Simpletech External Hard Drive

Sunday, February 7, 2010

SimpleTech Signature Mini FS-U25/250M 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive (Marshmallow)

From SimpleTech Technology

Price:	~~$114.99~~

Accessories
No Accessories.

Features
- Portable, stylish 250 GB Hard Drive with USB 2.0 connection
- Stylish design by Ferrari designer Pininfarina
- Powered by USB bus; no AC adapter necessary
- Backed by 3-year warranty and unlimited technical support
- Measures 3.1 x 0.8 x 4.9 inches (WxHxD)

Product Description
Introducing the Signature Mini family of bite-size drives, bursting with tasty ingredients. Supple and resilient to the touch, with a positive velvety grip, they¿re designed by our friends at Pininfarina, the icon of Italian sports car design since 1930.Just plug one in, and inside you¿ll find smart ways to protect and manage all your precious stuff. Includes Fabrik Local Backup software for setting up automatic backups on your Signature Mini, and Fabrik Ultimate Backup for secure, online storage that¿s safe from real world mishaps.

Amazon.com Product Description
Thanks to the deliciously sleek styling by famed Italian car designer Pininfarina, the SimpleTech Signature Mini 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable Drive isn't just another external hard drive. The recipient of the same magic design touch and attention to fine details that helped turn Ferrari and Maserati into icons of the automotive world, the Signature Mini will certainly turn heads as you make your way through the day with your work files, or your latest videos, photos and songs. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: 20px; } table.callout { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif; margin: 10px; width: 250; } td.callout { height: 100 percent; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding: 10px; width: 250px; } ul.callout { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -12px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; } h5.callout { text-align: center; } The SimpleTech® Signature MiniTM offers: Slick, beautiful design by world-renown designer Pininfarina. USB bus-power that requires no bulky AC adapter. Fabrik Ultimate BackupTM for 2 GB of free secure online storage. 3-year warranty. The curvaceous Signature Mini was designed by Pininfarina of Ferrari fame. View larger. Ferrari-Inspired Ultra-Portable Design Get used to the staring, because when you take this drive out into the public, heads will turn. With its Ferrari-inspired lines, this delicious Marshmallow-colored Signature Mini is as much a piece of fine art as a piece of robust hardware. Despite being a compact 3.1 x 4.9 x 0.8-inches (WxDxH), the drive won't be slipping out of your hands, thanks to its velvety texture that offers you a secure grip for your hands. And the drive's two rubber strips at the bottom will keep it from slipping across your desk. With the included USB 2.0 "Y" cable, the Signature Mini gets its power from your computer, meaning there's no bulky AC adapter to carry around or forget. Just grab the drive and cable, plug it into a computer, and you'll be ready to go. Powerful Local and Online Backup Options SimpleTech includes two backup options that will keep your mind at ease about your important data. In fact, SimpleTech's Signature Mini Drives are the first drives in the world to offer both local and online backup capabilities. With the included Fabrik Local Backup software, you can set up automatic backups from your computer to your Signature Mini. But for the ultimate in protection, the Signature Mini also offers the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution that uploads your files to a secure, online server that will protect your data from real-world mishaps and offer near-real time protection without bogging down your computer. (Although the Signature Mini is both Mac and PC compatible, at this time the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution is only available for Windows-based computers.) With just two ports, the Signature Mini is simple to use. In fact, you usually only need one cable as the drive can be powered by the USB bus. Fabrik's Ultimate Backup allows you to store up to 2 GB for free on one of its 448-bit encrypted servers, and for just a few dollars a month, you get unlimited capacity to securely store all of your important files and media collections offsite. Acting just like the drive's local backup software, you simply set Fabrik Ultimate Backup once, and it automatically and regularly backs up your content behind the scenes. All backups, to the external drive or online service, are unobtrusive. Once your initial content has uploaded, the software performs incremental backups, so only the smallest amount of data that has been changed or modified in your files will be updated. To keep your content private and confidential, all files are encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key. Fabrik's offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housed by a Fortune 500 company, ensuring file protection, security and peace of mind. So now, no matter what happens to your drive--a curious toddler, a spilled drink or natural disaster--your irreplaceable photos, music, videos and files are safe and secure both offsite and online. Joggle Software for Easy Media Sharing Also included is Joggle, a program that brings your photos, music, and videos together and displays it all in one easy-to-manage view. Joggle lets you view all your media files together on a single screen, and lets you access it securely from anywhere you're online. With Joggle, you can easily share your content with friends and family and embed sideshows and playlists into social Web sites including MySpace, Flickr, Facebook or personal blogs. You can even create an RSS feed for friends and family, all without making them register or login to sharing sites. The Signature Mini is backed by a 3-year warranty and free, unlimited technical support. What's in the Box Signature Mini Marshmallow 250 GB external hard drive, quick-install guide, and high-speed USB 2.0 "Y" cable. Get a Signature Mini in your favorite color.

Customer Reviews

High Quality at Affordable Price
Date: 2008-03-29 | Rating: 5
If you are looking for a high quality portable external USB-powered high capacity hard drive at an affordable price, this is your choice! Ownership: 5 days. Pros: 1. High quality as SimpleTech is using a Western Digital (WD) internal hard drive disk (HDD) known to be a state-of-the-art HDD. 2. As portable (small size and light) as WD passport. 3. USB-powered or bus-powered. As single USB port of some computers can not provide enough power, SimpleTech is providing you with USB 2.0 Y-cable (not provided with WD passport) which can be used to hook up your drive to two USB ports of your computer to get enough power. This drive also has a power port (power cable is not provided, however, WD passport has no power port at all) in case you prefer to use a power cable. However, My laptop (almost 5 years old now) does not need it! I hook up this drive to a single USB port of my laptop and it works. I am so happy after knowing this as I was afraid to buy this drive considering that it may not work with a single USB port (my laptop has only two USB ports so that I would run out of it and not be able to use any other USB device, like mouse at the same time)! Make sure you use the main USB (not the pigtail, take a look at the picture above). WD will make you buy an expensive Y-cable if you need it. Moreover, this Y-cable from SimpleTech is longer than USB cable from WD. 4. Highest capacity portable drive available as of today (comparable to WD 320 GB passport). 5. I bought it from Amazon marketplace (ZENCORP) for $ 97.99 plus $ 6.49 S&H (no tax). The merchant offered the best price as of that day. I ordered it on Friday, merchant shipped (from MD) it on Saturday via DHL, and I received (at CA) it on Monday with excellent packaging! You can not possibly get this awesome deal for WD 320 GB passport right now. 6. Plug N play just like WD passport. My laptop immediately recognized this drive (also 3 of my school desktops, all of them required only one USB port) when I hooked up for the 1st time. 7. Hot-swappable just like WD passport. 8. Great look! After all, designed by Pininfarina! To me, WD passport does not look any better. 9. USB port of this drive is naked which is good because I always felt awkward in handling WD passport's port (WDXMS2500CN, bought from Costco) as it has a flap on it. WD made USB port naked only in their newest model (WDME3200TN). 10. Blue light shows that HDD is connected to the computer as a local disk, flashes when working, red light shows that power is on! WD passport indicator light does not show you these details. 11. 3 years warranty, just like WD passport's. Very important. 12. Did not try the software, but back-up and other utilities like simple, automatic backups with Fabrik local backup and complete protection with Fabrik ultimate backup online service (2 GB free), joggle software for organizing photos, songs, and video come with it. Will comment after use. 13. Free tech support over the phone. WD's tech support is available for free only upto 30 days after you give them the 1st call. WD's tech support guys know (including the higher level, really annoying) as much as you do being an ordinary person with some standard technical understanding. 14. PC/Mac compatible just like WD passport. 15. Base has pad-like structure to protect the drive. 16. It is as quiet and fast as WD passport. Its stays cool just like WD passport. 17. Pre-formatted to NTFS as compared to FAT32 (WD passport). Most people use PC rather than Mac! Cons: Not many! I believe pros simply wins over cons. 1. As scratchable as WD passport. 2. 5400 rpm only, however, this is the highest speed available for all portable drives including WD's. 3. Capacity is not as high as that of larger drives. 4. No firewire 400/800 or eSATA or 10/100/1000 ethernet ports. You can not possibly expect these with portable drives. Make sure you buy a carrying case, the best being from case LOGIC (model # PHDC-1) in order to protect the drive and for carrying convenience. There are other portable drives in the market, say, WD, Seagate, Toshiba, Iomega, HP, Maxtor, but none of them are better than this one. I own this and I owned WD passport (WDXMS2500CN) and returned it. Did I say enough about this excellent gadget? Buy one and enjoy it!!! UPDATE: 11/20/2009: The drive is still working. Only problems are 1) occasionally, it does not work with some computers (even the recent ones) with a single USB connection, you have to use two ports. 2) sometimes, when I connect this with computer, this device behaves as if it were connected to a slow USB (1.1) port, therefore, copying files takes forever. I disconnect and reconnect this, and it behaves normal. I have been advised by ST representative (over the phone) that this may be a controller issue and I should go for an RMA. I will see. I still have valid warranty for some good time. UPDATE: 12/20/2009: I returned the drive to Hitachi for repair/exchange with an RMA. They got me a new drive (color is not black cherry now, but kind of red, still looks good) and I am happy to report that it looks like they have fixed the issues. So far I have hooked up this with 2 desktops and 1 laptop with success (in which the old drive was having issues). To return the drive, I have used flat-rate ($4.95) box from USPS, therefore, the guys who are complaining about this drive after purchase should do just like I did if the warranty is still valid (3 yrs).

