Features

• Instant addition of massive data storage capacity for PC or Macintosh
• Dual-option backup--automatic or on-the-spot
• USB 2.0 hub with two ports; one conveniently located on the front for easy connection of USB peripherals such as a keychain drive, printer, keyboard, or mouse
• 7200 RPM rotational speed and 8 MB cache for maximum storage performance
• Includes Dantz Retrospect Express backup software

Reviews (32)

works so far.
I bought this unit to back up files from my wife's MAC and my own PC. So far so good. I don't bother with the software that comes with it, it's OK but not great. Works well enough just to drag and drop files here and there.
Saved My Backside
This will be short and simple. The Retrospect product bundled with the Drive saved my over 70G of priceless data and applications. When it was apparent that my existing drive was failing I purchased a new 250G internal drive (Western Digital) and asked the local well-regarded computer store to ghost the drive to the new one. Couldn't do it. Fortunately, I had used Retrospect to back up my stuff and the store tech was able to restore everything, all the data, programs and settings with Restrospect on the new drive. Buy this product! Use Retrospect. It might save your priceless music, pictures, financial data, etc. Happy day!

Easy to use
This drive does what it says it will do. It's easy to set up, and it's easy to configure. It's relatively fast, and it is quiet as well. The only complaint I have so far is that yes, the power supply does come out VERY easily. I brushed up against the cord, and it came unplugged from the drive. What I'm doing to combat this is putting the drive in a zero traffic area, and making sure the cord is out of sight. However, if you plan to move this drive at all, this might be too annoying for you. ... Read more

Features

• Connectivity with USB 2.0 and Firewire IEEE 1394
• 7200 RPM
• Dimensions: 7.2" Depth x 6.5" Width x 2.25" Height
• Average seek time: 8.5 milliseconds
• Compatible with PC and Macintosh computers

Reviews (92)

Had it a year, works well
A very easy way to back up and to expand storage capacity.So easy that I might never again replace a hard drive that has grown too small.
Great Device
Very convenient and useful device. I'm using it for about year time and planning to buy one more similar hard drive from Seagate.

Says What It Does - Does What It Says
This piece of hardware works as it should. It is well designed and aesthetically pleasing. The availability of both IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0 interfaces is good - I find fewer and fewer available root USB ports on my PC these days and few devices that demand the available IEEE 1394 port. With this drive, I was able to replace my existing 80GB Maxtor External HDD and free up a USB port at the same time.
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Features

• Save photos, MP3s, data files
• Stackable to save desk space
• 7200 RPM Rotational Speed
• Compatible with Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, XP; Mac OS 9.1, 10.2.1 and greater
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible) interface

Reviews (53)

Dies after a year
I was using it as a backup device and it failed after about 12 months. So I am ripping it apart and putting in a new UltraATA disk in. Just hope the box is not frying the disk.
Worried about the other reviews... I've had mine for over a year and it works fine.
I've got to say I'm really worried about my hard drive failing after reading all of these reviews.But to be honest I have not had the same problems (crosses fingers).My hard drive has worked admirably for over a year.I do not however hold anything near and dear to my heart on this drive (probably the most important thing I have on my drive is all of my music) and I use it mainly for weekly back-ups of my computer.So to start my little review off:
Worst product, Buy at own risk
I bought this 250GB HD; it was very slow to start with. And one doomed day, after 45 days of purchase it stopped working. I was caught where I couldn't return to the store of purchase. So I called Lacie. Lacie want to return it to them to repair it under manufacturer's warranty. Few days later, got a new one - right on the first day, new one didn't work either. Send again, got a new one - right on the first day, this one didn't work either.
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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

Reviews (55)

I'd give it a zero if that was an option.
Worked once, then quit. When hooked up to computer and turned on, a message pops up saying device detected, may not work properly. No lie. A complete waste of money.

Couldn't see or map drive
I have a home network with 2 PCs and a notebook with wireless connection.The "find network wizard" worked fine - until the map network drive part.Couldn't get this thing to work even after many attempts on my part and those of an outside tech consultant.Tried to call Simpletech tech support.First try:recording - hours of service are M-F 5:30 am to 6:30 pm pacific time.Weekend warriors are out of luck until Monday.Second call during the prescribed hours: waited on hold for over 30 minutes.Gave up and returned the thing.May work on your system, but this was a dud for me.

