Maxtor BlackArmor Portable Hard Drive Review
With the increasing trend of confidential and important data being transferred by the external hard drives, Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive has been released just in the right time. The Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive is a portable storage device that has got built-in advanced encryption standard hardware. This Maxtor external hard drive offers you a very high level of security. If you are just one of those paranoids who just cannot afford to have got your data stolen, the Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive will bring you some peace of mind. It will be very comforting for you to know that no scumbags will ever be able to access your data, keeping in mind the recent rise in the rate of corporate laptop theft.
A simple design:
The Maxtor BlackArmor 2.5″ portable external hard drive does not have any stylishness in it. It possesses a very minimal design measuring 5.17″ X 3.32″ X 0.67″ (H X W X D), having a rectangular form factor. The unit is black in colour with a few silver accents with a small reflective strip on the front. It has a brushed-metal side panels and two LEDs on the side and the Seagate Secure logo on the top of the device. The top portion of the drive has a single USB2.0 port that is exposed and the absence of FireWire and more importantly, eSATA is disappointing. It is certainly not the flashiest drive out there in the market.
Initial configuration:
When the Maxtor BlackArmor external hard disk drive is plugged into the USB port for the very first time, a configuration screen pops up requesting you to set a password. All that you have to do is, type in the desired password and a 25 character serial key that will be printed on the bottom of the drive. Once the password is set, the drive also requests you to set a password hint. Once this is done, you have completed the initial configuration. Locking the drive is as simple as unplugging it from the USB port. Once it is plugged in back, its asks for the password and if you do not have it, you would have no other option other than re-formatting the drive that destroys the encryption key and so, all that you can hope for is, using the drive again. That is all, simply forget about the data that you had in the drive earlier.
No hassle of CDs to handle with:
You simply do not have any trouble of handling any of those CDs and software as all of them are included in the drive itself. This is a good advantage for people who are prone to loosing discs.
Maxtor Manager:
The software included in the drive is, the Maxtor Manager, which is a home based application that, allows you to configure and administer most of the functionalities of the drive and in addition to that, you can also add a hint for the password or change it. Its primary purpose is to set-up, sync options for the files and folders and hence, if you wish, you could even completely avoid using the software. Some of the other functionalities that the Maxtor Manager software is capable of doing includes, its ability to test the drive for errors and toggle the power settings in order to spin the drive down when not in use and hence increase its overall life span.
Optional installation only:
As we had mentioned above, the installation of this software is purely optional as the encryption program runs straight of the drive itself. As soon as you plug the drive into any PC, it asks for the password and once the password is given, the contents of the drive is revealed and you can perform all the operations you wish to. But once a wrong password is entered, the drive becomes completely inaccessible, as simple as that. The drive gives you three tries and then, it will not allow you to access it, you have to unplug and plug it back in, to make any further tries.
Simplicity:
The overall operation of the Maxtor BlackArmor USB hard drive is very simple and that is what we like about the drive the most. The processes of encryption and decryption is totally invisible to the end user.
Very few compatibility options:
We have got a bad news for the Mac users. Since the unlocking utility function is a windows program, the Maxtor BlackArmor 160GB, 320GB Portable Hard Drive can is compatible only with Windows XP and Windows Vista. Hence, Mac and Linux enthusiasts are not invited to the party.
Capacities available:
The Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive is available in capacities of 160GB and 320GB. With a capacity of 320GB, you will be able to store up to 5,330 hours of digital music, 102,400 digital photos, 320 hours of digital video, 80 two hours DVD-quality movies, or 160 exciting games.
Maxtor BlackArmor Model Numbers:
Maxtor BlackArmor 160GB Portable Hard Drive - Model Number: STM901603BAA1E1-RK
Maxtor BlackArmor 320GB Portable Hard Drive - Model Number: STM903203BAA1E1-RK
Basic features and performance:
The processor has a spindle speed of 5400rpm and 8MB of cache. The read write speeds of Maxtor BlackArmor is very bad. It has a sluggish read speed of 139.2 megabits per second and write speed of 139 megabits per second. It is way less than the G-tech G-drive mini triple, Simple Tech Signature Mini and Western Digital My Passport Studio. In short, it is one of the slowest portable external hard drive in the current market.