Snazzy and functional
Date: 2008-03-22 | Rating: 5
I've had this drive about one month, and am very pleased with it. It's very small, yet huge in terms of capacity. It also looks cool (and even feels cool, like metallic velvet). It's extremely quiet (actually silent), and is plenty fast. No problems playing back recorded video through Media Center or Media Player. Smooth as silk even when fast-forwarding. Music of course and pictures come through perfectly. On my Toshiba Satellite notebook, it functions just fine connected to only one usb port. If your laptop is underpowered for some reason, you can either use both prongs of the supplied two prong plug (uses up 2 usb ports) or you can use a 5 vdc 1.0 A ac adapter (I think the same used by most other powered usb devices like cooling fans, usb hubs and such). This information is clearly stated in the foldout manual. Make sure you look at the manual to see which of the two plugs you should use if you only want to use only one plug to connect to your computer or notebook, since one plug carries both power and data, while the other is just a backup power carrier in case your usb ports are underpowered. Tech support responded within 1 day to the question I asked about whether it can be set to spin down when not in use (apparently not). It runs cool, so that's not really a problem. For the price, the style and the performance, I think this is a fantastic drive.

no complaints, xactly what I was looking for
Date: 2008-03-07 | Rating: 5
All I was looking for was a drive to supplement the minimal storage space on my Toshiba laptop. This worked perfect. I got it on sale at Circuit City for $119, which was a steal. I use it mostly to store MP4 files to load on my iPod Classic. Works great and can play movie files from it through my laptop no problem. Can't speak to the back up software that's included, haven't used it. Only negative thing I can say about it is that the cord has a pigtail USB connector if you need it for extra power, if you have low voltage USB ports. I don't so it just kind of gets in the way. Also, you have to make sure you have the primary USB plugged in to connect the drive, if you plug in only the pigtail, it won't load the drive to your computer. I marked mine so I wouldn't mistake it. That minor thing is really the only thing I can think of negative to say, and it wouldn't be negative if I had low voltage ports and needed it. Overall, I highly recommend it.

Great Hard drive
Date: 2008-11-30 | Rating: 5
Bought this about 4 months ago.... The hard drive is small, and very very portable. Pro's 1) Transfer speeds are fast, (Avg.20MB/s / Peaks around 30MB/s) 2) Able to Run movies, music, anything off the drive directly without lags 3) Plugging in both USB cords, increased transfer speed - 1USB = 15MB/s - 2USB = 25-30MB/s 4) Able to run smooth even if running laptop on battery (own a 13inch Toshiba U300) 5) Takes about 3-5 seconds for a window to open to access the hard drive 6) Runs files off the hard drive same speed if it were run off computer (w/ 1 or both USB; doesn't mater) Cons' 1) Will be recognized on MAC and VISTA, however, If formated for VISTA and used on a MAC, the MAC user can only copy files from the Hard drive onto their MAC. They arent able to copy files onto the hard drive. - Out of box, the hard drive is Windows formatted. Need to follow easy to read instructions to convert to MAC 2)Nothing else at this point ****** Note: Havent used the software on the Hard drive itself for the Back up. Neither have I used the 2 gigs of online backup.

Just what I wanted...
Date: 2008-05-28 | Rating: 5
I decided that it was time for me to back up all of my files and began searching for the perfect external hard drive. I did some research and concluded that this one was the right one for me. I'll admit that one thing that drew me to the SimpleTech hard drive was the color--in bubblegum pink, it matches my Sony laptop. The previous reviewer is correct; it has a 232 GB capacity. But this is more than enough space for me. I was able to quickly and easily back up my files without having to plug the drive into an external power source. I didn't use the included software...I just dragged my files into the drive. The drive is much smaller than I expected and extremely portable. I think it's the perfect choice for me.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

SimpleTech SimpleDrive SP-UF35/500 500GB USB 2.0/FireWire External Hard Drive

From SimpleTech Technology

Price:	~~$145.99~~

Accessories
- Case Logic HDC-1 Medium EVA External Hard Drive Case (Black)

Features
- Stylish, external 500 GB Hard Drive with USB 2.0 and FireWire connection
- Stylish design by Ferrari designer Pininfarina
- Built-in slot for Kensington security lock
- Backed by 1-year warranty and unlimited technical support
- Measures 5.0 x 1.50 x 8.25 inches (WxHxD)

Product Description
The sleek lines and ultra-low profile styling of this SimpleDrive were designed by Pinifarina, the very same design firm that gives Ferrari sports cars their stylish lines.Don't let its beauty fool you. SimpleDrive is a high-performance external hard drive ideal for storing and backing up your music, video, photos and more.

