LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 500 GB USB 2.0/FireWire 400/800 Portable External Hard Drive

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LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 500 GB USB 2.0/FireWire 400/800 Portable External Hard Drive
 
Manufacturer: Lacie
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $144.99
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Product Description

The LaCie 301371 500 GB Rugged Hard Disk with FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB 2.0 is designed to survive the harsh elements of the real world. This durable, portable storage drive offers 500 GB of storage with a triple interface for maximum compatibility and performance, and is built with a rugged, drop-resistant aluminum alloy shell and a shock-resistant rubber bumper.

The LaCie 500 GB Rugged Hard Disk with FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB 2.0:
  • Features a rugged drop-resistant and shock-resistant enclosure.
  • Gets power from the USB bus so no extra adapter is required.
  • Has 500 GB of disk space; 5400 RPM spin rate and 8 MB of cache for maximum drive performance.
  • Doesn't need any drivers for simple set up.
  • Free one-year online backup service.




With three interfaces, you'll have a fast connection with any computer. View larger.


World-renowned designer Neil Poulton is responsible for the stunning look. View larger.


The Rugged All-Terrain withstands bumps and shocks to keep your data safe and secure.
Ultra-Portable Data Shuttle
If you travel a lot with your data, the Rugged All-Terrain is the drive is for you. Perfect for users who need backup, storage and large-volume exchange for office files, photos, music and even video clips, the Rugged All-Terrain is bus-powered, which means that it uses the power of the connected computer to operate and doesn't require an additional AC adapter or power cord.

Three Interfaces for Fast Connections
The Rugged All-Terrain offers speed and versatility with three connection interfaces, letting you use it with almost any computer. The FireWire 800 interface allows for a blistering 800 Mbps data transfer speed, perfect for video editing and other intensive work. FireWire 400 is also supported, which has long been a favorite of Mac users and provides 400 Mbps speeds. The nearly universal USB 2.0 interface is supported as well, which offers a transfer rate of up to 480 Mbps, and is backwards compatible with USB 1.1.

With its driver-free and plug-and-play functionality, exchanging data between Macs and PCs is as easy as it gets--simply plug it into any computer with a USB port and you're ready to go. (The Rugged All-Terrain requires no extra drivers for Windows XP/2000/Vista and Mac OS X operating systems.) It even comes with a power-sharing cable for low-powered USB hubs and computers.

The drive features a spin speed of 5400 RPM, an 8 MB cache, and a transfer rate of up to up to 480 Mbits per second. Measuring a mere 3.5 x 1 x 5.7 inches (WxHxD) and weighing less than nine ounces, the Rugged All-Terrain is designed to travel and will fit easily in your briefcase or backpack. Take it with you on business trips and vacations, or use it for transferring files from one desktop computer to another.

Included with the drive are LaCie software bundles to enhance its performance and functionality, including LaCie's 1-Click Backup Software (for Mac and PC) and SilverKeeper Backup Software (Mac).

Mobile, All-Terrain Protection
Designed exclusively for LaCie by world-renowned designer Neil Poulton, the Rugged All-Terrain is built like an off-road vehicle, ready to withstand the bumps and bruises of your travels. Its unique, scratch-protected aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper make it especially resistant to harsh elements. In fact, the drive is designed to withstand vertical drops of up to 35 inches while in non-operating mode. (Dropping the drive while it's in operation, however, could cause damage, so be careful!)

For additional styling points, the Rugged All-Terrain can be outfitted with additional colorful bumpers that will keep your drive protected. Easy-to-change and durable once on, they are made of the same quality rubber as the original bright orange Rugged sleeve. The optional set of three additional bumpers, which is sold seperately, includes green-grey, blue-grey and black bumpers.

Free One-Year Unlimited Backup Service
With the purchase of this LaCie Hard Disk, you will also receive a full year of LaCie's Online Backup service. With this service, the data that you store on your computer will be encrypted twice and uploaded to the offsite data center where they will remain encrypted, maintaining your privacy.

When you sign up for the service, software is added to your computer that looks for new and changed files to update. The service is completely automated and only backs up new and modified files when your computer is idle, so you don't have to do a thing, and your computer's performance will never be affected.

This service lets you upload an unlimited amount of photos, music, video, and documents for a full year. After that you can continue with the service for a low monthly fee. This is LaCie's way of ensuring that should anything happen to your Hard Disk -- should it get stolen or damaged, for instance -- your invaluable data will remain completely protected and accessible.

The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain Portable Hard Drive is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.