Not always there!
I purchased this drive with great expections. From the outset, it looked good, worked right away when plugged in to Windows 2000. I purchased this as an extra storage, so i moved my data over and created a network share on it. It worked nicely, I could connect from another computer. So far so good.
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Features

• Easy to Use: Preformatted for quick, easy set up
• Secure: Complete disaster recovery software included
• New Design: Redesigned to look great on any home or office desktop
• Save up to 1,000,000 photos, 4,625 hours of music, or 375 hours of video.
• One year warranty

Reviews (13)

Defective
This item worked great for the one month it worked. I'm now waiting for a replacement because Iomega determined the equipment to be defective. I sneaked a peek inside before shipping it out and saw the hard drive inside is actually a Seagate. Maybe I'll steer clear of both brands from now on.

Great Product
Fast and easy delivery.Very easy to use.Overall I am very satisfied with this product.

nice if you dont need instructions ?
I currently use this device like a memory stick , it basicly
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Features

• Portable external 7200 RPM hard drive with 160 GB capacity
• Hot swappable; plug-and-play
• USB 2.0 provides up to 480 Mb/sec data transfer rate; compatible with USB 1.1
• Stands vertically or sits horizontally
• Includes StorageSync Automatic Backup Software

Reviews (30)

Works great for me
I have only had mine for 5 days (kills me I got it at a computer store for $129 and thought I was getting a good deal on it.*sigh*) I use windows xp and have no problems with it.I just got a new computer and wanted extra, not in the case, storage for backup. My husband takes a LOT of dig pic's and saves them and I use sim's game, etc.I wanted something that when/if we need to get a new computer or have to take it in, I can keep this at home and when we do get a new computer, we can just plug this in and be ready to go with the saved things.So far it is working fine for me.
Excelent !buy it only if you have XP Professional
The only issue is that it doesn't work with Windows XP home edition.Otherwise Is an excelent storage device. Or if you are a Master computer freak yull have to configure your machine to recognized the external hard drive. Buy it it worth it !

I guess you get what you pay for
This is a well priced and attractive piece of equipment.But judging from my experience and that of some others, the quality control must be almost completely lacking.I setup my new Simpletech USB drive and backed up my entire desktop hard drive using the included software with no problem.Immediately after, my desktop stopped recognizing the drive.I tried it on my laptop with the same results.The drive was not recognized.So now I have my entire hard drive backed up on the Simpletech with no way to access or even to erase the information.Sure Simpletech will replace the drive, just send it back with all my information on it.No way.So now I'm stuck with a useless brand new piece of equipment.Beware of this brand. ... Read more

Editorial Review

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Features

• 7200 RPM drive
• 2 MB cache
• Fanless design for silent operation
• Durable and compact design provides safety and security for your data while on the go
• Up to 480 Mbps transfer speed

Features

• Whisper-quiet 5400 RPM hard drive with 8 MB cache
• Extremely durable, shock-resistant aluminum case also resists scuffs and scrapes
• USB 2.0 interface supports transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps
• Hot-swappable and bus-powered, so no AC adapter required
• Sleek and elegant structure actually dissipates heat, so it runs much cooler than any other external drives

Reviews (6)

Very useful to have & works like a charm
Compact, easy to setup, easy to use and Seagate quality. All these in such a small package. There is nothing more I would seek in a product. Buy it !!

Works Great
A friend of mine introduced me to this hard drive and I ordered one on his recommendation. It works as specified and has enabled me to move a lot of unnecessary files off my laptop hard drive.
Bad data transfer rate
Hey, I have a very bad experince with my new Seagate 60GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive. It takes aroung 8-10 mins to transfer 700MB of data.. I have used couple of other HD before and that was really very good. Those HDs took less then 2 mins to tranfer the data having size more than 1 GB. I do not recomment this HDs. Even I feel like I did a mistake by buying Seagate Portable External HD. I thought that Seagate would be good. But :(.
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Features

• Automated OneTouch backup
• 7200 RPM spindle, 16 MB buffer for fast drive performance, seamless data exchange, and instant access to your files
• PC and Mac compatible
• Connect using either the USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 interface for speed, convenience and flexibility
• Easy to use interface simplifies drive management, security, and backup scheduling

Reviews (8)