Amazon.com Product Description
Thanks to the sleek, low-profile styling by famed Italian car designer Pininfarina, the SimpleDrive Desktop USB 2.0/FireWire External Hard Drive isn't just another external hard drive. The recipient of the same magic design touch and attention to fine details that helped turn Ferrari and Maserati into icons of the automotive world, the SimpleDrive Desktop will help turn your work space into a virtual art display while offering you up to 500 GB of backup storage for your computer files. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: 20px; } table.callout { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif; margin: 10px; width: 250; } td.callout { height: 100 percent; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding: 10px; width: 250px; } ul.callout { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -12px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; } h5.callout { text-align: center; } The SimpleTech® SimpleDriveTM offers: Slick Ferrari-inspired design by Pininfarina. Dual FireWire and USB 2.0 interface allows for wide compatibility and fast data transfer. Fabrik Ultimate BackupTM for 2 GB of free secure online storage. 1-year warranty. The SimpleDrive was designed Pininfarina of Ferrari fame. View larger. Ferrari-Inspired Low-Profile Design for your Desk Get used to the staring when your colleagues visit your desk. This compact and elegant onyx black drive is as much a piece of fine art as a piece of robust hardware. But don't let the looks fool you. Beneath its cool and sleek exterior is a robust, high-capacity, single-drive solution that gives you the ability to store and backup tons of music, videos, photos and documents in a small footprint. Featuring plug and play simplicity, and Mac and PC compatibility, the SimpleDrive Desktop features both a high performing FireWire 400 interface and a hi-speed USB 2.0 interface for fast transfer of data at up to 400 Mb/sec for FireWire and 480 Mb/sec for USB. (Although USB 2.0 runs at a higher signaling rate than FireWire 400, USB transfers data in bursts, while FireWire offers a steady data transfer and is generally considered superior than USB 2.0 for the movement of multimedia data and large files.) Having both interfaces allows for a wider range of compatibility, virtually guaranteeing that the drive will work wherever you take it. Whether you want to increase the capacity of your desktop, or back up your valuable files quickly and securely, the SimpleDrive Desktop will perform for you with style. A built-in Kensington security lock lets you lock down your drive while you're away, and a built-in capacity meter keeps you abreast of your storage situation at all times. Powerful Local and Online Backup Options The SimpleDrive Desktop includes two backup options that will keep your mind at ease about your important data. With the included OneClick backup software, you have the option of either backing up and protecting all your files and folders, or selected ones, with a single click, or automatically. Either way, you'll have the peace of mind knowing your digital world is safe and protected. But for the ultimate in protection, the SimpleDrive Desktop also offers the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution that uploads your files to a secure, online server that will protect your data from real-world mishaps and offer near-real time protection without bogging down your computer. Fabrik's Ultimate Backup allows you to store up to 2 GB for free on one of its 448-bit encrypted servers, and for just a few dollars a month, you get unlimited capacity to securely store all of your important files and media collections offsite. Acting just like the drive's local backup software, you simply set Fabrik Ultimate Backup once, and it automatically and regularly backs up your content behind the scenes. The capacity meter shows you how much space is left at a quick glance. View larger. All backups, to the external drive or online service, are unobtrusive. Once your initial content has uploaded, the software performs incremental backups, so only the smallest amount of data that has been changed or modified in your files will be updated. (Although the SimpleDrive Desktop is both Mac and PC compatible, at this time the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution is only available for Windows-based computers.) To keep your content private and confidential, all files are encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key. Fabrik's offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housed by a Fortune 500 company, ensuring file protection, security and peace of mind. So no matter what happens to your drive--a curious toddler, a spilled drink or natural disaster--your irreplaceable photos, music, videos and files will be safe and secure both offsite and online. The SimpleDrive Desktop measures a scant 1.50 x 8.25 x 5.0 (WxLxD), is backed by a 1-year warranty, and comes with free, unlimited technical support. What's in the Box 3.5 SimpleDrive Desktop External Hard Drive with One-Click Backup Software, USB 2.0 Cable, AC Adapter, Resource CD, and Quick Install Guide. The SimpleDrive comes in different storage capacities for every need.

Customer Reviews

OUTSTANDING Hard Drive works great with a MAC!
Date: 2007-10-15 | Rating: 5
I'm currently using the Pininfarina designed 500GB SimpleDrive to back up my main hard drive with the backup utility included on the drive. I also use it to store media files, such as photos, music, and full length AVI and Quicktime movies. It mounts effortlessly every time on my Mac running OS X via either the FireWire or USB 2.0 connection. The drive is very quiet and automatically spins itself down after a lengthy period of inactivity, but it's quickly ready to go when needed. The drive's fast speed and connection rate allow you to watch movies or stream audio directly to your computer. I highly recommend it for its reliability, sleek "aerodynamic" Italian design, and ease of use. Most hard drive cases look boring, but this one looks like it's doing 120mph just sitting there. Vrooom!

High Capacity, Fast, Low Cost
Date: 2007-12-26 | Rating: 5
Just got this product two days ago and my first impressions are very good. Right out of the box it had a very sleek and attractive design, something you would put on your desk proudly not hide in a drawer. As soon as I plugged it in the computer recognized it right away, and after partitioning it into 3 seperate drives )for seperating my music, videos, and everything else) I coppied about 25 gigs of video in about 100 minutes, which was many times faster than I expected. The device is also very small for how much space it has; measuring 6x8x1.5. It easily fits in a medium size carrying case. Over all I am completely satisfied, if I had to say something bad about it, the six LEDs surrounding the backup button in the middle are slightly obnoxious after a couple of hours. Deffinately reccommend this device of what I've experienced so far.

Works great... but fingers crossed
Date: 2008-01-05 | Rating: 4
For the price this is a great product. 500 gigbytes... wow! However, the proof will ultimately be in the pudding. Several external HD's that I've owned have died from what one would think is normal hussle and bussle. So, I'm treating this one gingerly. Thus far, paired with my mac for several weeks and just sitting on a desk, the product works great. But wait a year or two or three to see how it holds out. If still functioning in 3 years, then I'll be more than happy to give it 5 stars.

Works but gets lost on reboot
Date: 2007-08-28 | Rating: 3
On a Dell desktop running XP this drive installed and ran with no problem but when the PC was rebooted it was necessary to power down and up the drive separately for it to be seen by the PC. Simpletech service said this was to be expected. Other external drives don't need this extra step and it means the drive shares are lost if it's on a network.

Died After Two Days With All My Data On It
Date: 2008-02-25 | Rating: 1
My first SimpleTech Drive was D.O.A., not even a power light. They swapped it out for this second one, which I have had only two days -- just in time to get all my data on it. It has now died and only a red power light will come on, no blue activity lights, and a clattering sound. My Apple System Profiler will not recognize it. I meant to use this drive to back up my desktop hard drive, to back up my laptop, and other important files. I can now see it is entirely useless as a backup. I don't know what to do next; perhaps get a new internal drive. I would not recommend SimpleTech. In the short time this drive was working, my computer had trouble recognizing this drive upon reboot. I had it partitioned into four parts, including a bootable version of Mac OS X 10.3. The recognition of the firewire drive upon reboot was unpredictable. At times, it would recognize it, but more often than not, it would not recognize the drive's partitions and would not boot into 10.3. This could have been a result of the drive's beginning to fail. (To make the 10.3 bootable partition, I did not use SimpleTech's software, which does not support bootable functionality; instead I used Carbon Copy Cloner. When it worked, it worked beautifully, but it was inconsistent, I believe due to the drive's beginning to fail.) I will send this drive back to SimpleTech and get a third drive. However, I don't plan to use it, as my experience shows these drives are unreliable.

Friday, February 5, 2010

SimpleTech SimpleDrive 250 GB External USB 2.0 Hard Drive

From SimpleTech

Price:	~~$69.99~~

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- Cables To Go - 29554 - USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Adapter Card 5-Port
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Features
- USB 2.0 port; also backward compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1 devices
- Speeds as high as 480 Mbps; provides plenty of bandwidth for your most data-hungry applications
- Operates seamlessly with both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems
- Diagnostic LEDs provide port status for each port
- Easily integrates with your existing network at home or in the office