Operating modes:
The drive operates in two modes, namely, “Host” and “Traveler“. The host computer is the only PC with the permission to completely erase the drive, while the traveler mode protects the data preventing any others form formatting your drive.
Boons of using the provided software:
Though the installation of the Maxtor Manager is not mandatory, it will offer you with some advantages too if you use it as it includes a host of administrative tools and some user friendly back-up and syncing tools. The administrative tools that are included will allow you to adjust the power settings, test the drive for any errors and make some tweaks in the settings of the drive.
Limited Backup options:
The backup functionality of the software is very straightforward, that allows your data to backed up in regular intervals. All that you have to do is select the number of days and the time. Once this is done, the drive copies the content of the target to a folder named “Maxtor backup” in the drive.
The Maxtor BlackArmor offers you with a “simple” option that includes the “My documents” folder or a “custom” backup that allows you to choose the folders of your choice but has a limit on which folder you choose. For instance, you will be able to backup a folder called “Desktop” but not the individual folders in your desktop. This is quite disadvantageous. We understand that Maxtor has adopted this path in order to keep things simple, but having an option called “custom”, why not let it alone having its real meaning being customised to the users wishes. Said that, you cannot backup any mail at all as the manager software does not include the root profile folder, which is the documents and settings in Windows. It is only through the navigation via these folders leads you to locate the Outlook or Outlook Express Mail.
You could sync too:
If you are not patient enough to wait for the backup to be completed, then you could also opt to sync the folders between the Maxtor 2.5″ USB drive and your PC. This action of syncing keeps the contents of the folder and the drive same at all times. For instance, if you add a file to the folder in your PC, the file gets copied to the drive immediately and in case you delete it, the file that was in the drive also gets deleted. The syncing tool also has the same set of limitations that the backup tool was having. That is, you are limited to the folders that you choose, but as far as the working is concerned, both the tools work just perfectly and encounters no major issues.
High level security:
In case, even if you had lost the drive, the person who had stolen the drive has no chance of recovering your data as the data had been secured by an encryption with a key that is at the hardware level using the government grade 128 bit AES encryption that is certified by the national institute of standards and technology. Without the password being known, if the Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive is subjected to a reformat, the process destroys the encryption key, that makes all the data inaccessible even when handled by the data recovery professionals. And so you would want to kick yourself in case you forget the password.
Box contents:
The package contents include the external hard drive, a USB cable that is of about 12 inches long, which is a standard USB and not the one of the twin plug types that you will be finding in the older USB based external hard drives. The package also includes a swank suede carrying case that doubles as a polishing cloth for the reflective areas of the drive.
Service and support:
Maxtor backs the BlackArmor hard drive with a five-year limited warranty with return to manufacture service for repairs and exchanges
Verdict:
Maxtor BlackArmor hard drive offers a very high degree of security but it has a few drawbacks when the design of the drive is taken into consideration. It possesses a level of security that we have not seen in any other drive. Though some of the other manufacturers also offer software encryption, they are less robust in comparison with Maxtor’s hardware level encryption. The high security too comes with the hefty price tag on it and has a few considerable drawbacks too. The chief among them being the limited backup capabilities. The BlackArmor can be considered only when security is of great concern and a top priority to you as competition offers more space for a lighter tag. Security and Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive are made for each other.
Check other Portable Hard Drive Reviews in this website.
Maxtor BlackArmor - Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Maxtor |
| Model Name | Maxtor BlackArmor external hard drive |
| Model numbers | 320GB version: STM903203BAA1E1-RK 160GB version: STM901603BAA1E1-RK |
| Dimensions (H X W X D) inches | 5.17″ X 3.32″ X 0.67″ |
| Weight | 204.12 g |
| Colour | Black |
| Form factor | 2.5-inch |
| Capacities available | 160GB and 320GB |
| Interface | Hi-speed USB |
| Cache memory | 8MB |
| External data transfer rate | 480Mbps |
| Spindle speed | 5400rpm |
| Compatible OS | Microsoft Windows XP and Vista |
| System requirements | Windows XP/Vista - Pentium III - RAM 256 MB |
| Software included | Maxtor Manager |
| Cables included | USB cable |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Leave a Reply