Won't back up your system files!
I was initially happy with this product after seeing the new software that came with it.The old Retrospect Express software that came with my OneTouch II 200 GB was lousy and unintuitive.The Maxtor Backup software that came with this 300GB drive seemed much more intuitive.However, not only is it extremely unresponsive (sometimes taking up to 5 minutes to complete a request), but it does not backup things like program files and your operating system.Tech support said it's not "designed for this," and suggested I use other software if I want to back up my system!So, apparently it's fine for backing up regular files and documents, but if you want to recover your system after a crash you're out of luck.There should be a clear warning on the product.False advertising.
No bang for the buck... look elsewhere!
I'm disappointed again! Maxtor sells this product for 229.00 at Costco and one month after I bought it... (discounting madness strikes), and voila, 151.00!. The software that comes with this monster is worse than a dos batch program on a 286. Backup is not possible with this antiquated, barely functional excuse called ver 1.something or other. And this beauty REPLACES my cold, dead, frozen Maxtor external, 200gig... that one day after a year or so, (warantee over) decided to just roll over like my cat and never speak to me again. But... don't get me wrong, I simply live to continue throwing my hard earned worthless greenbuck... oh, you get the picture!

Exactly what I was looking for!
I am no computer genius, but I installed this unit quite easily.I did not have any of the software problems or communication issues other reviewers have cited.Having the 300GB hard drive there with my entire computer backed up is a big load off my mind, and with tens of thousands of digital photos to store and using the "synch" function, I won't be making scores of CDs to keep them safe.Now, do I need a backup for the Maxtor....? ... Read more

Features

• Instant network storage
• 10/100 Base-T Ethernet connection
• Fast 7200 RPM drive with 16 MB cache
• Reliable, cool, quiet operation without a fan
• Compatible with wired and wireless networks

Reviews (4)

Plenty of Room, Easy set up
I've had My NetCenter now for about 2 weeks and it is simply the BEST.I loved the easy setup and the included backup software was better than the old stuff I was using.The included backup software even has an update feature that lets you download the latest version of it.The NetCenter I got was the 500 gb flavor, and it is probably overkill for me as I haven't even made a dent in its storage capacity.In the long run though it will give me room to grow without having to buy additional memory, probably ever again.I have a home network and it has great interoperability with all computers on the network.I use it primarily through a wired router connection, but notice the wireless connection is fast as well.I'm sure if you had a huge file, it might lag a bit but how nerdy can ya get.If you want an easy to setup and use network storage device, this is it.The backup software included is some of the best I've seen and the best part is that it's a freebie.

Solid network drive solution
I have a fairly typical home network based around aLinksys WRT54GS Wireless Router. I have three PCs wired directly into the router, and a variable number of laptops. After experiencing a hard drive failure on one of the laptops, I decided that I needed a proper backup device.
Good value

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Features

• Add 250 GigaBytes of network-attached storage via wired or wireless connections
• Dual USB 2.0 ports make it easy to add additional hard drives for extra space or backup
• Simple setup and maintenance, versatile usage, and a compact design
• Minimal power consumption and scheduleable auto-power off
• Silent internal fan; internal power supply

Reviews (34)

No incremental backup!
At first, I was very pleased with this purchase.The speed was pretty good for a network device (of course, it's much slower than connecting a USB2 drive directly to a PC).So I transferred all of my music, photos, and videos onto the Linkstation to act as a central media server for my home computers.Then I bought a Buffalo Drivestation and connected it to the USB port (to act as a backup for the network drive).I performed a full backup of 80GB worth of files.It took several hours but went fine.
Great low cost effective server replacement
This was very easy to install and setup. We currently have 3 people networked with password protection. The access speed is real time even over the network. PowerPoints and videos open quickly. Another bonus feature was the Memeo backup software which again makes backing up easy and automatically. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a small "server" like solution.