Product Description
The SimpleDrive USB 2.0 External Hard Drive is the easiest way to add more lightning fast storage to any desktop or laptop computer. With a USB 2.0 connection, setup is a snap and data transfer rates are fast and reliable. These Mass Storage Compliant External Hard Drives are 100% compatible with any system that has a USB port. Engineered for performance and reliability, SimpleTech's high speed, high capacity drives are Ideal for any storage need, including digital music, movies and photographs. Every SimpleTech External Hard Drive comes with a FREE fully functioning copy of StorageSync Automatic Backup Software so full or incremental backups are fast and easy every time. Features: USB 2.0 Interface: • USB 2.0 and 1.1 compliant • One external "B" 4-pin USB (High Speed USB) receptacle • Serial bus data transfer rates of up to 480 Mb/sec Ultra Fast Performance: • SimpleTech 7200 RPM HDD Technology • USB 2.0 Provides up to 480 Mb/sec Data Transfer Rate Easy & Expandable Storage: • Connect Up to 127 USB 2.0 Devices with USB Hubs • Plug n• Play, One-Step Installation • Stores All File Types, Data, and Software • Automatic Backups with StorageSync • Hot Swappable • No tool required Versatile Design: • Compact design: 5.51" (H) x 8.86" (L) x 1.35" (D) • Stands vertically or sits horizontally Includes FREE StorageSync Backup Software Included (Windows Only) Reliable: • Unlimited Toll Free Technical Support • 3 Year Warranty System Requirements: MACINTOSH • Available USB 1.1 port • Mac OS v9.x or later; built for Mac OS X WINDOWS • Available USB 2.0 or 1.1 port • Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP

Customer Reviews

A++ For Back-up!
Date: 2006-04-22 | Rating: 5
***** Not any discernible noise, unless you live in a Convent, perhaps. Just a gentle whir, when it's actually working. Doesn't get "hot", etc. I live in the real world, not whatever dream-scape some of these reviewers do, I guess. No it doesn't make coffee. No, I haven't timed the data transfers and am having a hissy-fit because it falls five nanoseconds off. This is my second one, earlier, smaller one has run for well over a year, never turned off, no problems. THREE YEAR WARRANTY! Enough said. Most give you only one year, two max. Shows they have confidence in their product. The included software for backing up your computers main drives is VERY EASY to operate, and favorably reviewed at many sites. I bought this unit for work with my new Windows Live OneCare. It will automatically back up your computer to an external hard drive, has anti-virus, fire wall and anti-spam. Yearly price ($19) is far cheaper than Norton or the others, and allows you to use it on up to three computers! I have seen this priced at other places besides Amazon, for a few bucks cheaper, BUT didn't include the shipping, like Amazon. Amazon is the clear winner again!

Good one !!!!
Date: 2005-04-09 | Rating: 5
I have used many simpletech products. Good company with good products & decent customer service. This one is the best price i can find & well built, no problems in installation. A decent one. Buy from Simpledirect through amazon to get best deal. Buy this, connect to your computer & move all your files to this drive. Turn this drive off. This is the best way to stay away from spyware & hackers. When you turn this drive on, turn the internet off. Safest way to keep your files. No Norton/Mcafee is as foolproof as this idea.

Like An Internal Hard Drive...On the Outside
Date: 2005-06-10 | Rating: 5
I've always been mildly amused at the pace and scope of storage in personal computers. Back in the dark days of college, when I had a Mac (and this is not meant as a slight to Mac users!), I think my hard drive tipped the scales at a muscular 500MB, or .5GBs in today's accepted measurement. And man, did that 500 do the trick - research papers don't take up too much digital room. I moved on years later to a Dell PC with a whopping 27GB hard drive. 27GB! "How will I ever fill that up!?" I wondered naively. Mere months later, I discovered how MP3s and .avi files and all their storage-y ilk take up lots of space in no time, and went out and got my non-space having self a shiny new 80GB internal hard drive to get some storage breathing room. Installing it was far from perfect (it didn't dock correctly, plus there were some recognition issues) and was far more effort than it should have been. To this day, the poor thing hangs at a 45 degree angle inside the computer tower, precariously balanced between the motherboard and the first hard drive. Back in the present, my current Dell came with 240GB, a robust-sounding storage number. "Surely," I thought, "I will never fill that much space," About 25GB away from filling the whole thing up and perceiving my computer slowing down just to comprehend all the data, I needed an answer. And, through amazon.com, I was directed to the Simpletech 250GB external hard drive, and I have nothing (well, mostly nothing) but nice things to say about it. Another reviewer here appeared to have a bad experience with his 250GB, and I feel for them - no one can ever expect technology to work flawlessly across the endless configurations out there in ComputaLand. But, if you have a system with USB 2.0 and Windows XP, I can't imagine an easier or more pleasant hard-drive experience than I had with this product. The drive itself is not small or large, resembling a Steven King hardcover in size (but not in content - out in bookstores now! King's latest masterwork, "Hard Drive of Sorrow"! Only 800 pages!). Handy mounts are included for those wishing to place the drive on its side, a la Playstation 2, so space should not be an issue, even on a crowded desk. It can also do nicely as a paperweight in a pinch. The readout on the face of the drive is simple and functional. The HAL-like red LED lets you know it's on - the green LED let's you know it's doing stuff. Simple...tech. Yep, pretty cut and dry on the outside. Wire-wise, the drive comes with its external power source and USB cable, so it's ready out of the box to plug in. And here's the beauty of it, at least for XP users - the drive is truly plug and play. Although the package came with two CDs of drivers and whatnot (including a tiny, rectangular CD with some kind of "data sync" software I haven't used), Windows recognized the drive immediately, no questions asked. No drivers to install, no installation wizards, no nothing. Boom - ready to go and store huge amounts of data. I'm no tech expert, so I don't know if the stated transfer rate of 480 MBS is high or low as industry standards for external drives go, but for the casual user, I saw no problems with the drive's speed. It took me perhaps 20 minutes to move close to 60GB of info, but I didn't sit there the whole time watching the progress bar. It seems quick enough, unless time is of the essence. The final positive is the on/off switch in the rear. As another reviewer astutely noted, by turning the thing off you're pretty much ensuring the safety of the info stored on the drive, though to be 100% safe, I think you'd need to disconnect the USB entirely. It's a nice feature to have, regardless. The couple of negatives for the drive are minor to me, but might be important to others. The green LED is slightly recessed and a little harder to see in the face of the drive, but it's visible. The drive also tends to make a high-pitched, but soft, whining noise when idling for a while. Those not disposed to soft, high-pitched whining noises should be aware of this, but I found it easily solved by some music or...the off button. Brilliant use of existing options, I say. So, even though I'm unable to comment on Simpletech's customer service or the long-time life of the drive, it does what it says it will do - store lots and lots of data in a timely manner and allow you to retrieve it. And, at the price, you simply can't go wrong. Pun intended.

Gets the job done!
Date: 2006-03-04 | Rating: 5
Not sure what all the complaining is about for this drive...I was at first put off by all the reviews that mentioned failed drives, loud whining sounds and problems transferring large amounts of data, but I haven't had any of those problems at all. Out of the box, I simply plugged the drive into my WinXP system, it was recognized immediately, then I copied a 50 GB folder of MP3s to it. Transfer was fast and without incident, and the drive is quiet as a mouse. I am very happy with this purchase!

