Apple owners get EMC Retrospect Express, as do the other folk, who also get Retrospect Express HD and Iomega QuikProtect. I couldn't try the latter - it only runs on 32-bit operating systems, but Express HD is a competent if old-looking back-up tool. The non-HD version of Express gives you more control over the back-up process, if you need it. They're all free, so there's no barrier to trying them one after the other and seeing which you prefer.
CrystalDiskMark 3.0 Results
Sequential and 512KB Random
Speeds in Megabytes per Second (MB/s)
Higher points are better
4KB Random
Speeds in Megabytes per Second (MB/s)
Higher points are better
Iomega bundles a cable with the drive itself, and it's a double-headed cord should you need the extra power a second USB port can provide.
As usual, I tested the drive using CrystalDiskMark 3 with a 1GB file size. I reformatted the Prestige to the FAT 32 file system - it ships as an NTFS device. The Iomega performed reasonably well when compared to a selection of 500GB portable drives, though its random write characteristics fell behind most of the others.
The Prestige is priced at around £130 - which is par for the course when it comes to 1TB 2.5in external hard drives.
Verdict
With a peer-matching performance, and a similarly average price and software package, Iomega's Prestige Portable can really only be judged on its looks. And it's a good-looking hard drive - but more a discreet desktop unit than a go-anywhere compact file store. ®
Iomega Prestige Portable 1TB
COMMENTS
I was about to write the same comment...
... in a different way:
Ugh. Colorful but pointless graphics. Edward Tufte'll get you while you're sleeping.
Re: Just one question....
For consistency with the other external HDDs we've tested, all of which were tested with FAT 32. Of those, maybe one or two per cent were not FAT 32-formatted before being shipped.
Some friendly advice
Learn some statistical presentation skills, Tony. The graphics were dire - why are you treating a small number of independent variables (ie seq read, seq write, 512KB read and 512KB write as if they were part of a continuous variable by linking them together in a line graph? What does the line between a value for Seq Read and Seq Write represent anyway? A reading for half-read and half-write? Not reading and not writing? Similarly for the lines between 4KB read and 4KB Write in the second graphic - is it a transition from 4KB Read through not reading and not writing up to 4KB Write?
As these variables are independent, perhaps bar charts would be better: I'm sure I remember seeing some used for just such a purpose some time ago ... And the cut-off axes to over-emphasise the differences between the devices ... oh dear.
I suppose we should be grateful that it hasn't all been lumped into a 3-D pie chart with perspective. Now THAT is the mark of a total incompetent. Which may be why it's a default in Excel ...
<-- Mine's the one with the copy of Edward R Tufte's 'Visual Display of Quantitative Information' inthe pocket.
power?
No mention in the review of how this thing was powered. Is it usb, double-usb, power brick? what?
Ummm....
...but Iomega does have some FORM in this respect. I never had anything but good service from my personal Zip drive, but I lived in fear of the 'click of death'.
