Iomega's 320GB eGo Helium external HDD is quite sleek, silver

Iomega went out of its way to make sure you really, really understood that this here external hard drive would go nicely with your MacBook Air, but we'd prefer to see it as something that could slip right into just about any traveler's briefcase. The anodized aluminum shell measures in at just 0.63-inches thick, weighs 7-ounces and packs a 320GB 2.5-inch hard drive within. Additionally, the unit comes formatted with Apple's HFS+ file system, features the company's own Drop Guard design to protect it from falls of up to 1.3-meters (and not a nanometer more), and gets all the juice it needs from a spare (or only, in the MBA's case) USB 2.0 port. It'll be available across the globe next month for $149.99.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

[Sean @ Sep 17th 2008 12:05PM]

Doesn't anyone make a nice 2.5" FIREWIRE enclosure?! It's so much better of a hard drive interface than USB and won't take up either of my precious USB ports on my MacBook.

[renee @ Sep 17th 2008 1:37PM]

Western Digital makes a nice portable 2.5" usb 2.0 / firewire 400 drive - already mac formatted. 320g for $150. No external power supply needed. WDMS3200TN

[YesHone @ Sep 17th 2008 2:22PM]

Notice how this is a drive intended to go with the MacBook Air... (No Firewire port)

[Sean @ Sep 17th 2008 2:52PM]

If it was intended to go with the macbook air it would be wireless. Never know if that ONE usb port is already taken.

[johnzilla @ Sep 17th 2008 2:57PM]

@ renee:

Um, no. That WD drive requires BOTH the FW and USB ports. The FW port is only a 4-pin, not a typical 6-pin. The drive uses USB for power, the FW port is data-only. If you have a Macbook Air, you'd actually be worse off buying that WD drive than this one from iomega because the WD drive forces you to use two ports instead of one.

[CrackedButter @ Sep 17th 2008 3:32PM]

Freecom have brought out a range of drives with firewire, they are 2.5" drives, they are around, you just have to know what you're looking for. In addition, you could buy the macally 2.5" case and bung your own drive into it.

[gt2378b @ Sep 17th 2008 4:14PM]

I just bought a Verbatim FireLite, 320 GB and works with Firewire (400) only. Pretty nice.

[lorddshadow @ Sep 17th 2008 5:50PM]

@ Sean

ever consider a usb hub?

[Kelmon @ Sep 18th 2008 3:21AM]

I've been using a LaCie FA Porche 160GB drive for the past year and it's been pretty good. The design keeps it nicely compact, it's quiet and it takes all the power it needs from the Firewire 400 port on my laptop.

[Valicore @ Sep 17th 2008 12:57PM]

Damn it must be light, Helium is lighter than air, and we all know how light air is!

[Ryan Trevisol @ Sep 17th 2008 1:36PM]

What if it were airtight and filled with helium? Would that actually make it lighter? Would it hit the ground softer when you drop it?

[YesHone @ Sep 17th 2008 2:21PM]

Would it make it lighter?

Why yes, yes it would...
http://televizzle.org/2006/03/22/helium_football.php

[Reader @ Sep 17th 2008 5:06PM]

It'd probably last longer too... No moisture and a nice noble gas to make corrosion impossible.

[Wwhat @ Sep 18th 2008 5:10AM]

Does this mean the 'e-go CO2' will drop in price now?

[somedude @ Sep 17th 2008 1:03PM]

It must be made for mac if they're calling it eGo.

[phanbouy @ Sep 17th 2008 1:17PM]

ha yeah...totally dude.

wait, why?

[jinto.lin @ Sep 17th 2008 1:33PM]

"Additionally, the unit comes formatted with Apple's HFS+ file system"

[phanbouy @ Sep 17th 2008 1:41PM]

what does that have to do with it being called eGo?

[Magallanes @ Sep 17th 2008 1:53PM]

Are you talking about iGo?

[Brad @ Sep 17th 2008 1:57PM]

To those who missed the joke, look beyond the capitalization.

The ego, designed exclusively for a fashion accessory like the Air. Odds are if you own one, you're douchey even by Mac standards.

The eGo, because you're just better than them.

[YesHone @ Sep 17th 2008 2:22PM]

Damn hilarious! I have a Mac and I'm damn proud of it!

[phanbouy @ Sep 17th 2008 2:31PM]

eGads

[konshuss @ Sep 17th 2008 2:39PM]

waiting on the terabyte Smug Asswipe drive. no usb, connects to your mac via the smell of your own farts.

[xValentine @ Sep 17th 2008 10:22PM]

eDiots

[Aditya Chopra @ Sep 17th 2008 1:15PM]

Yes, but can it slip right into a manila folder?

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 17th 2008 6:19PM]

God I love sexual innuendos.

[Rammer @ Sep 17th 2008 1:28PM]

Maybe its just a really big paper clip

[J-man @ Sep 17th 2008 1:45PM]

thats quite sexy.. hell i'd tap that

[ethana2 @ Sep 17th 2008 2:11PM]

"Iomega went out of its way to make sure you really, really understood that this here external hard drive would go nicely with your MacBook Air"

..'cause goodness knows if you bought one, then you're going to need it.