Works great right out of box, backup software ...
Date: 2005-05-22 | Rating: 5
... is also easy to use. This Ext.HD looks great and the on/ off switch is nice to have. Although I've had it running continually for 1 month with no problems. I do a lot of video capture and editing and have had no problem with transfer speed. I read the review where the person had difficulty with drive assignment. While the Disk management will say the drive is healthy, new drives often need to be initialized in order to work properly. (Use help to get specific instructions it's really easy) Once initialization is complete the drive will function as if it were an internal drive. I like this drive so much I'm purchasing a second one. I've tried both enclosing an internal HD and several manufacturers of Ext HD, this one by far was the easiest to set up. All of them have the same performance. If you have trouble look to initialization or formatting to resolve your problem. Help will assist you identifying if you need to do either.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

SimpleTech PRO500Q Pro Drive 500 GB Quad Interface External Hard Drive (Grey)

From Hitachi

Price:	~~$124.99~~

Accessories
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2
- Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
- Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
- Nero 8 Ultra Edition [OLD VERSION]
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard

Features
- High-performance storage and backup
- Quad interface for plug and play flexibility: USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and 3Gb/sec eSATA
- Compact design stacks or stands upright
- Award-winning Fabrik backup software, including 2GB free online backup
- Security lock slot

Product Description
As pure high-performance storage, the SimpleTech Pro Drive by Fabrik makes any red-blooded storage heart pump a little faster. Its blazing fast eSATA interface provides up to 3GB per second data transfer rate and its massive capacity makes it perfect for power users and digital media enthusiasts. With local backup and Fabrik Ultimate Backup, you get the same two-level protection the pros use. So, no matter what happens to your drive - a spilled drink, a curious toddler, a theft, or a natural disaster - you know your files are safe and secure online and off-site. Free 2GB online account, or for less than five dollars per month, upgrade to unlimited online capacity that is fast, affordable, and secure. A stackable design ensures a snug fit with Fabrik¿s Simple and Duo Pro Drives, so you can add more storage without taking up more desk space. USB 2.0 and eSATA interface. Its capacity is 500GB.

Manufacturer Product Description
SimpleTech Pro Drive™ – Works Like a Pro. Plug n' Play Simple. High performance storage and backup up to 3X the speed of USB 2.0. With four built-in ways to connect (USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and 3Gb/sec eSATA) and award-winning backup software included, Pro Drive is a smart investment that delivers everything you need to succeed. High performance desktop hard drive for professionals and prosumers QUAD interface for plug n' play flexibility: USB 2.0 Turbo, FW400, FW800, 3Gbps eSATA SimpleTech Pro Drive Works Like a Pro. Plug n' Play Simple. High performance storage and backup up to 3X the speed of USB 2.0. With four built-in ways to connect (USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and 3Gb/sec eSATA) and award-winning backup software included, Pro Drive is a smart investment that delivers everything you need to succeed. Compact, Intelligent Design Its compact design lets you stack multiple units or stand them upright to optimize your desk space, and a built-in security lock helps ensure your drive remains where you left it. Also includes Fabrik Ultimate Backup™ which works in the background to automatically save copies of your precious files on encrypted, secure servers – for ultimate online backup protection that's safe and protected from life's little disasters. Prosumers and small businesses who need professional-grade storage and backup of critical files, documents, and media collections Features and Benefits High-performance storage and backup Quad interface for plug and play flexibility: USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and 3Gb/sec eSATA Compact design stacks or stands upright Award-winning Fabrik backup software, including 2GB free online backup Security lock slot Friendly, free unlimited technical support PC and Mac compatible 3 year warranty What's in the Box Pro Drive Quad Interface External Hard Drive USB 2.0 Cable FireWire 400 Cable AC Adapter Fabrik Local Backup Software Fabrik Ultimate Backup™ Service (2GB free)† Free technical support 3-Year warranty* * Warranty period may vary based on regulations of the country where this product is purchased. Subject to certain terms and conditions

Customer Reviews

Great Drive for the Price!
Date: 2009-01-11 | Rating: 5
I've had this drive for a couple weeks. It works great. The quad interface is really handy, now I use firewire 400, which is really fast. In the future I plan to use eSATA, having the choice is great. Extremely quiet, cool when not in use, it gets hot when spinning but not overly hot. If I ever need some more space, I will definitely buy a SimpleTech PRO Quad.

SimpleTech Pro750Q
Date: 2009-02-03 | Rating: 4
The USB interface to my computer running Microsoft Windows XP Pro, SR2 worked well. However, the FireWire 400 interface has not. While I believe the problem is a Windows configuration issue, very little support in troubleshooting it could be found either in the drive documentation or on the product website. In fact, neither the Fast Start instructions nor the more detailed product guide had information to ensure proper Firewire connections. Nevertheless, other than being a bit slow, the drive works very well with the USB connection.

Works well, packaging terrible
Date: 2009-09-22 | Rating: 4
When I got my drive, all of the cables were unnecessarily taped to the inside of the box with this really nasty tape. The tape left all sorts of nasty sticky tape residue after it was removed. After some really hard scrubbing and multiple cleaning products, it just won't come off. So now I'm left with a sticky power adapter and cables. Otherwise, the drive looks nice and it pretty fast as long as you purchase a firewire 800 cable for it. It only comes with USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 cables, and they're kind of short. Even though I don't have an eSata port on my computer, it's nice that it also comes with that feature if I ever decide to use it. Sometimes I have issues getting it to mount on my computer, and I'm not sure if it's my cable or the actual firewire 800 port on the drive or my computer. It seems to always mount fine using firewire 400. Overall a very good hard drive, at a very cheap price.

Not As A DVR Extender
Date: 2008-12-27 | Rating: 3
Beautifully made, quiet, with all the output ports. But it won't work as a DVR storage extender with the Scientific Atlanta 8300 DVR which is what I bought it for.

Doesn't work with Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR
Date: 2009-06-28 | Rating: 3
Bought for my Scienticif Atlanta 8300HD DVR, but two different DVRs will not connect; both report device not communicating propoerly. Oh well... Will have to return. Note: I rated three, trying to minimize my affect on the average. I have no idea if good or not, just won't work for my situation.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

SimpleTech by Hitachi Signature Mini 160 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive FS-U25/160BB (Blueberry)

From SimpleTech Technology

Price:	~~$75.99~~

Accessories
- Rebit RSCD 350000 Software CD For Storage Backup
- Rebit Backup Software for Multiple PCs (6) RSCD350000MPOS
- Multi-pc User CD
- Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player
- Clickfree Automatic Backup Hard Drive Transformer USB 2.0 Cable CAB101

Features
- Portable, stylish 160 GB Hard Drive with USB 2.0 connection
- Stylish design by Ferrari designer Pininfarina
- Powered by USB bus; no AC adapter necessary
- Backed by 3-year warranty and unlimited technical support
- Measures 3.1 x 0.8 x 4.9 inches (WxHxD)

Product Description
Introducing the Signature Mini family of bite-size drives, bursting with tasty ingredients. Supple and resilient to the touch, with a positive velvety grip, they're designed by our friends at Pininfarina, the icon of Italian sports car design since 1930.Just plug one in, and inside you'll find smart ways to protect and manage all your precious stuff. Includes Fabrik Local Backup software for setting up automatic backups on your Signature Mini, and Fabrik Ultimate Backup for secure, online storage that's safe from real world mishaps.

