Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Portable
If you were tempted by Iomega’s eGo Mac, but spend more time reading from your drive than writing to it, then the Seagate GoFlex Portable should be top of your list when it comes to mobile drives. With sequential reads edging just above 80MB/s it's also competitive with the desktop drives.
If you’ve ever used a GoFlex drive before you’ll be familiar with the interchangeable interfaces compatible with every unit. The 1.5TB model tested features only a FireWire 800 connection, but you can purchase an adapter for USB or eSata, if needed. Admittedly it’s not as convenient as having the ports built into the housing, but you can also use the adapters with any 2.5in Sata drive too. The only real negative aspect with this drive is that the interface adapters are a bit bulky, making it a little less pocketable. Still, its price and versatility are a definite plus.
Reg Rating 90%
Price £55 (500GB), £85 (750GB), £95 (1TB), £125 (1.5TB)
More info Seagate
Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Mac
I've reviewed Verbatim’s USB 3.0 line of Store ‘n’ Go drives and found them to be surprisingly good. Yet its FireWire alternative is a bit of a disappointment with this 500GB drive achieving 57MB/s writes over FireWire 800. Even using Crystal DiskMark and USB 3.0 I only achieved 75MB/s with this model, some 30MB/s slower than it’s USB 3.0-only incarnation.
Yes, it’s stylish and it reminds me of the third generation iPod Classic, yet even with its Apple-esque styling I find the performance a bit average. On the plus side, this is a very light and easily portable drive for the user who doesn’t mind waiting a few extra seconds.
Reg Rating 65%
Price £90 (500GB), £150 (1TB)
More info Verbatim
Next page: Western Digital My Passport Studio
COMMENTS
Alternatives
How about some reviews of disk caddies? 2.5s, 3.5s etc with such connections. I use an OWC with FW800, 400, USB and eSATA on it and it's not exactly difficult for a novice to load in a drive.
So, what conclusion ?
Where's the roundup table? where's the conclusion? This article is lacking in providing a clear view of the 10 contenders.
Realistically anyone thinking of the G-Raid would be better to go for something with a Thunderbolt connection (yes newer Macs only I know) but Firewire tops out at about 80Mb per second - the Lacie RAID (thunderbolt) drive I now use gets 320-330Mb per second.
If you want 'cheaper' storage (i.e. for backups etc.) and are happy with Firewire's limitation then the best value drive is probably the 'Western Digital My Book Studio II' as it costs barely any more than the drives it contains. So worst case you could use it now and may be able to buy a Thunderbolt enclosure in the future and re-home the drives.
No review of Lacie Rugged triple? (FW800, USB3.0/2.0)
http://www.lacie.com/uk/products/product.htm?id=10553
Iomega Mac companion is rubbish
Have you actually tested that thing ?
Hook it up through firewire and the high power port is just that : a high power charger. you lose ALL USB capability.
Hook it up using USB and you lose the high power charger port. it becomes a dumb usb hub. Firewire disables as well.
You cannot hook it up using both cables. It is or USb, or Firewire ... not BOTH. and you need to sacrifice the usb ports or the high power charger ...
on USB the drive als o has the annoyance that it keeps waking up the MAc from sleep mode.
THe LEd's in the front require installation of a special piece of software form iomega that is also buggy. ...
In other words : FAIL. And, yes , i do have one. Sandpaper exterior. Works fine as a drive .. but that's it. the additional stuff doesn't work right.
