Sync:
There is WDSync software preloaded on the drive which allows one to sync up your Outlook or Windows mail email accounts as well as specific files type such as Office and Media. You can also sync multiple types simultaneously. It is basically the same software present on the LaCie Little Disk, but is rebranded for WD. One can use the drive on a friend’s computer to sync up your PC files with your friends system to make you feel more at home.

Data Backup:
Data backup is usually tiring but is essential. Thanks to the WD SmartWare on the EHD, one can store all photos, music and all other files. Thanks to a visual interface, one can see all the drives that are connected to your system. The WD SmartWare scans your entire computer and finds all your personal files and emails. There is a content category gauge that shows how much information is backed up in each category. To see the file count, one needs to move the mouse towards the category. All you need to backup your files is click Run Backup and WD SmartWare would automatically start.  The colour of the category gauges keeps changing during backup. When finished, there is a status screen and information about the backup.

Once the first backup is done, files will be automatically backed up every time one makes a change or add a file. One can categorize data on the basis of file extension and choose which type of files to back up. However, unlike the HP SimpleSave Portable, you cannot setup your own extensions. That means all obscure media formats will be listed under as other. Every change you make to your computer is watched by SmartWare. Sequential backups for up to 25 versions of the same file are provided.  So you can safely assume that data will never be lost.  What one does not have on the Essential when compared to the Elite is WD’s Anywhere Backup application which is not really a big deal.

Data Encryption:
Western Digital’s encryption software allows users to take confidential data and one can protect their data with 256 bit AES hardware encryption for optimal security. There is password protection available as well so that only the owner will be able to access all the files on the EHD.

No need to Power:
The Essential is powered totally via the USB connection, providing a single cabled solution that makes the drive far easier to use.  However it would be a problem if you are the type of person who carries a portable notebook that runs on battery power. However, we found no issues when connected to a notebook when both of them are running on Power.

Performance:

When compared to other portable external hard drives, Western Digital My Passport SE seems sluggish for small file sizes. But it is sufficient for data backup and transferring of media files with a large file size. Because it uses a USB 2.0 instead of an eSATA interface the theoretical transfer speed should be around 60 Mbps.  While copying a file of 5GB size, it took about 3 minutes with a pretty decent average speed.  The HDTune benchmark is an indicator of overall performance of a drive both in terms of transfer of speed and CPU usage. The Passport Essential had an average of about 28.5 Mbps compared to the internal drive’s 27 Mbps.  Not only did the drive best the internal unit in terms of transfer speed, but also is seamless to use. It had absolutely no time lag while handling huge video files.

Heat:
The Passport Elite SE USB 2.0 Hard Drive had an impressive record in its ability to control heat dissipation and we expected the Essential to follow its footsteps. After using the drive for an hour with some photo editing work, the drive was slightly warm at its worst. While operating temperature was claimed to be between 5 and 40 degrees centigrade, the maximum we obtained after that one hour action was about 34 degrees – warm enough to be noticed.

Sound:
The Essential has a plastic cover that is an excellent sound insulator. All sorts of drive noises were inaudible in a normal environment even while putting an ear on the case. Even in a quiet room we were struggling to hear the Passport Essential work.  Moving the device when in use has no effect on pitch which is a good sign that the actual drive’s moving parts are well constructed.

Accessories:

There is a neoprene zipper pouch provided along with the drive which one can tuck the drive when not in use. Apart from that, there is even a spot provided for the 1 USB cable.

Warranty:

The Western Digital My Passport Essential SE has a warranty of 5 years. The Western Digital site offers web based support and allows you to access downloads, the product RMA, FAQs and an installation guide as well.

Verdict:

Most of us thought that the Elite was a bit too expensive and the guys at Western Digital launched a newer and more trimmed down version of it. So is it any good? It sure is. Okay, maybe canary yellow is not the best choice for the colour of an EHD, but there are 10 more colours. Though not as “stylish” as the Elite, it still looks simple and cluster free. It is easy to setup and is compatible with a lot of Operating Systems. It offers a lot of useful utilities such as the WD SmartWare which is a great backup solution. It does a decent job in reading and writing huge files and the 1TB size is simply tempting. Sure there are better and faster drives than this in the market, but this is perhaps the only drive with such a huge capacity. If storage is your prime concern, then we suggest you go for this.

Check other latest USB External Hard Drives in this website.

WD My Passport Essential SE (750GB, 1TB) - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Western Digital
Model Name	Western Digital My Passport Essential SE
Model Numbers	WDBABM7500ABK - 750GB WDBABM0010BBK - 1TB
Drive type	Hard drive array
Enclosure Type	Desktop
Hard Disk Interface	USB 2.0
Dimensions (H x L x W)	18 x 110 x 83
Weight	0.20 Kgs
Number of Colours available	11
Interface	USB 2.0
Capacities available	750GB and 1TB
Drive Device, Buffer Size	Variable
Spindle Speed	5400 rpm
Software included	WDSmartWare WDSync Google Software
Compatible systems	Apple MacOS X 10.5.2 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.4.11 or later, Microsoft Windows Vista / 2000 / XP
Data transfer rate	480 Mb/s
Environmental Specifications	Operating : 5° C to 40° C Non-operating : -20° C to 65° C
Power Source	Through USB port
Package contents	WD My Passport SE external hard drive, USB cable and a pouch
Warranty	5 years

The LaCie 2big Quadra external hard drive is basically a dual disc external RAID hard drive. The functional uniqueness of a RAID hard drive is that it gives users the extensive option, which enables them to mirror their data in two or more than two drives. This feature is a boon to the users as it ensures protection from data loss and even if one drive fails or collapses, the data is safely protected in another drive. The LaCie 2big Quadra is beneficial in these cases, as it encloses two hard disk drives within the same shell, which saves a lot of disorganised wires and cables, and saves effort. In other cases, the users require relying on two different hard disk drive enclosures, and two Firewall cables and they need to attach two different power cords as well.