Amazon.com Product Description
Thanks to the deliciously sleek styling by famed Italian car designer Pininfarina, the SimpleTech Signature Mini 160 GB USB 2.0 Portable Drive isn't just another external hard drive. The recipient of the same magic design touch and attention to fine details that helped turn Ferrari and Maserati into icons of the automotive world, the Signature Mini will certainly turn heads as you make your way through the day with your work files, or your latest videos, photos and songs. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: 20px; } table.callout { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif; margin: 10px; width: 250; } td.callout { height: 100 percent; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding: 10px; width: 250px; } ul.callout { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -12px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; } h5.callout { text-align: center; } The SimpleTech® Signature MiniTM offers: Slick, beautiful design by world-renown designer Pininfarina. USB bus-power that requires no bulky AC adapter. Fabrik Ultimate BackupTM for 2 GB of free secure online storage. 3-year warranty. The curvaceous Signature Mini was designed by Pininfarina of Ferrari fame. View larger. Ferrari-Inspired Ultra-Portable Design Get used to the staring, because when you take this drive out into the public, heads will turn. With its Ferrari-inspired lines, this delicious Blueberry-colored Signature Mini is as much a piece of fine art as a piece of robust hardware. Despite being a compact 3.1 x 4.9 x 0.8-inches (WxDxH), the drive won't be slipping out of your hands, thanks to its velvety texture that offers you a secure grip for your hands. And the drive's two rubber strips at the bottom will keep it from slipping across your desk. With the included USB 2.0 "Y" cable, the Signature Mini gets its power from your computer, meaning there's no bulky AC adapter to carry around or forget. Just grab the drive and cable, plug it into a computer, and you'll be ready to go. Powerful Local and Online Backup Options SimpleTech includes two backup options that will keep your mind at ease about your important data. In fact, SimpleTech's Signature Mini Drives are the first drives in the world to offer both local and online backup capabilities. With the included Fabrik Local Backup software, you can set up automatic backups from your computer to your Signature Mini. But for the ultimate in protection, the Signature Mini also offers the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution that uploads your files to a secure, online server that will protect your data from real-world mishaps and offer near-real time protection without bogging down your computer. (Although the Signature Mini is both Mac and PC compatible, at this time the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution is only available for Windows-based computers.) With just two ports, the Signature Mini is simple to use. In fact, you usually only need one cable as the drive can be powered by the USB bus. Fabrik's Ultimate Backup allows you to store up to 2 GB for free on one of its 448-bit encrypted servers, and for just a few dollars a month, you get unlimited capacity to securely store all of your important files and media collections offsite. Acting just like the drive's local backup software, you simply set Fabrik Ultimate Backup once, and it automatically and regularly backs up your content behind the scenes. All backups, to the external drive or online service, are unobtrusive. Once your initial content has uploaded, the software performs incremental backups, so only the smallest amount of data that has been changed or modified in your files will be updated. To keep your content private and confidential, all files are encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key. Fabrik's offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housed by a Fortune 500 company, ensuring file protection, security and peace of mind. So now, no matter what happens to your drive--a curious toddler, a spilled drink or natural disaster--your irreplaceable photos, music, videos and files are safe and secure both offsite and online. Joggle Software for Easy Media Sharing Also included is Joggle, a program that brings your photos, music, and videos together and displays it all in one easy-to-manage view. Joggle lets you view all your media files together on a single screen, and lets you access it securely from anywhere you're online. With Joggle, you can easily share your content with friends and family and embed sideshows and playlists into social Web sites including MySpace, Flickr, Facebook or personal blogs. You can even create an RSS feed for friends and family, all without making them register or login to sharing sites. The Signature Mini is backed by a 3-year warranty and free, unlimited technical support. What's in the Box Signature Mini Blueberry 160 GB external hard drive, quick-install guide, and high-speed USB 2.0 "Y" cable. Get a Signature Mini in your favorite color.

Customer Reviews

High Quality at Affordable Price
Date: 2008-03-29 | Rating: 5
If you are looking for a high quality portable external USB-powered high capacity hard drive at an affordable price, this is your choice! Ownership: 5 days. Pros: 1. High quality as SimpleTech is using a Western Digital (WD) internal hard drive disk (HDD) known to be a state-of-the-art HDD. 2. As portable (small size and light) as WD passport. 3. USB-powered or bus-powered. As single USB port of some computers can not provide enough power, SimpleTech is providing you with USB 2.0 Y-cable (not provided with WD passport) which can be used to hook up your drive to two USB ports of your computer to get enough power. This drive also has a power port (power cable is not provided, however, WD passport has no power port at all) in case you prefer to use a power cable. However, My laptop (almost 5 years old now) does not need it! I hook up this drive to a single USB port of my laptop and it works. I am so happy after knowing this as I was afraid to buy this drive considering that it may not work with a single USB port (my laptop has only two USB ports so that I would run out of it and not be able to use any other USB device, like mouse at the same time)! Make sure you use the main USB (not the pigtail, take a look at the picture above). WD will make you buy an expensive Y-cable if you need it. Moreover, this Y-cable from SimpleTech is longer than USB cable from WD. 4. Highest capacity portable drive available as of today (comparable to WD 320 GB passport). 5. I bought it from Amazon marketplace (ZENCORP) for $ 97.99 plus $ 6.49 S&H (no tax). The merchant offered the best price as of that day. I ordered it on Friday, merchant shipped (from MD) it on Saturday via DHL, and I received (at CA) it on Monday with excellent packaging! You can not possibly get this awesome deal for WD 320 GB passport right now. 6. Plug N play just like WD passport. My laptop immediately recognized this drive (also 3 of my school desktops, all of them required only one USB port) when I hooked up for the 1st time. 7. Hot-swappable just like WD passport. 8. Great look! After all, designed by Pininfarina! To me, WD passport does not look any better. 9. USB port of this drive is naked which is good because I always felt awkward in handling WD passport's port (WDXMS2500CN, bought from Costco) as it has a flap on it. WD made USB port naked only in their newest model (WDME3200TN). 10. Blue light shows that HDD is connected to the computer as a local disk, flashes when working, red light shows that power is on! WD passport indicator light does not show you these details. 11. 3 years warranty, just like WD passport's. Very important. 12. Did not try the software, but back-up and other utilities like simple, automatic backups with Fabrik local backup and complete protection with Fabrik ultimate backup online service (2 GB free), joggle software for organizing photos, songs, and video come with it. Will comment after use. 13. Free tech support over the phone. WD's tech support is available for free only upto 30 days after you give them the 1st call. WD's tech support guys know (including the higher level, really annoying) as much as you do being an ordinary person with some standard technical understanding. 14. PC/Mac compatible just like WD passport. 15. Base has pad-like structure to protect the drive. 16. It is as quiet and fast as WD passport. Its stays cool just like WD passport. 17. Pre-formatted to NTFS as compared to FAT32 (WD passport). Most people use PC rather than Mac! Cons: Not many! I believe pros simply wins over cons. 1. As scratchable as WD passport. 2. 5400 rpm only, however, this is the highest speed available for all portable drives including WD's. 3. Capacity is not as high as that of larger drives. 4. No firewire 400/800 or eSATA or 10/100/1000 ethernet ports. You can not possibly expect these with portable drives. Make sure you buy a carrying case, the best being from case LOGIC (model # PHDC-1) in order to protect the drive and for carrying convenience. There are other portable drives in the market, say, WD, Seagate, Toshiba, Iomega, HP, Maxtor, but none of them are better than this one. I own this and I owned WD passport (WDXMS2500CN) and returned it. Did I say enough about this excellent gadget? Buy one and enjoy it!!! UPDATE: 11/20/2009: The drive is still working. Only problems are 1) occasionally, it does not work with some computers (even the recent ones) with a single USB connection, you have to use two ports. 2) sometimes, when I connect this with computer, this device behaves as if it were connected to a slow USB (1.1) port, therefore, copying files takes forever. I disconnect and reconnect this, and it behaves normal. I have been advised by ST representative (over the phone) that this may be a controller issue and I should go for an RMA. I will see. I still have valid warranty for some good time. UPDATE: 12/20/2009: I returned the drive to Hitachi for repair/exchange with an RMA. They got me a new drive (color is not black cherry now, but kind of red, still looks good) and I am happy to report that it looks like they have fixed the issues. So far I have hooked up this with 2 desktops and 1 laptop with success (in which the old drive was having issues). To return the drive, I have used flat-rate ($4.95) box from USPS, therefore, the guys who are complaining about this drive after purchase should do just like I did if the warranty is still valid (3 yrs).