About LaCie
Established in France in 1989, LaCie is a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple and Linux users. With offices and plants in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie develops and manufactures external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology.

What's in the Box
LaCie Rugged Hard Disk, FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 400 cable, high-speed USB 2.0 cable (USB 1.1 compatible), USB power-sharing cable, and quick install guide.




Optional bumpers let you easily change the look of your Rugged All-Terrain.

Product Details

  • 500 GB external hard disk with rugged, shock resistant case
  • Triple interface including FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB 2.0 for speed and universal connectivity
  • Bus-powered so no bulky power adapter required
  • Includes one-year online backup service providing unlimited off-site backup storage
  • Measures 3.5 x 1.0 x 5.7 inches (WxHxD); backed by a 3-year warranty

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Firewire powered is a great feature
 
Review Date: January 30, 2008
Reviewer: Anonymous, Earth
I'm using this with my macbook pro. I looked around a lot because the macbook only has 2 USB ports, so I wanted something I could plug in somewhere else. The Firewire 800 is fast, and it powers the drive, so no carrying around another power pack.

The drive comes with all the cables you will need firewire 800, 400, USB, and a optional power cord if you have an older laptop that might not be pushing enough amps through the USB (ie. you may have to plug 1 USB in for the data, and 1 for the power).

It was plug and play for me. No installing of drivers or any other monkey biz. Just started backing up data.
So far so good... so great!
 
Review Date: August 27, 2008
Reviewer: AK, Chicago, IL
After a couple of days with this drive, I kind of want to buy it flowers and take it to dinner, maybe introduce it to my parents, pick out china...

Partitioned to use on both Macs and PCs, the drive's storage capacity is 268GB. Transferring about 50GB of data took 30 minutes and some change. Other drives have taken me upwards of 2 hours in the past with the same amount of data.

I use it for data backup, but also to play my music library.
Usually when I've tried to access music externally, it loads a bit slowly and there is some lag (especially when it's a large library). It actually runs better off this drive than it did off my computer's hard drive... granted, that was because my PC's 75GB drive had 50+GB of music on it (like your uncle after Thanksgiving: full and slow). This is even with the USB cable, which, from what I've read, isn't as fast as Firewire (yes? no?).

It's super speedy, it's reliable (so far), it's small and light-weight. My one beef is: with interchangeable band colors available, did they HAVE to include the ugliest color with the product? I think they think that I'll care enough to buy the other colors, but I only care just enough to whine about it.
Excellent Connectivity and Design
 
Review Date: April 4, 2008
Reviewer: Tarun Chachra, Hillsborough, NJ
If you are like me and use portable drives on a regular basis...then this drive is for you. I LoVE it!!! It is rugged enough so that I dont have to worry if it slips out of my hands or gets bounced around my bag. It is a little bigger then most portable drives...but not big enough for me to give it a bad review.

The connectivity on this drive just blows away the competition. I mean USB, Firewire 400, Firewire 800... that pretty much handles it all.

The drive is bus powered but also has the option to be powered by an AC Adaptor that can be purchased separately.

The speeds of this drive are awesome and due to the various options cannot be compared to anything else.

Get one asap...you wont be sorry.
No Problems Thus Far
 
Review Date: September 20, 2008
Reviewer: Graham King, Oakland, CA
I got two of these. One for storage of files and the other to use as a scratch disc for video editing. Works great with MacBook Pro and Final Cut. I highly recommend the Caselogic PHDC-1 Small EVA External Hard Drive Case to go with it. I wasn't sure it would be a good fit but it's like the 2 products were made for each other. They are a perfect combination and I have 2 of each.

The only thing is the drive gets pretty hot sometimes. I don't know if this is part of normal operation but I just make sure not to leave the drive in the Caselogic case when I'm using it. I sit it on top so the air can flow all around it. It seems to help with the temperature.
LaCie Rugged Triple Interface 500GB External All Terrain Hard Disk
 
Review Date: July 10, 2008
Reviewer: Royal Welsh, along the river between the mountains and the sea
Wonderful device with plug-and-play set-up running Leopard on my MacBook Pro. Exactly as advertised, the Rugged 500GB does indeed play well with Time Machine. Couldn't be happier with the FW 800 transfer rate -- extra zippy and just what you'd hope. Build quality is great for a portable. I ordered LaCie's extra set of colored bumpers as I don't much care for the included orange. CaseLogic's PHDC-1 Small EVA External Hard Drive Case is a *perfect* fit for the Rugged 500GB -- sturdy and snug with no unwonted wiggle-room.

Extra happy with everything, so five stars on all of the above.

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