Not like windows
Even with Samba the file system does not act or interface cleanly with windows.File level attributes cannot be set (like read only).You can only set folder level attributes.Also, if you add, rename, or delete a file using windows explorer you are forced to press F5 (refresh) to refresh the folder view to see your changes.Really annoying and very confusing for non-technical users who expect the storage to act like a windows file server.
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Features

• High-performance portable storage
• Sync & Encryption Software
• USB Powered
• 5400 RPM drive
• Rugged, protective case

Features

• Capacity - Up to 1TB
• FireWire 400/800 Transfer Rate - 400/800 Mbits/s
• USB 2.0 Transfer Rate - Up to 34MB/s
• Average Seek Time - Less than 10ms
• Rotational Speed - 7200RPM

Reviews (3)

Lasted less than a year...
Then simply stopped working.After some additional research LaCie has a reputation for unreliable drives (which I knew ahead of time having bought LaCie drive years ago and then stopped).Typical failure rates of 40+% in under a year.Buy drives from anybody else.Fortunately all I kept on this disk were system backups and I can simply start using another disk.

dont store valuables on this
Both of myLaCie Big Disk Extremes have been returned to manufacturer within a year of purchase due to power issues. In each case I have lost time and valuable data (they reformat the drive after repair as stardard operating procedure). Lacie makes decent drives so this surprised me. Later models may have fixed the problem, but the LaCie Big Disk Extreme has issues.

huge rugged and quiet, I love it.
This offers great storage for video editing and is good for backup files can be slow at times but I give it a thumbs up. Never had any trouble with this very big hard drive in avery small and rugged casing. ... Read more

Features

• USB 2.0
• This unit is the only one out there that backs up the data files and the OS!
• Capacities 300GB
• PATA Interface, Sustained data transfer rates up to 46MB/sec, 10 ms average seek time, 133MB/sec max bus speed, 2MB Cache Buffer, S.M.A.R.T. compliance features 5400 RPM
• Contains Maxtor Hard Drive

Reviews (21)

Great
Great if you only use it as an external hard drive.I have no idea about a using it as an OS backup.However I will say it says the drive is 279GB, not 300GB.Not sure about that, but since I did not even fill up half I'm not complaining.

Cavalry 300GB External Hard Drive works fine
I've had this drive for a few weeks and did not install the One Touch OS Backup software.WindowsXP found the drive with no problem at all and transfers to and from the drive are a snap. It has a simple on/off switch on the front with a light to let you know when the drive is running. I have no complaints, and it works just fine.

Outstanding External Hard Drive
I am very pleased with my purchase.This hard drive is fast and can hold a lot of information. ... Read more

Features

• FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interfaces
• Built-in RAID 0 for Extreme FireWire 800 speed
• Plug & play, stack, rack-mount or stand upright
• Heat-dissipating, ultra-quiet, compact metal design
• 7200 RPM, 16 MB cache

Reviews (2)

Just what the doctor ordered!
I love the Lacie products! I currently have the 600gb external hard drive but I could kick myself for not shopping around for the 1 TB drive.
Beware RAID-0 drives
Be cautious of using large hard drives like this running in "RAID0" mode, because RAID0 sacrifices reliability for performance, which may not suit the needs of home users (who generally don't religiously back up their data)."RAID" describes standard ways of bundling hard drives.This Lacie drive uses RAID0, or striping.For any given file, half the data goes on one hard drive, and half goes on another.It maximizes storage, doubles throughput speed, but makes the array twice as likely to fail.And when it does fail, the RAID0 striping really complicates data retrieval.
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Features

• 7200 rpm
• Quiet no fan Operation
• Plug-n-play operation for most operating systems
• OS Requirements -(PC) Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP / (Mac) OS 8.6 to 9.x, OS X 10.1 or higher
• Connects via USB 2.0 or 6-pin FireWire 400

Reviews (4)

Lightweight, Fast, Reliable, and Quiet!
I love this drive.So far it has been great for temporary storage for creating my DVDs from my video camera and video conversion adapter (for my old Beta movies!).FireWire is the only way to go.And they are right about it being quiet.I only wish this drive would get its power from the computer rather than from a separate AC plugin (like the 100GB version does).Oh well, I still love it!

Tested dozens and this one is my pick
I work as an author and seminar/training class instructor. Due to this I travel a lot and am frequently asked to review hardware. I have tested Maxtor, Seagate and these SmartDisk FireLite and CrossFire models. In my opinion, the FireLite is the best external hard drive for those who travel because of its small size and light weight. These CrossFire units provide an excellent amount of storage space in a tight enclosure (just 1.5 inches think and 8x5 inches in length and width).
Excellent
Looked around for a long time, had to go with what smartdisk, this is my third unit, I leave them on sometimes, never had a problem, never get too hot. Would not drop the unit and then complain like the other review, always a bad move. ... Read more

Features

• Capacity - Up to 500GB
• FireWire 400/800 Transfer Rate - 400/800 Mbits/s
• USB 2.0 Transfer Rate - Up to 34MB/s
• Average Seek Time - Less than 10ms
• Rotational Speed - 7200RPM

Reviews (13)

Failed after 14 months of use
This drive started off great, but performance has been dropping off and the drive was sluggish.Yesterday it finally failed and all the drive will do is make a clicking sound.Not recommended...

