LaCie 301199U Big Disk Extreme+ 1 TB Firewire800/Firewire400/USB 2.0 with RAID External Hard Drive

There are many different LaCie model numbers. This review is 4 the LaCie 301199U Big Disk Extreme+ & it works great 4 my setup. I have had this drive 4 about 9 months & never had any issues with this drive.

Note 2 readers: Over the years I have owned LaCie, Western Digital, Seagate & other external hard drives & I have found that the LaCie's are generally better quality than the WD's & last longer. I have purchased a LaCia that was bad out of the box & was replaced with a good drive by the store.

I was looking 4 a drive that could be both setup on my network as well a bootable Firewire backup system 2 my MacBook Pro. It performs both functions very well.

The drive is connected 2 my network as an AirPort Disk attached 2 an Apple AirPort Extreme router. It supports multiple user accounts 4 both Mac's & PC's & works flawlessly as a wireless drive with the latest versions of Apple AirPort software & Firmware. Note: This setup didn't work flawlessly on older versions of AirPort Extreme Firmware back in Feb 08.

I now have 2 Macs backing up 2 it using Time Machine. This took a little research since Time Machine didn't recognize my AirPort Disk initially but once I hooked it directly 2 my Mac & setup Time Machine all I needed 2 do was move the file Time Machine created then place the drive back on the network & now Time Machine backs up via wireless.

Received one unit. Hooked it up & noticed "auto" on/off was not working properly. Looking at the box it came in, I noticed a pink "defect" sticker on the packaging. Amazon promptly sent me another unit. When I opened it a screw or something was rolling around inside the unit. I contacted & started a case number with LaCie. I was hoping 2 get a brand new unit from LaCie, especially since these units didn't pass any type of quality control before shipping 2 Amazon, but they suggested I get warranty repair....for a brand new unit!

I sent the second unit back also. Amazon made the process easy including sending me the prepaid UPS shipping labels. In the market 4 a new external hard drive.

The only thing you can count on with LaCie drives is that they will fail within a year. Save yourself the money & the headache (I lost two within twelve months of very light use).

LaCie external hard drives are some of the best designed drives on the market. I've purchased a number of drives over the years including Seagate, Western Digital, Simple & LaCie. I have always liked the form factor of the LaCie drives best. They are very clean in their design, which means they are less obtrusive on your desk & easy 2 stack or stand.

This drive is very quiet, & although it does become warm, it is not hot by any means. The case is solid & they appear 2 be very well made. They are reliable & the price is reasonable, especially 4 the 2 terabyte model. The triple interface gives a lot of flexibility. Hard drives are mechanical, & by definition can break down. These LaCie drives are probably as dependable as they come. But make sure 2 always back up 2 more than one drive.

I bought two of these 1 TB units less than a year ago. The "good" one used most often (mostly 4 occasionally editing video & music) works fine. The external power converter 4 the other (used 4 long-term storage) died in less than a year. The power converter was on 4 months, but the drive was powered off.

When I tried 2 use the "dead" 1TB drive on an iMac & a PC, it clicked & would not show itself. I could still route other FireWire 800 devices through it. It acted just like the hard drive had died. I tried the FireWire 400 & USB ports on it, but no joy. It just clicked. But when I swapped power converters, the "dead" 1TB unit worked fine & the "good" 1 TB unit acted dead. So it is just a bad power converter. The short lifeo s the power converter is the reason 4 four stars, not five. I assume that it will be easy 2 replace.

Moral of the story: if you think that your external drive is dead, check the power unit before dumping the drive.

Other than that, using the FireWire 800 port, the drives are fast enough 2 edit video in Final Cut Pro on an iMac. The drive is also good 4 editing music. Chaining three drive on the FW800 ports works well, all are fast.

Marketing description is not available.ormous capacity & a transparent, built-in RAID 0 array with no configuration 4 fast FireWire 800 speed. Easily share data among the widest range of user platforms with this triple interface, plug & play hard drive. Store presentations, archive image banks, work on large-scale audio/video projects, or chain FireWire devices & iLink DV cameras. Its LaCie shortcut button conveniently launches any application (backup, music, slideshows, etc.) with just one push. Advanced features 4 professionals include triple power management, a 32MB cache, a thermo-regulated progressive quiet smart fan, & EMC Retrospect advanced backup & data restoration software 4 Windows & Mac users.

