Tuesday, May 6,2008 @ 4:50pm
First Look: LaCie Hard Disk by Neil Poulton
You should always backup your data so you never lose any of your files. While you can always backup your files to a USB flash drive or a DVD, those solutions may not be able to store enough data, forcing you to copy your data to multiple devices or discs. For most people the simplest solution is to backup data using an external hard disk, plugged into a Mac through a USB or FireWire cable. You can buy dedicated external hard disks, or connect an old external hard disk using a drive enclosure. If you want an external hard disk with a stylish exterior, however, you might want to consider LaCie’s Hard Disk by Neil Poulton.
The disk cosmetically resembles a shiny, all-black brick, similar to the mysterious monolith from the classic movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. To eliminate the noise of a cooling fan, the unit has also numerous cooling vents, though hidden from plain sight. When you turn on the drive, a blue light appears underneath to create an interesting glow.
Overall, the drive’s exterior is a work of art. The unit is more than functional, though, as an actual storage tool. The back of the drive offers three types of connectors, and comes with accompanying cables for USB 2.0, FireWire and eSATA. Whether you want to plug the drive into a Mac or PC, you’ll have your choice of the fastest cable and port your computer can use.
Initially the disk comes unformatted, but can be partitioned with setup programs for both Windows and Mac OS X. The first time you plug it into your computer you’ll need to run the LaCie installation program, which handles the formatting for you.
Rather than format the entire capacity for a single operating system, you can also choose to partition the drive for both Mac and Windows or Linux data. Such a partition allows you to share the hard drive between multiple computers.
After you're done formatting, you’ll find a LaCie backup program that you can copy to your computer and install. Running this tool duplicates files from your main hard disk on the LaCie.
Available in storage sizes including 320GB ($109.99), 500GB ($129.99), 750GB ($169.99) and 1TB ($279.99), the LaCie Hard Disk offers basic external storage space combined with a clean, refreshing design that makes alternatives look like clunky contraptions. With these aesthetics, a variety of storage sizes, a multitude of connecting ports and free backup software, the device can blend in with any computer, PC or Mac, and make a statement while serving a practical purpose.