Western Digital has announced a new series of portable drives, designed specifically for the Mac. The My Passport Studio portable drives come equipped with both FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces and are HFS+ formatted for use with Apple's Time Machine backup software.

Expanding on its popular portable storage offerings, WD (NYSE: WDC) today introduced its new Mac-formatted My Passport Studio Portable Drives. The newest members of the My Passport family are designed for Mac users on-the-go and are equipped with both FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces, a clever capacity gauge, and include a soft drawstring carrying bag for protection from scratches and dirt. Available now at select retailers and at WD's online store (www.shopwd.com), the My Passport Studio portable drives are offered in capacities of 320 GB and 250 GB.

Weighing in at less than 5 ounces, the My Passport Studio portable drives make it easy to securely carry office files, thousands of songs, videos or photos and back up a Macintosh laptop using Apple Time Machine backup software utility. With an elegant silver metallic finish that perfectly complements other Mac products, these portable drives feature a shock-resistant enclosure to provide protection from the bumps and jars of everyday life on-the-go. Ultra portable, these drives are USB-bus powered which eliminates the need for an external power adapter.
WD's My Passport Studio portable drives are available now in 250GB and 320GB capacities and are priced at $159.99 and $219.99, respectively. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Western Digital recently introduced the My DVR Expander USB Edition. This new 500GB external drive increase the recording capacity of DISH Network's ViP Series HD DVRs by storing up to 300 hours of standard-definition or up to 60 hours of high-definition television programming.

Just in time to make a perfect Father's Day gift, WD (NYSE: WDC) today introduced its new My DVR Expander USB Edition external hard drives that are verified compatible with DISH Network Corporation's (NASDAQ: DISH) ViP Series HD DVRs (digital video recorders). The new 500 GB external drive increases the recording capacity of the DISH HD DVRs by storing up to 300 hours of digital standard-definition (SD) or up to 60 hours of high-definition (HD) television programming1. Users can instantly increase2 their recording storage capacity by simply attaching the My DVR Expander USB Edition drive to their DISH Network ViP Series HD DVRs.

"WD's My DVR Expander provides an ideal complement to the innovative archiving feature of DISH Network's award-winning line of ViP HD DVRs," said Jessica Insalaco, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for DISH Network. "Combined with the already industry-leading storage capacity of our DVRs, DISH Network customers can create and control their own on-demand programming - reinforcing DISH Network's leadership in digital entertainment."
WD's My DVR Expander USB Edition external hard drive is available now for a suggested retail price of $149.99. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Hitachi announced this week that it has begun shipments of its fourth-generation 7,200 RPM mobile hard drive, the Travelstar 7K320. According to Hitachi's claims, this new 320GB hard drive is not only 12% faster than its predecessor, it uses 22% less power.
Continuing its longstanding tradition of delivering superior performance with no sacrifices required, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today began shipment of its fourth-generation 7,200 RPM mobile hard drive, the Travelstar 7K320. The new drive delivers 60 percent higher capacity than its predecessor, while improving application performance by 12 percent and power consumption by 22 percent. The drive's quiet acoustics improve the experience of watching movies or listening to music on a notebook PC. The 2.5-inch drive is offered with optional Bulk Data Encryption for users wanting increased data security. Hitachi also plans to ship enhanced-availability (EA) models, designed to provide high-capacity storage for low-duty-cycle, 24x7 applications.

The performance attributes of the Travelstar 7K320 allow consumers to opt for a full-featured notebook or compact desktop model, while still achieving all the capacity and performance typically associated with a more traditional desktop PC. The new drives bring forth a number of essential features that are in strong demand from manufacturers of notebooks, compact desktops, gaming systems, blade servers and video surveillance systems. Some of these attributes include best-in-class operating shock protection of 400Gs, 5,400 RPM-equivalent power consumption and quiet acoustics.
The Travelstar 7K320 is shipping now and is expected to cost around $220. If you'd like to read more, Hitachi's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Earlier this week, Iomega introduced a "camo" version of its eGo portable hard drive. Along with a woodland camouflage pattern, the drive features 250GB of storage as well as a Power Grip band which allows it to survive drops of up to 60".

Whether you're someone with an adventuresome style and spirit, an avid participant in tough travel environments, or just want to be different from the crowd, the new Iomega eGo Camo Portable Hard Drive is a fast and fun notebook hard drive that delivers on form and function. Iomega's new eGo Camo Drive has a curved chassis covered by a woodland camouflage pattern that also comes with a black Iomega Power Grip band that not only looks cool but also provides extra durability.

The new eGo Camo Portable Hard Drive also packs a lot of storage capability - the 250GB* 2.5-inch drive is USB-powered for simple operation (no power supply required), and it comes with EMC Retrospect HD software for automatic backups, scheduled backups, or on-demand backups. With Iomega's new 250GB eGo Camo Portable Hard Drive, users can carry up to 1,000,000 photos, over 4,625 hours of music or 375 hours of video** with confidence and a look that no other portable hard drive offers today.
Iomega's 250GB eGo Camo Portable Hard Drive is available now for $149.95. Full details can be found Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Transcend sent out a press release today, announcing its new external storage device, the StoreJet 35 Ultra. This aluminum enclosure is available with or without a hard drive and includes features such as an active cooling system and both eSATA and USB 2.0 interfaces.

Transcend Information, Inc (Transcend), a global leader in the digital storage industry, proudly introduces its eSATA / USB 2.0 external storage device - StoreJet 35 Ultra. Cool, fast and quiet, the StoreJet 35 Ultra is the ultimate way to add an extra SATA hard drive to virtually any computer for downloading, storing, transferring and backing up data. The StoreJet 35 Ultra measures 197.5mm by 127.5mm by 48mm and features a stylishly designed aluminum case designed specifically for modern 3.5-inch SATA hard drives. With two convenient connection options, the StoreJet 35 Ultra not only guarantees the fastest possible hard drive speeds with its 3.0Gb/s eSATA interface, but also assures maximum compatibility with all types of computers via its 480Mb/s USB 2.0 connection interface. While most 3.5-inch external hard drives are prone to data-loss and drive failure due to overheating, Transcend’s StoreJet 35 Ultra features an efficient active cooling system that includes an extra-quiet 80mm high-flow fan to keep its internal drive running cool and stable.
If you'd like to read more, Transcend's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment