LaCie 250 GB Rugged Hard Disk with FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB2.0

I was sort of forced into buying this particular drive because I really wanted a decent sized drive with firewire 800 capability & this seemed like the only one available. So far, it's been working great, both as a time machine backup system & a scratch disk 4 my Adobe programs. I wiped the Lacie default software & disk image, so I can't really review its right-out-of-the-boxness, but I will say it's fast, quiet, cool compact, sturdy, & it works. The -1 star is only because the only rubber casing it comes with is a horrible orange color & extra skins are like $10 with very limited color options.

I'm using this drive as a replacement 4 a full-size external 500 GB drive & it's excellent! I take this drive everywhere I take my laptop, & the small size & weight & lack of bulky power brick make it MUCH MUCH easier 2 pack up & tote around. With FireWire & the transfer rate of the 500 GB SATA drive mechanism, I don't notice any performance difference between this & the 3.5" mechanism I was using previously -- something which was definitely not true of the 160 GB USB mobile drive that I last tried this experiment with.

Great product, LaCie! Thanks 4 making a small hard drive with FireWire. Can't wait 2 see 1 TB in this form factor.

I haven't put it under extensive use but so far it seems 2 be very rugged & has performed flawlessly backing up a pc laptop. The extra ports are great & give faster options. I would definitely use this as a direct 2 disk option using a laptop & firewire video camera. It also runs great off of bus power using any of the available ports. I would highly recommend this drive.

I have had the drive 4 for less than one week but on day one I copied 100 GB of video files 2 the drive. It was quick using the FireWire 800 cable. The drive seems 2 be very sturdy & well built. I like it much better than the Western Digital Passport drives that I have used in the past. I have had 3 out of 5 WD drives fail. I hope that this one will give me better results.

This is based off of my experience with a 250 GB version.
It worked well 4 a long time. It is rugged.

One problem: the USB input on the drive itself became loose & eventually just fell off inside.

Bought a replacement shell 2 fix the problem, but 4 something so "rugged" it sure did have a weak USB connection 2 the silicon board inside.

Maybe they fixed it in this version!

When mobile, things are bound 2 happen when you take an external hard drive with you. The Lacie 250GB Rugged All-Terrain External Hard Drive is designed 2 deliver a hard-drive 4 versatile use on & off roads, with connectivity 2 Macintosh or Windows PC. The exclusive creation of world-renowned designer Neil Poulton, this portable storage solution offers the supreme speed of FireWire 800 along with FireWire 400 & Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interfaces 4 true universal connectivity. Conveniently bus-powered & plug & play, it's ideal 4 backup, video storage & large data volume exchange on the go. Simply plug it into just about any computer anywhere 4 backup, video storage & large data volume exchange. Its unique scratch-protected aluminum shell & shock-resistant rubber bumper make the LaCie Rugged Hard Drive especially resistant 2 harsh elements 4 extra protection along the road of your adventures. Average Seek Time (Write) - Less than 12ms Cache - 8MB or greater Maximum Drop Height - 35 / 90 cm in non-operating mode (dropping is not recommended in operating mode) Software - LaCie 1-Click Backup Software (Windows / Macintosh OS 10.2 or greater) Silverkeeper 4 automatic backup & file verification with Mac OS 9 & Mac OS X Driver-free 4 Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista & Mac OS X; Silverlining 4 Windows 98SE, Windows Me, & Mac OS 9 Compatible with Mac OS 10.x / Mac OS 9.x; Windows 2000 / Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 98SE / Windows Me Unit Dimensions - 3.5 x 1 x 5.7 / (90x25x145mm) Weight - 8.8 ounces / 250 grams

The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 301291 250 GB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 Portable Hard Drive, Design by Neil Poulton, is built 2 survive the harsh elements of the real world. This durable, portable storage drive offers 160 GB of storage along with a universal high-speed USB 2.0 connection & FireWire 400 & FireWire 800 interfaces. This high-performance drive is built with a rugged, drop-resistant aluminum alloy shell & a shock-resistant rubber bumper, making it the ultimate solution 4 your on-the-go data needs.

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250> LaCie's Rugged All-Terrain 250 GB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 Portable Hard Drive offers: Rugged drop-resistant & shock-resistant enclosure. FireWire 400, FireWire 800 & USB 2.0 interfaces. 250 GB of disc space with super-fast transfer rates of up 2 800 Mbits/s. Driver-less operation 4 simple set up.

With FireWire 800, FireWire 400, & USB, the Rugged All-Terrain has near-universal compatibility. View larger.

The Rugged All-Terrain's stunning look was designed by world-renown designer Neil Poulton. View larger.

The Rugged All-Terrain withstands bumps & shocks 2 keep your data safe & secure.

Ultra-Portable Data Shuttle
If you travel a lot with your data, the Rugged All-Terrain is the drive is 4 you. Perfect 4 users who need backup, storage & large-volume exchange 4 office files, photos, music & even video clips, the Rugged All-Terrain is powered by the FireWire or USB connection, which means that it uses the power of the connected computer 2 operate & doesn't require an additional AC adapter or power cord.

The Rugged All-Terrain offers the triple-interface convenience of high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity (which is USB 1.1 backward compatible) along with both FireWire 400 & FireWire 800 interfaces. With this triple-interface functionality, along with the drive's driver-free & plug-and-play features, exchanging data between Macs & PCs is as easy as it gets. The Rugged All-Terrain even comes with a USB power-sharing cable 4 low powered USB hubs/computers. (The Rugged All-Terrain requires no extra drivers 4 Windows XP/2000/Vista & Mac OS X operating systems.)

This high-performance drive features a spin speed of 5400 rpm, an 8 MB cache, & a transfer rate of up 2 800 Mbits per second via the FireWire 800 connection. Measuring a mere 3.5 x 1 x 5.7 inches (WxHxD) & weighing less than nine ounces, the Rugged All-Terrain is designed 2 travel & will fit easily in your briefcase or backpack. Take it with you on business trips & vacations, or use it 4 transferring files from one desktop computer 2 another.

Included with the drive are LaCie software bundles 2 enhance its performance & functionality, including LaCie's 1-Click Backup Software (for Mac & PC) & SilverKeeper Backup Software (Mac).

Mobile, All-Terrain Protection
Designed exclusively 4 LaCie by world-renowned designer Neil Poulton, the Rugged All-Terrain is built like an off-road vehicle, ready 2 withstand the bumps & bruises of your travels. Its unique, scratch-protected aluminum shell & shock-resistant rubber bumper make it especially resistant 2 harsh elements. In fact, the drive is designed 2 withstand vertical drops of up 2 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 & durable once on, they are made of the same quality rubber as the original bright orange Rugged sleeve. The optional set, which is sold separately, includes green-grey, blue-grey, & black bumpers.

The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain Portable Hard Drive is backed by a 2-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
Rugged All-Terrain drive, FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 400 cable, USB 2.0 cable, USB power-sharing cable, quick start guide, LaCie utilities CD-ROM including user's manual & utilities.

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