Excellent Drive
I had to write this because of all the totally bad reviews. My experience has been the opposite, so just know that 1 user out ther has had a good experience!
Had the same problem with their 250 GB

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Editorial Review

This Maxtor 7,200 RPM hard drive with Ultra ATA/133 interface yields a data transfer rate up to 133 MBps. It's ideal for speed-intensive applications like digital video editing, database searches, and the latest games. Included with the drive is MaxBlast Plus software for your PC, which guides you step-by-step through the installation process. The drive also features the latest advances in mechanical and electronic design, like an 8 MB buffer, making it one of the industry's most reliable drives. The drive comes with an Ultra ATA cable, 5.25-inch mounting brackets, screws, and an illustrated installation poster. ... Read more

Features

• 200 GB storage capacity
• 7,200 RPM
• Ultra EIDE ATA/133 interface
• 8 MB buffer size
• Compatible with Windows operating systems

Reviews (25)

Just plain horrible ..
First thought - no one should be able to write a review on a hard drive until it's a year old.If that were the rule, you would see almost no positive reviews for these new maxtor drives.Purchased 5 drives over a one year period and have had three fail.Maxtor replaced those without any issue, except that the replacement drives (which were refurbished) also failed within 3 months.Quite and fast mean nothing if you end up losing your data.BTW - each drive had dedicated cooler fan and pc's were on UPS so there aren't any excuses.There's a reason why these drives have one year warranties.Beware.

worst quality I have ever seen.
In the last few months I bought 4 maxtor harddrives from different places, and i must say that i agree with Mr. Robert Bornstein, at first I didn't have any problems with them but 3 months later I started havening alot of problems with 2 hard drives... don't buy maxtor..

Terrible Quality Control
I've used Maxtors and Seagates for years (and I mean years) on the systems I build. Frankly, I've never had any 3.5 drive fail on me (2.5 drives, yes, -but none of the full sized drives). Well 2 of these drives started corrupting data and anaylsis showed they are rapidly going bad - lots and lots of bad sectors. These 200 GB drives are 3 months and 4 months old and on a system fully protected against power failure. I have small Maxtors and Quantums (6GB), that still run great, though are of limited
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Features

• Fast: 7200 RPM and 8 MB cache performance for smooth digital video editing
• Features both FireWire and USB 2.0 and 1.1 interface connections
• Stackable, light-up case
• Simply plug it in and begin storing files
• Compatible with both Windows and Macintosh systems

Reviews (9)

Great Performance for small price
A little slow but very reliable.Could use a stand so it can be used upright but a lot of drive for the money.

Best external drive.
I bought this drive in August of 2004, never had a single problem.
Ugly and Unreliable
Failed after a year and is just about the ugliest thing you could bring into your home.The pink & blue lighting is obnoxious.Would maybe be acceptable if the drive were half-way reliable, but it isn't.For me, it failed just after 1 year of use and is out of warranty.Stay away! ... Read more

Features

• Transfer documents and data easily between office and home
• Plug it into a "borrowed" computer for mobile access to data
• Back-up critical files and software programs
• Compatible with Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, XP; Mac OS 8.6, Mac OS 9.x, OS X 10.1 or higher

Reviews (16)

it jams and custumer service sucks
mINE JAMED SOI SENT IT BACK AND RECEIVED A REFERBISHED ONE WHICH JAMS PERIODICALY. EACH TIME I LOSE ALL THE INFORMATION AND THEY CHARGE A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO RETREIVE IT

Surprise! No Hassles.
I got this 80Gb drive specifically to back up my music collection.Since then, I've managed to fill up another 20 Gb, and I plan on getting another.
Doesn't work with Mac G4!!
Beware those of you who try to use this device with a Mac Powerbook G4.It doesn't work.Mine didn't work , and SmartDisk customer support told me the device would not work with any Powerbook G4!
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