[Bweetza @ Sep 17th 2008 2:26PM]

'Click!' * 'Click!' * 'Click!' * 'Click!'

[Dr Zoidberg @ Sep 17th 2008 3:15PM]

I totally agree.

[slade17 @ Sep 17th 2008 2:36PM]

.63" thick? impressive, but personally I would have gone with .063" thick aluminum.

[jrenner37187 @ Sep 17th 2008 3:39PM]

Okay, I know I'll be flamed for this and branded a fanboy, but I assure you I am not. I work on/use both Windows and Mac OS machines, and have for a long time.

That said, I own a MacBook Air. I purchased it for the express purpose for which it was created and for which it is marketed -- as a secondary machine, not intended for heavy, everyday use. I am a Web designer and it is nice to have something light, portable and, quite frankly, fairly classy and sleek-looking when doing on-site presentations to clients. I have never felt limited by the one USB port, relatively small hard drive or lack of an on-board optical drive. It works for me, as I am part of the consumer segment for which it was designed.

Bottom line: if you don't like it, or it doesn't work for you, don't buy it. But don't criticize or malign users who do, because odds are, it does work for us. That why we bought the freaking thing in the first place.

[craig @ Sep 17th 2008 3:55PM]

I've never known anyone that bought a MBA that said it didn't suit their uses perfectly. After all, those buyers have little need for computing power and a lot of need for pretentiousness. The MBA is optimized for that.

As for not criticizing or maligning that type of usage, I think it's totally appropriate to do so. Anyone who needs little computing can be satisfied by other products, one of which was already in Apple's lineup. The claims of special value in the MBA over the MacBook are all imaginary. It's nothing but prestige that's involved and, for that, users are rightfully criticized.

[jrenner37187 @ Sep 17th 2008 4:37PM]

Wow, Craig.

I make a reasoned explanation regarding my view, and all you can do is cry like a little girl. Is it that you don't want to actually be seen out of doors, so a "portable" computer doesn't meet your WoW usage needs?

As I said, I am using this as a secondary computer -- I had a MacBook Pro before this, and traded it out for an iMac (main computer) and the Air (secondary computer). I think I actually made it clear that a certain amount of "prestige", as you call it, does factor in. I need this...it is difficult to freelance, and anything...ANYthing...that helps you stand out is worth the money. The Air is an impressive tool for presenting concepts and designs to clients. A MacBook...well, it doesn't do it. It doesn't carry the same air (pardon the pun).

The implications that it is not a powerful computer...also false. I run Photoshop (CS2 for PowerPC, through Rosetta, no less) on it and it is quite a little workhorse. Get over it, get a job that pays more than $10 an hour, socialize a bit, and maybe you will see the value in something that has form AND function.

[Poom @ Sep 17th 2008 6:35PM]

I can totally understand your opinion and think it's totally valid, except one thing... I really think the price is unjustified, especially if you want it for some light usage. I think all the criticisms wouldn't be this bad if it wasn't so expensive.

[jrenner37187 @ Sep 17th 2008 6:49PM]

I see your point Poom...sort of. I never said I used it lightly. I actually use it quite frequently. I get my money's worth.

Honestly, it is one of those machines that, unless you own it, you have no idea what its full potential is. I do...and I do.

[Kelmon @ Sep 18th 2008 3:30AM]

Slightly off-topic, but what is with the apparent need these days to include something like "I use and like Windows" in any post that says something nice about Apple or one of its products? No one includes "I like Linux" in a post that praises Microsoft or Windows so why should you have to pander to the idiots who mock your opinion? Just express your opinion and move on - those with a couple of brain cells to rub together will understand and those without will mock you anyway no matter what you say.

[Adderz @ Sep 18th 2008 4:57AM]

Excellent view Jrenner. Just like the iPhone, alot of people dont get that its not for EVERYONE.

The iPhone is not a business device, it is for the majority of regular users.

The Macbook is not a mainstream device, its for the traveller who needs to travel light.

But everyone knows the whingers always yell the loudest.

And the price, well we all know Apple are not Dell, they have higher prices than Dell, and always will. It always surprises me when people compare Dells to Apples, why? Apple should be compared to Sony, who make prestigious Windows devices, not some junky mainstream brand (Dell). The Sony Vaio TZ, the MBA's competitor, is also highly priced. But surprise surprise, you dont hear many people complaining about that.

[Zuke @ Sep 17th 2008 3:44PM]

Do people still trust Iomega with their storage needs after the whole zip-drive fiasco?

I'd never trust them with 320GB of data!

[Noah @ Sep 17th 2008 4:03PM]

Considering they only make the enclosure, and not the drive itself, I wouldn't be too concerned. I bought their external eGo 1tb desktop drive and cracked it open just to see what they use, and it's a Seagate Barracuda inside.

An interesting thing to note is that you can often times find the external drives for less than the internal drive alone. If you need an internal, just take the part out and have a spare external case. :)