The LaCie 2big Quadra RAID Drive has a few other extensive features as well. The two RAID hard disk drives have a number of user-friendly features, like they can be hot-swapped, they are extractable, and they can also be locked for advanced security against data loss. Moreover, the operational RAID towers in the LaCie 2 terabyte Quadra HDD has a very low energy consumption rate and is also very quiet while it carries out its functions and executes its operation. Thus it is user friendly and also environment friendly. The base model was designed by Neil Paulton  and the basic outlook is quite sleek and chick. The LaCie 2big Quadra also has an excellent feature to dissipate heat and with its functional and fashionable quotient soaring higher than other double RAID external HDD’s prevalent in the market, it does add to the style statement to any computer system along with its undoubtedly efficient working ability.

Design:

Compact and portable:
Most of the double RAID external hard disk drives take a lot of space on our desk and make it look very tacky and clumsy.  The LaCie 2 Big Quadra External Hard Disk Drive, with a dimension of 20 cm x 9.1 cm x 17.2 cm (L x W x H), is quite compact. Nowadays, the digital and media is basically making the use and availability of an external hard disk drive not only a luxurious boastful product, but is now a necessity for everyone. Thus, these devices have become a part of home computer system. For the same reason, users nowadays pay a lot of attention to the design, ergonomics and cosmetics of devices and gadgets even if it is an external hard disk drive. Considering this factual bit, the LaCie 2 Big Quadra is a model that scores quite higher than the other similar devices in the international market in this sphere. With the compact dimensions and a weight of 2700 grams, this device is quite attractive and handy.

Classy looks:
Designed by Neil Poulton, the LaCie Quadra dual RAID external hard drive has an elegant outlook, with metallic aluminium like finish. The ribbed aluminium covering not only gives a classy look to the device but it also helps in reducing the heat dissipation because of its large surface area, which in turn helps to cut down the fan noise to quite an extent. The great blue glowing orb in the centre is a compliment to the system, but there is confusion to whether it should be catered as a boon or bane. On one hand, where the blue orb adds to the style quotient of this external hard disk drive device, on the other hand, the strong illumination might not be very appreciated by the users. The blue central orb surely looks pretty cool and classy glows when the device is in use or when it is directly or indirectly executing some action. Though nowadays, most stylish gadgets with an indicator comes with this bluish illumination, but the emission from the LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive is too strong to be stated as ‘cool’. It literally bathes the user in the enormously powerful light which is not a very positive factor for the users, especially when they use it at night.

Host of interfaces:
The LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive sports a variety of interfaces. A USB 2.0 port is available, which supports almost all portable USB devices. Other than this, FireWire 400, FireWire 800 interfaces are also present. And to compliment it a seven pin Serial ATA/300 eSATA interface is featured, thus ensuring its compatibility to a universal level where the device can execute with collaboration with any PC or Mac.

The Exterior Quality:

The built of this Lacie External hard disk drive is quite solid and concrete. Substantially, this device is larger than most other drives because of the obvious reason, that it accommodates dual drives with dual backup system. The compact and rigid aluminium body is heavy and hardy. It can sustain external pressure and impact to an amazingly high extent. The threshold limit is so high that the device will endure a fall from a height without a scratch or any kind of internal damage. The device seems to be literally indestructible. This hard disk drive not only looks rock solid externally, but going by its functioning abilities as well, it is a gem. Other devices of its league would seem like an underdog in front of this big thing.

Capacities:

The LaCie 2big Quadra is available in three massive capacities of 2TB, 3TB and 4TB.

Features:

Generally, an external hard disk drive’s basic functional ability is a non–brainer. The basic working is plug in, turn it on and let the bundled software do the auto backup thing. But for the LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive, the system functioning is a bit complex. The simple task of auto back up of files for prevention from data loss has been made quite a bit complex with addition of a power management feature and a cooling system.

Dual drives:

The LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive sports a dual disk with a total of 2 terabyte storage capacity. Thus, in terms of storage and back up, this device offers more than enough space to backup files, import data files, storage digital media files to mention a few. Each of the two RAID drives have a amazingly high speed of 7200rpm which is uniquely efficient. The device also features around up to 32 megabytes of cache storage for enhanced optical performance for the same. The benefit of being a RAID model has its own added advantages. Because of the same, the LaCie 2big Quadra offers a remarkably fast execution, termination and performance speed, offers a very high storage capacity and also provides added security. These features can be manipulated by the user with the appropriate settings and controls, which is in turn dependant on the RAID configuration of the device.

Customisable:

The LaCie 2big Quadra is subjected to a higher performance speed and is also scalable and expandable for greater storage capacities and alterations in the data transfer speed is also possible. There is an exceptionally useful and unique feature which allows the user to hot swap the drives, which means a user can replace or remove either of the drives even when the device is running. The process to install the hardware of the drives into the system registry of the desktop or laptop is also quite easy. Installing new drives is also a child’s play. All the user has to do is insert the CD or DVD and follow the simple instructions. A within package tool is also provided which enables user to lock or unlock one or both the drives.

Interface speeds and Applications:

The USB 2.0 interface sports a high transfer rate up to 480mbps and on the other hand, the eSATA interface provides extremely high transfer speed of around 3000mbps. Thus, this external hard disk drive is highly compatible for any kind of digital media software and applications which include photography applications, animations and audio visual presentations, and HD post production applications. To top it all, the two FireWire ports (FireWire 400 and FireWire 800) allows users to daisy chain a second drive with an ease. The eSATA interface enhances and boosts high performance speed critical matters like video editing and the other ports see to it that the user can connect the external hard disk drive to almost any computer, thus allowing users to access, use and manipulate stored files and data from anywhere, anytime.

