Plextor PX-SP "shock-proof" external drives

We're always a little suspicious when a company releases a line of products labeled with terms like "ruggedized" or "shock-proof," especially when those items are packed into tiny packages. So, we're a little wary of Plextor's claims that the company's new PX-SP USB hard drives, which weigh in at less than 8 ounces, are shock-proof. However, according to the company, the drives -- which are available in capacities of 80GB and 120GB -- are protected by a "silicon jacket bumper," which allow users to carry them "anytime, anywhere." We'll reserve judgment for now, though we're eager to hear how these survive some real world "anytime, anywhere" tests involving drops, falls and the wheels of large military vehicles.

[KH @ Apr 17th 2006 6:13PM]

If the drive fails... this "ruggedized" bumper is useless. U need RAID as well for extra protection.

[Joey Kazam @ Apr 17th 2006 6:13PM]

1ST HO!!!

[Joey Kazam @ Apr 17th 2006 6:15PM]

well that sucked

[Ian Wood @ Apr 17th 2006 6:15PM]

Unless the drive *itself* is shock-mounted inside the case, it's total marketing crap. Same with Lacie's bright-orange rubber-wrapped "rugged" drive.

[rav0 @ Apr 17th 2006 6:27PM]

raid on a portable disk isn't a bad idea. 100 gb in something that's 2 cm thick instead of only one. go down to the patent office fast, before steve gets there

[daschupa @ Apr 17th 2006 6:30PM]

Isn't putting rubber on something kinda like putting a helmet on a bike rider? I mean, it's good for the short falls, but in the end a big drop is still gonna screw up the inside. If it hits while accessing the drive wont it become a new paperweight just like any other drive? If I'm wrong, then dibs on the rubber airplane patent.

[autocorrelation @ Apr 17th 2006 6:32PM]

5: I don't think this is intended for use while being bumped around, but it makes transporting it in a backpack or shoulder bag much easier - less worries about damage. Thats what I assume anyways..

[Gaurav Khanna @ Apr 17th 2006 6:35PM]

no i think the big deal is that the silicone layer of rubber will take the shock from the drop and spread it out so its much less and it will send most of the shock to the corners where more metal combines so its the strongest, its also away from the platters so the damage would be insignificant...this could stand a good fall but even tho it has this sort of layer it probably will get damaged from something like 5 feet...i dont really have any idea of the damage rating on this but this has a significant improvement on the damage resistance and should be noticeble

[Dustin @ Apr 17th 2006 7:39PM]

I just dropped mine in the pool this sucks I can't swim

[Matt Hadder @ Apr 17th 2006 8:09PM]

Weird.... why don't they just sell a soft silicon gel tape that you can wrap around stuff, or fitted sleeves for external drives.

This way you can just keep buying new drives and re-use the gel armour after you've accidentally driven over, shot, drowned the drives. Think of the savings!

[Alex @ Apr 17th 2006 8:44PM]

What about heat. I bet that silicone acts like a blanket
keeping your drive nice and hot.

[Tony Rayo @ Apr 17th 2006 8:56PM]

Shock-resistance would be a MUCH better term than shock-proof, but that doesn't sound as "bleeding edge burst outside the box of the ceiling cube" in marketing terms. I have a lot of respect for Plextor and their burners but based on the limited information I've seen so far this package isn't anything special and could be a simple enough homemade project (also a buzz-word punch in the face for anyone that thinks RAID0/1/0+1/1+0/5/7/etc+portable drives would provide any kind of real solution, about as useful as putting a car battery in my backpack so I can extend my PSP's battery life... hmm might have something there).

[Brian @ Apr 18th 2006 12:45AM]

If I had the need and the means, it'd be the real deal for me: http://4tress.com

[Peter Payne @ Apr 18th 2006 12:58AM]

In the past, I've wanted to buy a larger drive, back when you could only get like 80 gb in a notebook size drive. So I thought, why doesn't even one company make a case that holds two of these drives? It would be RAIDable, you could still run off of Firewire power (I think so anyway), and it'd be smaller than any other similar drive.

Idea #2. Why doesn't anyone make a drive like this that sits in an iPod dock? Sure, they'd have to pay something for the priveledge, but a dockable 120 gb drive would be pretty spiffy, since the iPod dock is quite common (I've got 3-4 of them).

[Roygbiv @ Apr 18th 2006 2:03AM]

Hmm... This looks awfully like the io-data HDP-US series...

http://www.iodata.jp/prod/storage/hdd/2005/hdp-u/index.htm

[Taylor @ Apr 18th 2006 2:10AM]

I use Latex for protection...

[?eter @ Apr 18th 2006 8:07AM]

My creative MP# player has a 60GB hard drive+++ and has taken all sorts of abuse. But ultimately the only truely (within reason) shock proof external storage is solid state... He, he, "latex".

[DRM @ Apr 18th 2006 10:04AM]

Yet another example of ruggedizing the enclosure, not the drive and its invaluable stored data. LaCie does the same and claims the drive is rugged. This shows an ignorance of physics and engineering. The drive has to be protected, the user isn't concerned about protecting the enclosure. It all comes down to understanding/minimizing low dynamic mass and providing multi-axis shock/vibration protection for the hard drive itself. Fortress drives, www.4tress.com, are the only truly rugged portable drives and they understand how to successfully/reliably implement the aformentioned.

[blah @ Apr 18th 2006 1:07PM]

And here I was thinking "finally, something I can use for my planned system for my car... headunit with USB + external hard drive = bliss"

But nope, looks like I still will have to engineer my own mount. But I prefer the challenge anyways so why not =)

[Ryan Gardner @ Apr 18th 2006 11:23PM]

If this isn't waterproof, I can think of at least 71% of the planet that wouldn't qualify as "anywhere"

[3D @ May 30th 2008 10:41AM]

WHO WOULD SPEND 600 ON A HDD WHEN THIS ONLY COST 1K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147054

[3D @ May 30th 2008 10:41AM]

WHO WOULD SPEND 600 ON A FORTRESS HDD WHEN THIS ONLY COST 1K:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147054