Snazzy and functional
Date: 2008-03-22 | Rating: 5
I've had this drive about one month, and am very pleased with it. It's very small, yet huge in terms of capacity. It also looks cool (and even feels cool, like metallic velvet). It's extremely quiet (actually silent), and is plenty fast. No problems playing back recorded video through Media Center or Media Player. Smooth as silk even when fast-forwarding. Music of course and pictures come through perfectly. On my Toshiba Satellite notebook, it functions just fine connected to only one usb port. If your laptop is underpowered for some reason, you can either use both prongs of the supplied two prong plug (uses up 2 usb ports) or you can use a 5 vdc 1.0 A ac adapter (I think the same used by most other powered usb devices like cooling fans, usb hubs and such). This information is clearly stated in the foldout manual. Make sure you look at the manual to see which of the two plugs you should use if you only want to use only one plug to connect to your computer or notebook, since one plug carries both power and data, while the other is just a backup power carrier in case your usb ports are underpowered. Tech support responded within 1 day to the question I asked about whether it can be set to spin down when not in use (apparently not). It runs cool, so that's not really a problem. For the price, the style and the performance, I think this is a fantastic drive.

no complaints, xactly what I was looking for
Date: 2008-03-07 | Rating: 5
All I was looking for was a drive to supplement the minimal storage space on my Toshiba laptop. This worked perfect. I got it on sale at Circuit City for $119, which was a steal. I use it mostly to store MP4 files to load on my iPod Classic. Works great and can play movie files from it through my laptop no problem. Can't speak to the back up software that's included, haven't used it. Only negative thing I can say about it is that the cord has a pigtail USB connector if you need it for extra power, if you have low voltage USB ports. I don't so it just kind of gets in the way. Also, you have to make sure you have the primary USB plugged in to connect the drive, if you plug in only the pigtail, it won't load the drive to your computer. I marked mine so I wouldn't mistake it. That minor thing is really the only thing I can think of negative to say, and it wouldn't be negative if I had low voltage ports and needed it. Overall, I highly recommend it.

SimpleTech Signature Mini Hard Drive
Date: 2008-11-12 | Rating: 5
An exceptional product for any traveller--500 gigabytes that will fit in your pants' pocket! And no need to carry a cumbersome adaptor and cords: the mini hd connects directly to your pc for its power source. I take mine around the world, loaded with music and other entertainment.

Great Hard drive
Date: 2008-11-30 | Rating: 5
Bought this about 4 months ago.... The hard drive is small, and very very portable. Pro's 1) Transfer speeds are fast, (Avg.20MB/s / Peaks around 30MB/s) 2) Able to Run movies, music, anything off the drive directly without lags 3) Plugging in both USB cords, increased transfer speed - 1USB = 15MB/s - 2USB = 25-30MB/s 4) Able to run smooth even if running laptop on battery (own a 13inch Toshiba U300) 5) Takes about 3-5 seconds for a window to open to access the hard drive 6) Runs files off the hard drive same speed if it were run off computer (w/ 1 or both USB; doesn't mater) Cons' 1) Will be recognized on MAC and VISTA, however, If formated for VISTA and used on a MAC, the MAC user can only copy files from the Hard drive onto their MAC. They arent able to copy files onto the hard drive. - Out of box, the hard drive is Windows formatted. Need to follow easy to read instructions to convert to MAC 2)Nothing else at this point ****** Note: Havent used the software on the Hard drive itself for the Back up. Neither have I used the 2 gigs of online backup.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

SimpleTech by Hitachi SimpleDrive 320 GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive S320U (Black)

From Hitachi

Price:	~~$91.99~~

Accessories
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2
- Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
- Nero Liquid TV
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 [OLD VERSION]
- Quicken Deluxe 2009 [OLD VERSION]

Features
- Elegant, easy-to-use Turbo USB 2.0 external hard drive with 320GB storage
- Plug n' play add-on storage with integrated vents for quiet, reliable performance
- Turbo USB is up to 25 percent faster than USB 2.0
- Includes award-winning Fabrik backup software
- Measures 5.25 x 7.3 x 1.95-inches; 1 year warranty

Product Description
SimpleTech SimpleDrive ¿ Simply better external storage and backup. Plug n play, Turbo-powered USB 2.0 keeps your data moving up to 25% faster. With two levels of backup, weve made it easy to steer clear of lifes little disasters and protect your irreplaceable pics, flicks and tunes from spilled drinks, curious toddlers, fire, or theft. No engineering brilliance required. Just plug it in and youre ready to store your capacity-hungry files. Affordable and reliable, SimpleDrives automated backup software saves copies of your stuff on the drive and on encrypted, secure servers for ultimate online backup protection.

Amazon.com Product Description
The reliable SimpleTech S320U 320GB SimpleDrive Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive proves that simple is better. Featuring a sleek design with soft lines and plenty of space for storing new files or backing up photos, music, and other precious data, the SimpleDrive is ready to use the moment you plug it in. It can't get any simpler than that. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: 20px; } table.callout { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif; margin: 10px; width: 250; } td.callout { height: 100 percent; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding: 10px; width: 250px; } ul.callout { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -12px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; } h5.callout { text-align: center; } The SimpleTech® SimpleDriveTM Turbo USB 2.0: Features a curvy, elegant look. Uses Turbo USB for speeds up to 25% faster than USB 2.0. Fabrik Ultimate BackupTM for 2 GB of free secure online storage. Is backed by a 1-year warranty. The attractive design has vents to keep the drive cool without a fan. View larger. View ports on back. Sleek, Speedy, and Easy to Use The sleek, black and gray SimpleDrive is an elegant addition to your workstation. Soft, curvaceous lines add visual appeal, while integrated vents keep the drive cool without the use of fans, resulting in quiet, unobtrusive, and reliable performance. With the ability to sit horizontally or stand upright in the included cradle, this SimpleDrive easily slips into whatever space you have available. Measuring just 5.25 x 7.30 x 1.95 inches, it's also compact enough for travel. With the SimpleDrive there's no complicated set up or software to deal with. Just plug the drive into your computer and start saving videos, music, photos, and other data immediately. In fact, you don't even have to turn the drive on or off: it automatically powers on or off with your computer, a convenient feature that also saves you energy. With the SimpleDrive's Turbo USB 2.0 interface, data moves up to 25% faster than over a USB 2.0 connection. And since it's also compatible with USB 1.1 ports, you won't have to worry about using this drive with older computers. Award-Winning Local and Online Backup Options SimpleTech includes two backup options that will keep your mind at ease regarding important data. With the included Fabrik Local Backup software, you can set up automatic backups from your computer to your SimpleDrive. For ultimate protection, the SimpleDrive also offers the award-winning Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution, so you can upload your files to a secure, online server and protect your data from real-world mishaps. This provides near-real time protection without bogging down your computer. (Although the SimpleDrive is both Mac and PC compatible, at this time the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution is only available for Windows-based computers.) Fabrik's Ultimate Backup allows you to store up to 2 GB for free on one of its 448-bit encrypted servers, and for just a few dollars a month, you get unlimited capacity to securely store all of your important files and media collections offsite. Acting just like the drive's local backup software, you simply set Fabrik Ultimate Backup once, and it automatically and regularly backs up your content behind the scenes. All backups, to the external drive or online service, are unobtrusive. Once your initial content has uploaded, the software performs incremental backups, so only the smallest amount of data that has been changed or modified in your files will be updated. To keep your content private and confidential, all files are encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key. Fabrik's offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housed by a Fortune 500 company, ensuring file protection, security, and peace of mind. So now, no matter what happens to your drive -- a curious toddler, a spilled drink, or natural disaster -- your irreplaceable photos, music, videos, and files are safe and secure both offsite and online. The SimpleDrive comes with unlimited free technical support, and it is backed by a one-year warranty. What's in the Box SimpleDrive Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, USB 2.0 cable, AC Adapter, and desk cradle.

Customer Reviews

Rugged fast and inexpensive
Date: 2009-03-17 | Rating: 5
I bought this drive several months ago and it has exceeded my expectations. It is plug and play and has fast transfer. If it locks up I unplug it and plug it back in and it is ready to go. I recently bought a 1TB Western Digital My Book drive and it has been a nightmare compared to this one. It worked for a couple days and then quit. I think it was not able to be unplugged and plugged back in without getting errors. It gave me the "Blue Screen of Death" and while the videos remained and could be played on my Phillips DVD player my XP computer still says Death every time I try to plug it in. XP has an icon in the lower right tray to safely remove hardware, and I use it now. I am buying another one of these as it has been so reliable.

Simple Tech External Hard Drive
Date: 2009-03-08 | Rating: 5
I received the item quickly and it was exactly as advertised. I plugged it into a power source, then my computer, and was backing up files within 15 minutes of receiving the item!

Works great and Fast
Date: 2009-02-16 | Rating: 5
This works great. I have had it for almost 6 months. I love that it keeps cool, and transfer data fast. Also that it turns off when the computer turns off or if you unplug it from the computer. A little Pricy but so far very reliable.

Simple Tech easy backup
Date: 2009-02-18 | Rating: 5
I purchased this product, plugged it in, followed the directions and my computer is now backed up. It looks good on my desk and is very quiet. Good value and I feel more secure having a backup.

This is what you need
Date: 2009-04-15 | Rating: 5
I'm using this drive to back up 2 computers. The drive was very easy to set up, just plug it in and away you go. The price was right and it even came with the backup software. Glad I went with this drive. I just backed up a computer for the 2nd time and it took maybe 60 seconds, only backing up any additional files and files that had changed. Great product.

Monday, February 1, 2010

SimpleTech by Hitachi SimpleDrive 500 GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive S500U (Black)

From Hitachi

Price:	~~$91.99~~

Features
- Elegant, easy-to-use Turbo USB 2.0 external hard drive with 500GB storage
- Plug n' play add-on storage with integrated vents for quiet, reliable performance
- Turbo USB is up to 25 percent faster than USB 2.0
- Includes award-winning Fabrik backup software
- Measures 5.25 x 7.3 x 1.95-inches; 1 year warranty

Product Description
SimpleTech SimpleDrive ¿ Simply better external storage and backup. Plug n play, Turbo-powered USB 2.0 keeps your data moving up to 25% faster. With two levels of backup, weve made it easy to steer clear of lifes little disasters and protect your irreplaceable pics, flicks and tunes from spilled drinks, curious toddlers, fire, or theft. No engineering brilliance required. Just plug it in and youre ready to store your capacity-hungry files. Affordable and reliable, SimpleDrives automated backup software saves copies of your stuff on the drive and on encrypted, secure servers for ultimate online backup protection.

Amazon.com Product Description
The reliable SimpleTech S500U 500GB SimpleDrive Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive proves that simple is better. Featuring a sleek design with soft lines and plenty of space for storing new files or backing up photos, music, and other precious data, the SimpleDrive is ready to use the moment you plug it in. It can't get any simpler than that. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: 20px; } table.callout { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, serif; margin: 10px; width: 250; } td.callout { height: 100 percent; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding: 10px; width: 250px; } ul.callout { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -12px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; } h5.callout { text-align: center; } The SimpleTech® SimpleDriveTM Turbo USB 2.0: Features a curvy, elegant look. Uses Turbo USB for speeds up to 25% faster than USB 2.0. Fabrik Ultimate BackupTM for 2 GB of free secure online storage. Is backed by a 1-year warranty. The attractive design has vents to keep the drive cool without a fan. View larger. View ports on back. Sleek, Speedy, and Easy to Use The sleek, black and gray SimpleDrive is an elegant addition to your workstation. Soft, curvaceous lines add visual appeal, while integrated vents keep the drive cool without the use of fans, resulting in quiet, unobtrusive, and reliable performance. With the ability to sit horizontally or stand upright in the included cradle, this SimpleDrive easily slips into whatever space you have available. Measuring just 5.25 x 7.30 x 1.95 inches, it's also compact enough for travel. With the SimpleDrive there's no complicated set up or software to deal with. Just plug the drive into your computer and start saving videos, music, photos, and other data immediately. In fact, you don't even have to turn the drive on or off: it automatically powers on or off with your computer, a convenient feature that also saves you energy. With the SimpleDrive's Turbo USB 2.0 interface, data moves up to 25% faster than over a USB 2.0 connection. And since it's also compatible with USB 1.1 ports, you won't have to worry about using this drive with older computers. Award-Winning Local and Online Backup Options SimpleTech includes two backup options that will keep your mind at ease regarding important data. With the included Fabrik Local Backup software, you can set up automatic backups from your computer to your SimpleDrive. For ultimate protection, the SimpleDrive also offers the award-winning Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution, so you can upload your files to a secure, online server and protect your data from real-world mishaps. This provides near-real time protection without bogging down your computer. (Although the SimpleDrive is both Mac and PC compatible, at this time the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution is only available for Windows-based computers.) Fabrik's Ultimate Backup allows you to store up to 2 GB for free on one of its 448-bit encrypted servers, and for just a few dollars a month, you get unlimited capacity to securely store all of your important files and media collections offsite. Acting just like the drive's local backup software, you simply set Fabrik Ultimate Backup once, and it automatically and regularly backs up your content behind the scenes. All backups, to the external drive or online service, are unobtrusive. Once your initial content has uploaded, the software performs incremental backups, so only the smallest amount of data that has been changed or modified in your files will be updated. To keep your content private and confidential, all files are encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key. Fabrik's offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housed by a Fortune 500 company, ensuring file protection, security, and peace of mind. So now, no matter what happens to your drive -- a curious toddler, a spilled drink, or natural disaster -- your irreplaceable photos, music, videos, and files are safe and secure both offsite and online. The SimpleDrive comes with unlimited free technical support, and it is backed by a one-year warranty. What's in the Box SimpleDrive Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, USB 2.0 cable, AC Adapter, and desk cradle.

Customer Reviews

Rugged fast and inexpensive
Date: 2009-03-17 | Rating: 5
I bought this drive several months ago and it has exceeded my expectations. It is plug and play and has fast transfer. If it locks up I unplug it and plug it back in and it is ready to go. I recently bought a 1TB Western Digital My Book drive and it has been a nightmare compared to this one. It worked for a couple days and then quit. I think it was not able to be unplugged and plugged back in without getting errors. It gave me the "Blue Screen of Death" and while the videos remained and could be played on my Phillips DVD player my XP computer still says Death every time I try to plug it in. XP has an icon in the lower right tray to safely remove hardware, and I use it now. I am buying another one of these as it has been so reliable.

Simple Tech External Hard Drive
Date: 2009-03-08 | Rating: 5
I received the item quickly and it was exactly as advertised. I plugged it into a power source, then my computer, and was backing up files within 15 minutes of receiving the item!

Works great and Fast
Date: 2009-02-16 | Rating: 5
This works great. I have had it for almost 6 months. I love that it keeps cool, and transfer data fast. Also that it turns off when the computer turns off or if you unplug it from the computer. A little Pricy but so far very reliable.

Simple Tech easy backup
Date: 2009-02-18 | Rating: 5
I purchased this product, plugged it in, followed the directions and my computer is now backed up. It looks good on my desk and is very quiet. Good value and I feel more secure having a backup.

This is what you need
Date: 2009-04-15 | Rating: 5
I'm using this drive to back up 2 computers. The drive was very easy to set up, just plug it in and away you go. The price was right and it even came with the backup software. Glad I went with this drive. I just backed up a computer for the 2nd time and it took maybe 60 seconds, only backing up any additional files and files that had changed. Great product.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Friday, February 5, 2010

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Monday, February 1, 2010

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