Eco-friendly:

Unlike the other generalised traditional RAID towers present in other external hard drives, the LaCie 2big Quadra external drive has kept in mind the energy saving factor. The 2big Quadra can reduce the in average energy consumption rate by around 30 percent to 80 percent, which is a great benefit compared to the higher energy consumption rate of other traditional RAID towers. The device sports a sturdy aluminium casing, which provides a larger surface area and greater heat dissipation power. Moreover, the highly reliable and efficient cooling system of this device renders the heat release by around 60 percent. This in turn helps in increasing the longevity of the device and also reduces the fan noise to around 50 percent. Thus, the LaCie 2big Quadra offers a more efficient system with less heat release and a much quieter environment as compared to the other devices of its kind in the international market.

Faulty fans:

With the aluminium casing and the ultra effective cooling system, the manufacturers claim that the device remains safe and quiet but, by and large, there have been complaints about the device being ‘quiet’ at all. Though the fans work really fine, and truly the cooling system if very efficient, but at times the fans do act weird. Moreover, at times the device fans fail to provide the users with the so promised ‘quiet’ ambience. At times they do produce a lot of noise similar to that which a desktop computer produces when it is processing maximum load. This again adds up to a negative point for interested users. The faulty fans of the LaCie 2big Quadra is really a subdued disadvantage if it at all goes wrong.

Power Switch with three modes:

The LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive has a three mode power switch. It can be used to change modes between on, off and auto. The basic implementation of the auto mode is that the drives go into standby mode when it is not in use for sometime. In short, the device sleeps. But at times, even though in auto mode, the fans flare up without a reason even when there is no execution or functioning of the device. This can be really frustrating at times if the frequency increases. Other than this, the device is otherwise almost perfect in terms of outlook, efficiency and performance.

Software Bundle:

The LaCie 2big Quadra 2TB/3TB/4TB external hard drive sports a Genie Backup Manager Pro with Disaster Recovery software for PC’s for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista and a Intego Backup Manager Pro software for Mac OS X 10.4. These software make it very easy and convenient for users to store files and data in the drives and is also beneficial in case of data recovery or computer recovery from a backup point. These software are also known as LaCie ‘One–Click’ Backup Software for Mac or PC’s. Moreover, the device is also compatible with Apple’s Time Machine, which is an added feature for the same. Other than this, the LaCie 2big Quadra also has software for automatic backup of files and file verification in case of Mac, called as the SilverKeeper software.

Performance:

The LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive is really a worthy device when it comes to expanded high storage capacity and protection. The solid aluminium casing ensures it is physically endurable to external pressure or impact. This also helps in maximum heat dissipation and thus ensures the systems cooling system to work perfectly. The RAID towers are pretty strong and effective and are far better than other devices of its league. With the high processing speed of each drive which reaches up to 7200rpm and with four varied and distinguishable interfaces to chose from, this device has full compatibility with any PC or Mac, without letting the users face any problems as such. The energy saving provision controls the power savings from 30% to 80% and the ultra efficient cooling system is sported by two fans, which unlike other hard disk drives are very low when it comes to emission of noise during performance. With loads of bundled software included in the CD provided in the package, users can try out a variety of things like photography editing, video editing, audio visual presentations and so on. The LaCie drive also has two amazingly reliable backup software for both desktop PC and Mac.

Package Contents:

A horde of package contents come complimentary with the LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive which includes the 2big Quadra hard disk drive Array, a eSATA to eSATA 3 Gbits cable, a FireWire 400 ( 6 to 6 pin ) cable, a FireWire 800 ( 9 to 9 pin ), a very high speed 2.0 USB cable, a Power Supply Kit, the bundled Software CD along with a User and a Quick installation guide.

Warranty:

The Manufacturer provides a limited 3 year warranty for the LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive.

Verdict:

Thus, to conclude it all, this LaCie 2big Quadra external hard disk drive is a classy combination of style and performance with added benefits like extra security and greater storage spaces, complimented with a very fast processing speed. It is no doubt a worthy buy for the users, if they are happy to bear with the minor inconvenience they might face because of the extra bright blue central orb illumination and with occasional fault with the device fans. In the international market, the LaCie 2big Quadra is literally of the best options and scores better than most other devices of its kind.

Lacie 2Big Quadra RAID Drive - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	LaCie
Model Name	LaCie 2big Quadra
Model Numbers	2TB: 301352EK 3TB: 301431EK 4TB: 301432EK
Drive Type	Hard Drive Array
RAID Levels	Concatenation
Storage Capacity	2 TB Installed
Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth)	20cm x 9.1cm x 17.2 cm
Weight	2700 grams
Casing	Aluminium finish
Hard Drive	2TB: 2 x hot swappable 1TB disks 3TB: 2 x hot swappable 1.5TB disks 4TB: 2 x hot swappable 2TB disks
RAID Modes	Easy RAID selection: RAID 1 RAID 0 Mixed Partition (RAID 0 and RAID 1) Concatenation
Spindle Speed	7200 rpm
Cache	up to 32MB (2×16MB) or greater
Capacities available	2TB, 3TB and 4TB
Interfaces	USB 2.0, FireWire400, FireWire800 and ATA/300 eSATA
Read/Write Speed	USB 2.0: 480 Mbps FireWire 400: 400 Mbps FireWire 800: 800 Mbps eSATA: 3000 Mbps
Seek time	< 10ms
Burst transfer rate	eSATA 3Gibts: 145-165MB/s FireWire 800: 80-90MB/s FireWire 400: 35-40MB/s Hi-Speed USB 2.0: 30-35MB/s
Cooling system	Ultra-quiet cooling system with SMART thermo-regulated blower technology Advanced heat sink design for greater heat dissipation
Power Source	External
Software included	Silverkeeper software for Auto backup and File Verification (Mac). Genie Backup Manager Pro with Disaster Recovery for Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. LaCie ‘1-Click’ backup software for PC and Mac. Intego Backup Manager Pro Software with Disaster Recovery for Mac OS X 10.4
Compatible systems	Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP / Vista
Mac Compatible	Yes
Package contents	A 2big Quadra Hard Drive Array An eSATA to eSATA cable FireWire 800 (9 to 9 pin) cable FireWire 400 (6 to 6 pin) cable A Power Supply Kit A USB 2.0 cable Software CD with User Manual Quick Installation Guide
Warranty	3 years limited warranty

