Verbatim debuts quad interface 500GB / 1TB external HDDs

While they aren't the first quad interface external drives on the market, Verbatim's adding to the bunch with a new 500GB and 1TB model. Slated to debut at this year's Macworld Expo, the pro audio / video-grade drives are Mac and PC compatible and tout USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800 and eSATA II sockets. Each unit weighs 3.3-pounds and features 3.5-inch HDDs with 7,200RPM spindle speeds and 32MB of cache. Grab one right this very moment for $179.99 / $249.99, respectively.

[Via InformationWeek]

[Patrick @ Jan 4th 2009 12:53PM]

maybe im stupid, and i probably am, but why is this coming out at macworld and not ces?

[redleader158 @ Jan 4th 2009 1:01PM]

I think its because Mac people are the ones that use Firewire the most...

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 4th 2009 1:10PM]

well...we used to.... ::tear:: :(

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/17/goodbye-firewire-400/

[Gnormie @ Jan 4th 2009 1:48PM]

@redleader158
But eSATA II is generally used by PC owners, it is odd that they are debuting this at macworld, I could see if it was more mac specific but this covers all the OS's and they'd get more exposure at CES.

[Zach @ Jan 4th 2009 8:09PM]

Maybe they couldn't afford it? Macworld is probably cheaper to get a booth into than CES.

[The Silent Banana @ Jan 4th 2009 12:55PM]

I really wish there was a way to combine the 2 Firewire 400 ports that come with my hard drive into one glorious Firewire 800 port for video transfer nirvana.

Then again, I could just get an Esata card and blow both out of the water...
...ah...the eternal inner dilemma continues...

[Rhino @ Jan 4th 2009 1:19PM]

I am wondering what are these companies thinking there.
A 500GB HDD (even w/ 32MB cache) is less than $70, a chip between usb2.0 and sata is less than $5, a chip between firewire400 and sata is less than $10, esata to sata should be something like $0. Maybe a chip between firewire800 and sata is more expensive, let's count $15 as max. All these is a total of 70+5+10+0+15=$100(remember this number is waaaaaaaaaaaaay to high for their quote order). Yes, there might be some bucks required for the design, box, manual etc....
Then, how come this one gonna cost you $179.99? and the 1TB is $249.99

[mikey @ Jan 4th 2009 1:31PM]

Agreed.

Why buy this when various other 500GBs are $80 right now BEFORE holiday clearance? Bad timing...especially in this economy. $200+ for an External worked a few years ago, but I'll pass right now.

[Shyam D @ Jan 4th 2009 1:48PM]

And Design of the PCB to house all those chips costs.... oh yah a lot. People always take into account direct material costs, but forget R&D costs. It's not like it costs them nothing. These companies make their money directly off the hardware. They are not like Apple, Sony, etc. who use one product as a basis to sell another. Let's not forget certification for each and every one of those ports.


I will agree on mikey's point though. Others are selling their 500GB Externals for a lot lower. This is going to go to the niche market that actually wants all of those ports in one package.

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 4th 2009 1:48PM]

Because Verbatim is in business to make a profit, even after it had its hordes of cheap chinese workers paid whose low standard of living makes it possible for you to buy a product like this at such a low price.

[Rhino @ Jan 4th 2009 2:00PM]

I did mention design
But what is design they need here?
The box? every box looks to be the same. Just a little money for the model of the box is enough
The PCB? It might be hard to put all the port together on a single PCB. You can easily ask a company in China to give you a working PCB design(most external boxes are using the exact same board in the meantime). And such PCB design is highly possible just come from a in school grad student who may only ask for $1000 for the design.
Also all the PCB design info you need is most likely provided by the company who offers the chip.
What else do you need for the so-called design? There is no big G on the box or hundreds of LV

[Horse @ Jan 4th 2009 1:45PM]

So many products designed with the glut market in mind...

[Eric @ Jan 4th 2009 1:57PM]

I love my quad interface drive. FW 800 is amazing...and in the future when I get a computer with eSATA I can use that too!

[decg @ Jan 4th 2009 2:51PM]

Hey well this has been around for ages in Europe, heck i've even got 3 back at the office!!

[Kris120890 @ Jan 4th 2009 2:35PM]

Se você não falar Inglês não será um cuidado que você tem a dizer. Memória Flash custos muito.

Também parar spam

[Yamikotai @ Jan 4th 2009 4:00PM]

Hmm yes, I agree?

[regularguy @ Jan 4th 2009 8:19PM]

I love how you all argue about this..... funny thing is, 98% of people dont give a shit about what kind of additional interfaces this thing offers as long as it has good old usb 2.0

[lozdude1 @ Feb 19th 2009 10:16AM]

I just bought the 500gig, at 99$ canadien.