OWC adds Oxford 944SE to Elite Pro Mini Quad disk drives
updated 12:50 am EDT, Tue June 14, 2011
New chipset delivers 300MB per second throughput
Other World Computing (OWC) has added the newest Oxford chipset to its Mercury Elite Pro Mini Quad Interface models. The new Oxford 944SE chipset offers faster data throughput, up to 300MB per second, with reduced power consumption and cooler operation. The aluminum enclosure cases offer a choice of FireWire 800 and 400, USB 2.0 and eSATA. The FireWire ports support daisy-chaining multiple drives, and provide bus-powered operation. The eSATA port can be used with FireWire bus-power as an option. The case is also offered in an add-your-own configuration.
OWC is currently offering the external drive in 13 2.5-inch disk options, ranging from 250GB to 1.5TB. There are models that run at 5400 rpm, spinning 5400 RPM, and three options (320GB, 500GB and 750GB) that run at 7200 RPM. The line also offers solid state models, shipping in 60GB, 115GB, 240GB and 480GB options.
The drives work with Mac and PC computers that support the preferred transfer protocol. The 5400-RPM models range in price from $100 (250GB) to $275 (1.5TB), the 750GB 7200 RPM model is $175 and the SSD line is priced at $210 for the 60GB SSD, $300 for the 120GB, $600 for the 240GB and $970 for the 480GB SSD drive. All the disks have a three-year warranty and complimentary Level 1 data recovery during the first year ownership.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Whither ThunderBolt?
I like the FireWire ports, the USB ports are OK (should be USB 3) and the eSATA is a poor choice on a portable drive since it will not bus-power the device. Most perplexing of all, however, is the lack of ThunderBolt on these drives. ThunderBolt stands to supplant both eSATA and FireWire at the least, if not USB 3. I like OWC products, but where are their ThunderBolt hard drives?