The best solution for a simple external storage is an external hard drive.  Networked solutions are good too, but if you need to connect the drive to a single system, External drives rule.  It is altogether another issue that one can never really have enough drive space.  Apart from memory, another area that drives should focus on is the safety of your data.  Unless you run a mirrored RAID array, you could lose all your data in the event of a hard drive crash.  For most people, the back up solutions ranging from Online backup to multiple drive NAS storage are either expensive, slow or hard to setup.

Seagate FreeAgent XTreme provides a portable, easy to use external hard drive which packs sufficient storage, delivers good performance and has decent connectivity options for most needs. Available in 500GB, 640GB, 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB, the Xtreme has a 3.5 inch based hard disk drive. Despite the drive being a bit mundane, we appreciate its simple design, and the fact that its price per gigabyte is almost as the same as drives that have fewer connectivity options.  It worked quietly through out testing and has 3 interfaces.  We got a thorough review done on it. Read to find out if it is worth your penny.

Design:

Facelift:

The drive seems to have received an external facelift, expanded connectivity and more capacities. The newer Seagate FreeAgent XTreme External Hard Drive is smaller in size when compared to its predecessors, the Seagate FreeAgent product line.  The black enclosure manages to be slim and has a few curved edges and some amount of lighting.  It is about 7 x 7 inches and an inch thick and is not particularly portable.  However, it would not take much of space on your bookrack or desk.  Unlike the previous models which could only stand upward, the newer one is capable of working in both vertical and horizontal positions. The drive looks sturdy enough for something else to be placed on it while in horizontal position. The vertical position is flimsy and not particularly that stable. There is also a detachable base present as well.

Body:

You will find the Seagate logo with a cool dot design on the fascia. This is a fresh change and Seagate have thankfully done away with that gaudy orange backlit strip present on the older drives. On the front of the FreeAgent drive is present a large LED which glows with a whitish light that indicates the status of the drive. The light pulses when the drive is busy, is steadily on when the drive is idle and switches off when the drive goes to standby mode.  On the rear side are two Firewire 400 ports, an USB 2.0 port and an eSATA port.  All the plugs-ins are perfectly positioned and one can connect all four ports at once without any interference.

Lacks a Power Switch:

Another grievance in the Seagate FreeAgent XTreme is the fact that it lacks a proper power switch.  Instead, there are software controls which are used to activate the device.

Capacities and Compatibility:

The FreeAgent XTreme is available in 5 different capacities: 500GB (ST305004FDA2E1-RK), 640GB (ST306404FDA2E1-RK), 1TB (ST310005FDA2E1-RK), 1.5TB (ST315005FDA2E1-RK) and 2TB (ST320005FPA2E3-RK).

The XTreme  Desktop Drive is compatible with Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, or Business Service Pack-1, Windows XP Home, Professional, Media Center Edition Service Pack-2 and Windows XP/Vista.

Lacks eSATA cable:

If there are decent connectivity options, there would not be many issues for hooking up. What was lacking was the inclusion of an eSATA cable. This is not something that most people have at home or is available at stores.  Considering that the eSATA interface is its main advantage over the cheaper FreeAgent Desk, the fact that eSATA is the fastest option available in the market that and that the XTreme has an eSATA option and no cable provided along, made us wonder why Seagate excluded it in their list.

Setup:

Setting up the FreeAgent XTreme Hard Drive is quite easy.  Setup your drive where you want to and plug in the power and then plug the USB cable to your computer. The front will be illuminated with white LEDs in a pulsating manner.  Since Seagate uses a mini USB cable to connect to your PC, even if you lose the provided cable, one can buy another one elsewhere.  After charging it up and plugging it to a PC, a window pops up asking what you want to do. It is optional to install the Seagate Manager software, but if you want to backup some files you might want to.

Features:

Software:

Unlike the crap collection of games or poorly coded applications one would rather not use, the Seagate FreeAgent XTreme’s includes simple easy to use and highly useful software which surprised us. The Application used less than 3 MB of memory while running and does not leave your system exhausted.

Seagate Manager:

The Software is really easy to use and the main screen shows you how many drives have been installed.  Just select it and go to the settings menu where you can adjust the power settings, test the drive or adjust the LED controls or even check for a software update. There are 4 buttons on the top.  Backing up data with the FreeAgent software is an easy simple way to back up. The simple backup will backup all the documents in your my Documents folder everyday. But one cannot backup the same folder at different times on different days.  The custom backup would allow you to backup all the files of your choice. One can choose the folders, file types and which days and time to backup.  Since one can select only a single setup plan, one can also sync and has a choice: custom sync and simple sync. In the set of sync options, you can choose the sync now button and can even set copy and replace rules.

Note: A Seagate technician confirmed that there was no Online Backup option like there was with the older drives.

