Seagate FreeAgent Go 80 GB USB External Hard Drive ST900803FGA1E1-RK

I bought this couple of weeks ago, & I have liked it so far. It hasn't given me any problem. The use & downloading files in the hard drive was easy. Overall, a good product & I recommend it.

It was very easy 2 set up & wrote my 40gigs of backup in maybe 30 minutes (my computer is older). Unfortunately I can't comment on its use after that since the second time I hooked it up, it wouldn't work. The light flashes 4 a few, then dies & the drive isn't recognized. It was also easy 2 get through 2 customer support (the troubleshooter on the website directed me 2 do this). The company wants me 2 MAIL it back (with my entire hard drive on there) 2 them & frankly I am furious right now.

This product is doing everything I wanted it 2 do,and considering my USB is 1.1, the device is even faster than I had hoped. Good product!

Ok, it hooks up easily, thats about the best I can say about it, there is no real instruction manual, its just a hodge podge of what 2 do, totally disconnected, If you want 2 spend the time on it, I am sure it will work well, I have neither the time nor the patience 2 mess around with this, trying 2 contact Seagate is a waste of time, I really could use this drive, somehow, I did get things downloaded, how, I don't know.
I really cannot in all honesty say this is a bad product, what is bad is the lack of a logical instruction booklet.
Mine is going back, its of no use 2 me.

I think this gadget has gotten less favorable user reviews here than it deserves.

Mine came 2 me as a "closeout" special, so the fact that I paid only 40% or so of the "list price" started me off on the right foot... True, on a per-gig basis you can actually do even better with other Seagate drives... but this one's 80 Gb worked out perfectly 4 what I wanted 2 do with it, which was 2 transfer *reasonable* sized file sets back & forth between home & work. I value the device's wallet-sized case, its lack of a separate wall socket transformer 2 carry around too, & its extreme ease of use... far more than additional capacity I wouldn't really use. My little 80 gig drive doesn't even get especially warm in operation; can the bigger, faster, more power hungry outboard drives say the same?

Negatives? Well, the drive uses two USB sockets instead of one - one is 4 power alone & the other supplies both power & data. I try 2 plug each into a completely separate USB channel, but since I'm not really sure that the USB power supplies in my PCs are also split, I'm not sure that tying up two USB sockets really accomplishes anything. On my old G4 Mac at home, one of my original, otherwise unused USB 1.1 sockets works nicely 4 the power only source while the drive's data/power plug goes into my USB 2.0 PCI-card upgrade 4 the highest possible data throughput - & that works great. At work, on a PC, I have 2 tie up both USB 2.0 sockets at the front of my machine... but so far that hasn't been a real inconvenience.

The Seagate drive comes formatted 4 Windows & all of its software - about 125 Mb, which Seagate sends on drive itself - is 4 Windows 2K & up only. I never used any of it - just backed it up 2 a CD-ROM in case I need it later. The formating stayed, however: Windows at work reads & writes as you'd expect, & under Mac OSX at home (10.4.11 at least) I've had no problems reading the Windows stuff. If you want 2 write from a Mac, however, either extra software (for the Mac, not the Seagate) is required, or you need 2 reformat the whole drive - which makes it unusable 2 Windows. You can't blame the drive 4 that, though!

Anyway, bottom line: this storage device works. If you need 10 times the capacity of today's biggest 8 Gb thumb drives 4 about half what those same 8 Gb thumbs presently cost, this is a good solution.

With the FreeAgent Go, you can turn any PC into your PC. The instructions make it easy 2 transfer a copy of your web browser, favorites, passwords, IM client & contacts, e-mail client, cookies, settings & files 2 the drive. With that done, simply plug the FreeAgent Go into any PC with a USB 2.0 port. The FreeAgent Go will transform that PC into a copy of your home PC. While in use, all of your actions are stored on the FreeAgent Go, so when you disconnect there is no trace of your personal data on the borrowed machine. The FreeAgent Go will even synchronize its data with your most frequented PCs, so its always up 2 date. The FreeAgent Go is a great way 2 not only take your data, but your entire desktop environment with you wherever you go. 5400 RPM USB 2.0 Connectivity PC Compatibility - Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, XP Pro, & Vista Mac Compatibility - Power PC G3, G4, or G5 processor running OS X 10.3.9 (or higher) or Intel Core Duo or Core Solo processor running OS X 10.4.6 (or higher) (FreeAgent Go software & drive formatting works only with Windows, but can be reformatted 4 Mac using Disk Utility) 5-Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty Unit Dimensions - 0.7 (h) x 4.8 (w) x 3.9 (d) Unit Weight - 6.4 oz.

If you find yourself working from multiple computers but needing constant access 2 your own software, e-mail & digital files, the Seagate Free Agent Go Portable Hard Drive is 4 you. More than a simple portable back-up & storage solution, the Seagate Free Agent Go lets you take your favorite software, Web browser, IM client & contacts, email, cookies, & personalization settings wherever you go--safely & securely. Not only does this portable hard drive synchronize your data with just about any computer you want 2 work from, more importantly it features the latest encryption software 2 protect your content, leaving no trace of your last session on the borrowed computer. With the Seagate Free Agent Go, you have the best of all worlds--a convenient portable back-up solution & a virtual desktop in a pocket-size package.

Powerful storage device with a sleek new design.

Compact size makes it great 4 on-the-go travel.

Take your favorite music, photos, or programs with you anywhere you go.

It’s all about having your desktop environment & latest files with you - when & where you need them. Designed 4 mobility, the sleek compact design easily fits into your shirt pocket, briefcase or backpack. We provide the USB cable that’s not only the interface connection, but the power source – no additional power cords are needed. And the unique espresso brown finish with molten amber illumination is just icing on the cake.

High-Speed Synchronization & Security
Whether you have vital company data or personal files & programs that you need 2 access, the Seagate Free Agent Go protects your most valuable information via drive-level encryption that provides a more robust solution than most software encryption on the market today. Delivering high-end protection against unauthorized use with encryption 4 sensitive files, this device keeps your data safe while you're on the go.

And not 2 worry, your Free Agent Go portable hard drive saves all of your private information on itself, not on the computer you’re using. That means there’s no trace of your last session 2 tempt the next person on a borrowed computer. It also provides strong file encryption 2 protect your content, & lets you sync your files from several PCs.

With the Seagate Free Agent Go, virtually any computer can temporarily become yours. The software/drive combination allows you 2 move files or other content quickly via USB 2.0, allowing transfer rate of up 2 480 MB/sec 4 USB. The drive's high-performance spindle speed of 5400 RPM gives you the high-speed performance you need 2 back your data up quickly & safely. The sleek & slim design of this hard drive--only 0.7 x 3.9 x 4.8-inches (H x D x W)--and a weight of less than four pounds means that you can carry practically your entire desktop with you as you make your rounds from computer 2 computer.

The Free Agent Go software & drive is formatted 2 work out of the box with Windows operating systems--including Vista, Windows XP & Windows 2000--but the drive can easily be made Mac-ready in a few minutes with Mac OS X's Disk Utility. The unit features a sophisticated touch point power on/off switch. Plug in the USB 2.0 cable 2 a PC & your personal desktop environment launches automatically. To help eliminate even the slightest bit of worry, we’ve included technical support & a five-year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Free Agent Go portable drive, Free Agent software (preloaded) & electronic documentation, USB 2.0 cable, & a quick start guide.