Sonnet's Fusion F2 portable RAID solution hits 1TB

For budding audio / video editors that can't stand to leave home without a RAID setup in tow, you should probably give Sonnet's incredibly mobile Fusion F2 a look. This portable SATA RAID solution now tops out at 1TB (a 640GB model is also available) and features an eSATA connector, fanless design and compatibility with Sonnet's Tempo SATA ExpressCard/34 card. Within the 1.22-pound, 5.9- x 6.2- x 0.72-inch enclosure, you'll find a pair of 2.5-inch 7,200RPM HDDs that are able to deliver 134MB/sec read and write rates. Word on the street places a $995 price tag on the 1TB edition, which is all set to ship "early this month."

[Via Macworld]

[Justin M @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:08AM]

What a waste of money. The Western Digital external HDD's are all you need and cost a fraction of the price.

[Mr. Tiny (that's what she said) @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:22AM]

But... Are they as tiny?

[McBUNT @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:25AM]

ORLY? Maybe that's all YOU need.

Are you in video? Because that's who Thomas is talking to.

[wizzle @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:38AM]

you're a waste of money. and how do you know what i need, exactly?

[Justin M @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:30AM]

Maybe you'd need something like this is you were into hardcore video editing.. but I'm sure that 95% of people would buy a Western Digital style external HDD over this thing any day.

I have 3tb's and I wouldn't pay triple the price for something that would run only slightly faster.

[McBUNT @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:20AM]

I don't even think this is hardware RAID.... If you're actually in video CalDigit is the way to go TBH.

[Joshua Ochs @ Jul 2nd 2008 2:40AM]

Wait a second... to get performance like that you're talking RAID-0. In a portable enclosure. With high-speed disks... and no fans. Is this the ultimate reliability nightmare?

[A.C.E.R. @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:16AM]

I was thinking the same exact thing.

[feffrey @ Jul 2nd 2008 3:02AM]

I wish the companies that make these would sell just the box w/o drives. I can supply my own drives a heck of a lot cheaper than they can.

[niclet @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:27AM]

Holy Smoke! "...a great travel companion for your mobile studio."
Did you see the size of the controller??

[Chris @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:28AM]

have 7200RPM 500GB 2.5" disks even been announced yet?

[N30 G30 @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:30AM]

A grand!?

I'll take a fraction of the speed off with increased reliability and less cash.

It's not worth it.

[Bill @ Jul 2nd 2008 1:36PM]

The 2.5" 500GB Samsungs I have get VERY warm, even in their all-aluminum enclosure.

[Mike @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:33PM]

Metal box + space for 2 drives + 2 separate eSATA connectors (1 for each drive so they are independent) + 2 eSATA cables + special FireWire cable to steal some power = F2

Not included:
- you still need an eSATA interface with 2 available ports; Sonnt recommends coughing up a few more dollars for an Expresscard for your laptop; it's not included
- if you don't have a powered FireWire port available, you'll need to purchase the optional AC adaptor; it's not included

If you simply partition and format the drives, you'll end up with 2 independent drives. No RAID at all.

There was a recent posting of a picture to show the rats nest of wires with this unit in operation.

If you are on a Mac or Windows PC, you can use the built-in software RAID-0 to partition and format these two drives into one fast RAID-0 array.

Who is the target customer? a Macbook Pro toting video editor with lots of money.