Cumbersome Security Function:

The security function of the software is rather tiring to use. It is monotonous to use and lacks the ability to password lock or encrypt the entire drive. The lack of an inbuilt RAID functionality was also bit of a let down. One needs to create a password for encryption, after which the files need to be dragged and dropped into the virtual folder.  This is not the end as one needs to delete the originals.  To open these encrypted files, you have to open the virtual folder and decrypt them.  The drag and drop encryption is time consuming and cumbersome especially if you want to read multiple encryption.

A note for Mac Users:

The FreeAgent XTreme has no problems whatsoever with the Mac, but to be used, you have to reformat it. Try checking the FreeAgent Deck out which is a product exclusively made for Mac users and has the eSATA port replaced with Firewire 400 ports.

Performance:

The product’s performance is limited, thanks to connection type (It is about 480Mbps for USB, 400 for Firewire 400 and 3Gbps for eSATA). The real world performance is naturally much shorter than the above mentioned values. The Drive performed well and lived up to our expectations. The Firewire connection was a little bit faster but the real focus was on the eSATA port. The average transfer speed hovered about 50Mbps for the eSATA and for the USB was about 29 Mbps.  With a peak of 107 MB/sec and an access time of 11ms, the XTreme beats the WD My Book Digital Edition in terms of transferring data through an eSATA port. The new enclosure runs cooler than the previous generation models and if there is a fan inside it, it is hardly audible and hence is a quiet device.

Competition:

Finding a decent drive around the same price as the XTreme is very difficult. We believe that the Western Digital My Book Studio Edition is the nearest rival. Even though the latter is marginally more expensive, it also does not ship with an eSATA cable. The XTreme represents a value for money as long as you use the eSATA connection along with the software provided.

Cost n stuff:

Unless you consider the three interface option to be intense, there is simply nothing particularly extreme about the Seagate FreeAgent XTreme. Despite the mundane nature of the drive, just like us, you must have liked the simple and functional design, fast performance and its easy to use software. With the three most wanted interfaces, Seagate has kept its price per Gigabyte cost in line with the drives that offer fewer connectivity options.

Power Consumption:

You need not worry about switching off the drive separately not because it lacks a power switch but because the drive itself drops into a low power consumption mode. In this mode, the drive consumes only a meager 5 watts of power.  Even if you would want to save that little amount of electricity, you would have to switch the drive off a plug.

Accessories:

Apart from the main drive are provided a power cord, a USB 2.0 cable. Firewire cable,an Instruction manual and a stand for supporting the drive. If you think the stand does not look nice, the drive can be still mounted horizontally thanks to the rubber base feet. We wish an eSATA cable had been included in the kit as well.

Warranty:

The FreeAgent XTreme is a great device and we believe that it would hardly require any support beyond the duration of warranty. The XTreme has a mind boggling warranty of 5 years. Considering most drives offer 3 (some offer just one year!) years, this is very generous of Seagate. While Seagate will not pay any sort of compensation in case of data loss, at least one can get a replacement for the crashed drive. There is a toll free phone service available on weekdays from 5 am to 7 pm or you can get technical support by emailing via a Web form. The Seagate’s official site offers troubleshooting assistance and has a downloadable driver library and a list of FAQs.

Verdict:

Seagate has delivered yet another great product in the form of the FreeAgent XTernal hard drive.  Its simple and cool design, excellent connectivity and superb performance have impressed us.  The LED on the device is really cool and adds to the style the device carries. The software provided allows one to setup a backup plan easily and even sync folders, which also allows you to encrypt folders for extra security. Its performance is on par with the USB and Firewire standards and our test results demonstrated a three fold performance advantage in a couple of situations. The drive is highly useful if you have loads of data to transfer and very little time.

Considering there are cheaper drives in the market, the fact that they lack connectivity options such as eSATA or Firewire 400 gives the XTreme an unassailable lead.  Sure, you can buy an enclosure and a drive and setup a drive. But this not only is a fool proof model to add storage, but also has great software as well. It is an excellent external drive and offers a better value for money than its rivals. If you need the flexibility of an external hard disk drive with the amazing performance of an internal one, the XTreme is the way to go. It would have been a great package, had an eSATA cable been included.

Check External Hard Drive Best Buys, other Seagate External Hard Drive Reviews, Specs in our website.

Seagate FreeAgent XTreme Hard Drive External - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Seagate
Model Name	Seagate FreeAgent XTreme
Model Numbers	500GB : ST305004FDA2E1-RK 640GB : ST306404FDA2E1-RK 1TB: ST310005FDA2E1-RK 1.5TB: ST315005FDA2E1-RK 2TB: ST320005FPA2E3-RK
Model	Slim line model
Drive type	Hard drive array
Dimensions (H x W x D) inches	6.89″ x 1.33″ x 6.77″
Weight	3.06 lbs
Enclosure	Black
Drive Type	3.5″ drive
Spindle Speed	7200 rpm
Capacities available	2TB, 1.5TB, 1TB, 640GB and 500GB
Interfaces	USB 2.0, FireWire and eSATA
Read/Write Speed	USB 2.0: 28Mbps / 16Mbps FireWire 400: 36Mbps/ 18Mbps eSATA: 40Mbps/ 37Mbps
Power Source	Self powered
Software included	Seagate Manager
Compatible systems	Microsoft Windows Vista / 2000 / XP
Mac Compatible	Yes
Package contents	Hard drive, USB cable, four rubber feet, vertical stand, Firewire cable, Wall wart power supply, Quick Start guide, Warranty statement.
Warranty	5 years

Backing up data is similar to flossing: Everyone needs to do it, but no one likes to. Portable drives now do the tedious task of copying our precious files.  Seagate Technology is a leading brand when it comes to manufacturing external hard drives and has several drives to suit your specific need. Recently, the company has announced the Seagate Replica PC Backup system which completely eliminates the need to manually learn, manage or dedicate any time for the entire backing up process.