The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ 301199U 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 RAID System is a powerful drive that's optimized 4 media professionals working with high-definition audio, digital video editing, SD video & 2D/3D imaging. Designed by Neil Poulton, the Big Disk Extreme+ offers a compact, lightweight storage solution ready 4 some heavy-duty action.

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The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 RAID System offers: USB 2.0, FireWire 400, & FireWire 800 interfaces. Built-in RAID 0 performance with FireWire 800 speed with no configuration required. Flexible design that can be stacked, rack-mounted or daisy chained. Heat-dissipating body & advanced cooling system 4 cool performance.

The drive features USB, FireWire 400, & FireWire 800 connectivity. View larger.

The Shortcut Button can back up your data or launch any application with a single button push. View larger.

By purchasing multiple drives, it is easy 2 set up a RAID configuration. View larger.

Big Disk Extreme+ Triple Interface
Featuring high-performance storage (1 TB of total disc space), high capacity & a user-friendly quick backup feature 4 data safety & recovery, the Big Disk Extreme+ packs a powerful 1-2-3 punch. Its capacity, combined with ultra-fast transfer rates, make it ideal 4 data-hungry applications or sharing & archiving large-scale video projects.

This versatile storage solution offers a terabyte of storage, along with FireWire 800, FireWire 400 & USB 2.0 interfaces. This triple-interface solution gives professionals the versatility needed 2 work in almost any environment. Professional users working with very large, resource-intensive files can take advantage of the high throughput of the FireWire 800 (with burst transfer rates up 2 90 MB/s,) as well as the universal compatibility of USB. This makes the Big Disk Extreme+ especially convenient 4 video editors working in SD/HD, or 4 quick individual workstation storage in a small business setting.

LaCie's trademark "Shortcut Button"--the blue button in front of the drive--can be used 2 launch any utility--such as music, slideshows, or video--with a single push, or back up your valuable data. The Big Disk Extreme+ also includes EMC's Retrospect Express software 4 automated backups that will give you even greater peace of mind.

Convenient & Easy 2 Use
The Big Disk Extreme+ is a hot plug & play solution that offers built-in RAID 0 performance (with FireWire 800 speed) that requires no software configuration or drivers. Expandable via FireWire with other FireWire hard drives, the Big Disk can also be daisy chained with peripherals such as CD-RW, AIT or DV cameras. In fact, several Big Disks can even be daisy chained 2 the same computer & combined together 2 further increase capacity, speed or security via FireWire.

For extra convenience, the drive also features a power-saving three-position switch that allows 4 customized "Triple Power Management" -- "auto" 4 energy efficiency; "on" 4 instant access; & "off" 4 complete data protection.

Heat-Dissipating d2 Design by Neil Poulton
Designed by world renown designer Neil Poulton, the Big Disk Extreme+ boasts a sleek, handsome metal body that's ideal 4 naturally dissipating the system's internal drive heat. Its unique design actually draws heat away from the internal drive toward the external casing. The casing absorbs heat & will take advantage of its large surface 2 further dissipate the heat away from the drive. The Big Disk Extreme+ also includes an advanced cooling system with a thermoregulated, progressive quiet fan that keeps the drive safe & prolongs its life & reliability.

Engineered with a compact 5.25-inch 1U form factor 2 fit seamlessly into most work environments, & more compact & lightweight than RAID towers, the Big Disk Extreme+ can be placed in a space-saving upright position with the included drive stand, or can be stacked, rack-mounted & even daisy-chained with other drives (via FireWire) 2 increase capacity. An optional LaCie Rackmount Kit can be used 2 incorporate the drive into a standard 19-inch computer equipment rack, & the drive can also be placed in the optional LaCie Desk Rack (also sold separately).

The LaCie Big Disk Extreme+ measures 6.8 x 1.7 x 10.6 inches (HxWxD), weighs 5.5 pounds, & is backed by LaCie's 3-year limited warranty.

About LaCie
Established in France in 1989, LaCie is a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals 4 Windows, Apple & Linux users. With offices & plants in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore & Hong Kong, LaCie develops & manufactures external storage solutions & color monitors that help professionals & everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs & leading-edge technology.

What's in the Box
LaCie Big Disk Extreme+, FireWire 800 2 FireWire 800 (9-to-9 pin) cable, FireWire 400 2 FireWire 400 (6-to-6 pin) cable, hi-speed USB 2.0 cable (USB 1.1 compatible), external power supply, LaCie Utilities CD-ROM with User Manual, Quick Install Guide, & drive stand 4 upright desktop use.