Seagate’s Replica drives are designed to do one thing and do it simply: back up your entire Windows PC. They literally make a replica of your system, operating system and all. Designed to do only the single thing of backing up your entire PC, it is a useful plug in hardware and acts as a personal automatic file backup and continuously monitors changes in files and system. The device connects to the computer via a USB port and needs no sort of configuration or installation. In many ways it is the PC user’s reply to the Apple’s Time Machine managing to combine an elegant form factor and data protection. Does it really suit your needs? Read the following review to find out.

Design:

The first thing that strikes your mind when you look at it is its resemblance to the MacBook Air.  The razor thin drive and with those tapering edges make it look sleek and stylish. Seagate Replica Hard Drive also has a silver coloured exterior made up of plastic. Weighing about half a pound, the device itself is fairly compact measuring 5.61 inches high by 3.99 inches wide and 0.72 inches deep. There is a nifty docking base that is provided with the more expensive 500GB ones is glossy black and makes the whole drive look classy. The dock is just a plastic housing that mounts the drive vertically; it still needs to be connected to PCs one at a time while backing up. The silver finishing of the drive makes us assume that it must be a product of Apple, which it is not.

The rubberised backing on the bottom of the drive makes sure that the dock less single PC version is safe on your desk. There is a little blue LED light on top of the drive that blinks continuously when data is being transferred. The cable which is hardwired to the two headed model drive makes sure it gets proper amount of power from power ports from some ports. But it also might mean that one needs to sacrifice two ports instead of one.

Capacities available:

The Seagate Replica is available in 2 Configurations: The 250GB one and the 500GB one. The 250GB Replica is an entry level drive geared to single PC Backup while the more expensive 500GB version not only comes with a dock, but also is capable of backing up multiple PCs (For that you need to connect to the PCs one at a time while backing up). The extra 250GB you get is actually worth the money even if you use the drive with just one PC.

Setup:

Unlike most backup solutions in the market these days, the Seagate Replica installs software on to your PC when connected to it. Compatible with Windows Vista and XP, all you need to do is connect the Replica to a USB port and then a window pops up with the option to “Start Seagate Replica”. Once you click OK and agree to EULA, the software is ready to backup your data. After you do the initial full-image backup, the Replica backs up your PC incrementally as files are added, deleted, or altered. You can leave the Replica connected to your machine or disconnect it and then plug it in when you are ready for another backup. If you are attempting to back up multiple PCs, the drive predetermines whether you have room to back up the second PC and will not start the backup process unless you do.

When the drive is plugged in next time, it checks for updates to the Replica Software and downloads the most current version and starts mirroring your PCs content. The software installation is a minor annoyance and can be looked over.

Features:

Complete backup:
As the Seagate Replica’s site claims: No file is too big or too small.  The Seagate Replica as the name suggests that they are designed for just one thing: Backup the entire Windows PC of the user. They make a replica of your system including the OS. It is like Mac OS X’s Time Machine Backup but for PCs. The Drive can backup everything on your PC including programs and various settings. This is unlike the Clickfree 500 GB Portable Hard Drive which can only store photos, data and documents .

Labour Intensive:
Backing up data cannot get simpler than this. No more wondering how to get things done as the Seagate Replica backs up all of your data and keeps updating it whenever you make changes. The replica is very handy for users who are not really that tech- savvy.

No Fear of Data Loss:
The Seagate Replica PC Backup system ensures that your data gets the best of protection. The availability of features such as “Retrieve” makes sure you can easily retrieve accidentally deleted files. There is also an option to restore your entire system in case of a PC crash. The recovery disc provided lets you boot up a misbehaving PC and restores the entire Drive. In addition to a complete hard drive recovery, it can also restore single individual files with a single drag and drop action. One can also recover deleted files even after emptying the Recycle Bin.

The Same old Windows Interface:
The Windows Interface means that there is no need to learn a new convention for the backup interface menu to browse for Old files. One can dump all the data on one (or all of your PCs) in less than 5 clicks. The Deleted files show up as dimmed icons enabling you to identify them as quickly as possible. It also allows you to choose from multiple saved versions with a right click.  When one hovers over an icon in the toolbar, the date and time of the last backup plus progress of current data transfers is shown.  One can set a password; choose which hard drives to backup and one can even choose to remove a PC if the device is being used to backup multiple PCs.

Windows Only:
No matter how much the drive seems to resemble Apple’s MacBook Air, the irony cannot be evident. The Drive handles backup of data only for PCs with Windows OS. This fails to bridge the gap in households with computers of Windows and Macs.

Backup Software:
The Seagate Replica Backup Software is basically built around the same engine as the Rebit 500 Backup drive. But in this case, all the support and branding is Seagate’s. The underlying premise will load software and then install a program that stays in your PC. The drive does not support Windows XP with a FAT32 formatted format C drive and Mac users as well.

When the drive is plugged in to the PC, it will continuously backup all the changes made to the PC’s hard drive.  To ensure free space, the Replica automatically removes the oldest version of files. However, we would have preferred the option of permanently saving all the archives so that we can return the PC to a particular old state. The option for accessing multiple saved files at any point of their saving is an added bonus.

Performance:

Slow Initial Backup:
The Startup process is short whereas the actual backup is a time consuming endeavor. When connected to the PC and tried backing up 130 GB of data, it took about 4 whole hours. If you have more than that it would be preferable if you do the backup overnight when you would not be accessing the machine.

Subsequent Backups are faster:
After the initial full image backup, the Replica backs up your PC as files are added, deleted or even altered.  If you keep it connected to the PC while all the changes takes place, the backup takes little time. But if you ever disconnect the Replica and reconnect it after a long time, it may take a while to catch up and back up the latest version of the system.

Restoring the PC:
Under test conditions, when we tried restoring all the data of our PC using Seagate’s restore utility, it took over an hour to restore the system. Since we had limited files on our system beyond the core, it would probably take longer to restore a typical user PC.

Inflexible:
The Biggest disadvantage of the Replica is that it is a one trick Pony: It can only backup the entire hard drive and does not allow backup of select files. If you are looking for more flexibility, there are other choices. However, you can recover select files in case of a crash.

A silent drive:
In spite of having a huge amount of data to backup, we noticed that the Seagate Replica was quietly whirring. The noise was below 30 db and can hardly be audible in day to day life.

Accessories:

The Replica comes with some bare bones software and some decent set of accessories. Seagate gladly did away with those added cables and software that the older hard drives had. There is a USB 2.0 cable, recovery guide and a recovery CD in the kit. The USB cable is unusually short and can be replaced with any standard mini USB cable.  As mentioned earlier, the 500 GB version comes along with a docking base as well.

Competition:

When it comes to competition, Apple’s Time Machine and the Clickfree Portable Hard drive are its rivals. The Time Machine is only for Mac Users whereas the Clickfree can backup data both on Mac and Windows as well. Since the Time Machine is only for Mac users, it restricts the number of users who would like to use it. The Replica is Seagate’s response to the Time machine, backing up data only for PC users. The Clickfree has an upper hand in this case. But the Clickfree has chintzy hardware and interface and backs up only document sort of data that is pictures etc. This is where the Replica has a lead over the Clickfree.

Warranty:

There is a five year manufacturer’s warranty on the Seagate Replica from the date of purchase. This is another advantage of the device as the warranty period is much longer than what most devices offer.  There is support offered in the Seagate site and all questions related to Installation, Troubleshooting and other FAQs can be asked over there.

Verdict:

The Seagate Replica is worthy of being a top choice if you want to back up an Entire windows PC and has switched from FAT32 to NTFS. If all you want is to back up your data and keep a copy for safe keeping without much setup hassles, the Replica is appealing.  However, it has its list of shortcomings too: It cannot work with Mac systems, incompatible with FAT32 drives; full drive recovery requires booting from a CD and has hoops when you upgrade your PCs. Nevertheless, it has managed to impress us with its supremely easy usage and comprehensive protection from failure.  So if you are lazy, not really tech savvy or all you want is backup all data of your PC efficiently, the Replica is a simple solution to get your data backed up.

Seagate Replica Backup Hard Drive - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Seagate
Model Name	Seagate Replica Hard Drive
Model Number	500GB model: ST905004BDA101-RK 250GB model: ST902504BDA101-RK
Model	Slim line model
Drive type	Hard drive array
Hard Disk Interface	USB 2.0
Dimensions (H x W x D)mm	114.08 x 142 x 50
Weight	Drive : 420 grams ( 0.92 pounds) Package :570 grams ( 1.25 pounds)
Colours available	Silver
Capacities available	250GB and 500GB
Hard Disk Rotational Speed	5400 rpm
Software included	Backup Software for PC users.
Compatible systems	Microsoft Windows Vista / 2000 / XP
Mac Compatible	No
FAT32 supported	No
Package contents	Hard drive, USB cable, Recovery Guide, Recovery CD.
Warranty	5 years

Transcend, Inc. is a highly recognised and popular manufacturer, renowned worldwide for its products which deal with multimedia and storage features. Transcend Information, Inc. was established in the year 1988. It flaunts a widespread variety and a huge range of generalised standard and proprietary modules, solid state drives, portable hard drives, flash memory cards, digital music players, USB flash drives, card readers and other full line range of multimedia products.

Transcend Hard Drives:

In today’s international market, even though there is an increasing demand and popularity of solid state drives, still the marketing statistics show that hard drives are still leading the sales and demand worldwide. Even though the solid state drives have gained a firm ground in the market, but still, with larger storage capabilities, better usage and larger wide scale adoption, the hard drives are the most popular storage device. And this success of the hard drives is accelerated by the continuous addition and evolution of advanced technologies, which boost the performance factor and also provide better backup options. And when it comes to Hard Disk Drives, Transcend Information, Inc. is a name that inevitably pops up at the very first. Transcend, with its huge full line range of storage and multimedia deviceTranscend StoreJet 35T is an in competitive leader in this field and it boasts of a wide range and variety of Hard Drive Units. Moreover, with the new line up of the StoreJet series from Transcend, which sports auto backup features, has a special Turbo HDD transfer mode and very high storage capacities of up to 1.5 terabytes, it has left behind the other competitors of its league.

The StoreJet 3.5T:

Towards the end of the year 2009, Transcend gifted its wide variety of StoreJet hard drives line up with a new member in their family – the StoreJet 35T. The StoreJet 35T is quite an advanced and developed hard drive for its purpose and leaves behind most other devices of its kind when it comes to the statistical representation in the international market. It has a number of worthy features like the One touch Auto Backup button and the Turbo HDD data transfer mode. It is the presence of these features that make the Transcend StoreJet 35T Hard Drive an ideal system for all kinds of data management including downloading data, uploading data, transferring data to and from the device and is a good storage device for vital and important data and information and provides more space than other such systems found in the market.

Basic Ergonomics of the StoreJet 35T:

The StoreJet 35T 1.5TB Hard Drive is Transcend’s latest addition to its range of hard disk drive, which is hardly the size of a hardcover book. The storage device is made up of glossy black cover and is streamlined. With a huge storage capacity of 1.5 Terabytes, the Transcend StoreJet 35T provides ample space for storage of documents, essential files and folders, pictures, music, and videos. It has no limitation for the format of the files to be stored as it supports anything and everything. The Transcend StoreJet 35T has a very slim, sleek and slender design. Moreover, the casing and the designing is made in a unique way which allows the device to be kept upright, in a standing position, without any external support like stands. This means, the footprint of the device is quite small, that is, it takes very less space and as a result, saves precious space on the desk. With a weight of a maximum of 1040 grams, and physical external dimensions of 172.4 mm x 152.4 mm x 44.8 mm (L x W x H), the StoreJet 35T is not really a bulky device, but is rather quite practical, chick and stylish and is designed quite handsomely. This device is very convenient for use at office or at home and is one of the best of its kind.

Features:

Interfaces and Compatibility:
The StoreJet 35T 3.5 inch hard disk drive operates on a 3.0 GB/s eSATA, and with the help of a 2.0 USB interface, has a performance factor of around 480 Megabits per second. The Transcend StoreJet 35T hard disk drive connects through both the USB 2.0 and the eSATA. Moreover, it is compatible with most of the home computers as well.

A cool drive:
An excellent cooling system maintains the stability of the device and helps in protecting stored data and information. Most other storage devices have a tendency to get overheated, which often results in an irreversible data loss. Thus, due to the advanced and efficient cooling solution with a high – low fan of 80mm, the Transcend StoreJet 35T prevents unusual data loss, and thus protects important files, folders, data and documents.

Eco-Friendly:
Moreover, the StoreJet 35T hard disk drive is very eco-friendly as it flaunts a Turbo HDD USB technology which has a special feature, that is, the power saving sleep mode. This Turbo HDD USB also sports a feature which enables a high boost in data transfer rates to an amazingly high average of 42 Megabytes per second, compared to the average 33 Megabytes per second, which is the generalized standard for most data storage devices prevalent in the market, which is almost 30 percent advanced and better than the others.

With a maximum spindle speed of around 7200 rpm and a maximum buffer speed of 32 Megabytes, the StoreJet 35T is quite efficient in working capabilities and usability. The average temperature of the device ranges from 5 degrees Celsius ( 41 Fahrenheit ) to 55 degrees ( 131 Fahrenheit ).

The Turbo HDD USB Transfer Mode:
The Transcend StoreJet 35T Desktop hard disk drive sports a cutting edge modern day technology which features an unprecedented performance in data transfers, with a high altered speed of 42 Megabytes per second, which is an increase of about 30 percent than the regular average of 33 Megabytes per second. This feature is optional, that is users can, by their own will switch from normal mode to the Turbo HDD USB mode and vice – versa. And, this is catered with a change in the colour of the ring shaped LED indicator, which changes its colour from green to a bright shade of blue to notify the change in mode and the acceleration in speed. Another utility of this feature is that, when the device is inactive, it automatically goes off into a sleep mode after 10 minutes. Thus, it is efficient and saves the wastage of power up to 67 percent when the device is idle.

One Touch Auto Backup Button:
The Transcend StoreJet 35T External Hard Disk Drive has another unique feature – The One touch auto – backup button, which makes data transfer and storage extremely easy and convenient. This feature is unique to Transcend as no other hard disk drive manufacturers sport this kind of a feature in their data storage products. This system of backup with the click of just one button makes it very convenient and handy for users to instantly backup and/or synchronize the data and information stored in the device with their PC or their laptop. This also ensures that all important data has a hard copy and that it is also stored in a secondary location for safety. StoreJet Elite software is another useful utility tool, bundled with the individual device features, a bonus gain which offers a smart way of scheduling the backups, along with the other Internet tools and other advanced and modified security tools.

Box Contents:

Other than the Transcend StoreJet 35T external hard disk drive, the package also contains a USB cable for synchronization of the device with a desktop PC or a laptop or notebook. A power adapter is provided for charging the device. A Quick start guide, which is a user manual for the users to read and understand the functions and features of this storage device, before using it. And a warranty card is also provided by the manufacturer.

Warranty:

A 2 years return to base Manufacturers warranty is provided with the Transcend StoreJet 35T External Hard Disk Drive.

Verdict:

This high performance storage device is definitely one of the best of its kind. With the shockingly high storage capacity, along with a highly accelerated transfer speed it is one of the best storage devices one can ask for. With an advanced cooling solution, a power saver sleep mode, and other Store Elite software for security, maintain proper, safe and secure data storage abilities, which is a great plus point. And to top it all, the Turbo HDD transfer mode is a unique additional feature, which places the Transcend StoreJet 35T way above than the other storage devices of its type in the priority list. This is a very good buy for users, who want a huge storage capacity, complimented with proper security, good performance and amazing transfer speed.

Check other Transcend External Hard Drives, Latest External Hard Drive Reviews, Specs, Ratings in our website.

Transcend StoreJet 35T Turbo HDD - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Transcend
Model Name	StoreJet 35T
Form Factor	3.5″
Interface Type	USB 2.0 and eSATA
Colour	Black Streamlined
Capacity	1.5TB
Other Capacities available	1TB
Performance	USB 2.0: 480Mbits per second
HDD Details	Built-in 3.5″ SATA hard drive
Dimensions ( length x width x height )	172.4mm x 152.4mm × 44.8mm
Weight	1040g
System Requirements	Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS 9.0 or later and Linux Kernel 2.4.2 or later
Processor Speed	7200 rpm (max)
Buffer	32 MB (max)
Certificates	CE, FCC, BSMI
Special Features	TurboHDD mode which boosts device performance by up to 30% One touch Backup and security
Power Saving Mode Timer	10 Minutes
Power	AC Input : 100V – 240V DC Input : 12V/2A via Switching Power Adapter
Packaging	Transcend StoreJet 35T external hard disk drive USB Cable Power Adaptor Quick Start Guide Warranty Card
Warranty	2 years manufacturer’s warranty