Buffalo adds Ministation Metro to its external HDD lineup

The Ministation Metro, coming in a variety of tastefully named colors, such as Black Crystal, represents a continuation of Buffalo's recent efforts to beautify its portable hard drive offerings. The drive's design is highlighted by a handily integrated USB cable that sits flush with the Metro's externals when not in use. It's also noteworthy that this latest entry in Buffalo's Ministation series looks remarkably similar (i.e. identical) to the recently announced HD-PXU2 in Japan. We can only surmise that the company believes the term Metro carries more positive connotations with Western consumers than the otherwise catchy jumble of letters and digits. Capacity choices range all the way up to 500GB, and the new drives are expected to reach American and British shores in August, with a US price somewhere in the vicinity of $200 for the most capacious models.

[michaeloblivion Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:10AM]

Welcome to Engadget, Vladislav!

[dziban303 Posted Jun 26th 2009 8:24AM]

I read it as "menstruation metro" and was appalled and disgusted.

[ryan Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:14AM]

First! Not me, you.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:25AM]

Don't you have a site to launch or something?

[michaeloblivion Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:40AM]

Agreed, Thomas. Please launch soon Ryan, the suspense is killing us!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:16AM]

Wow, I guess Microsoft sold the design of their Windows 7 packaging to Buffalo.

[Dking7 Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:20AM]

left overs from vista:)

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:34AM]

isn't it strange that the US market always has some kind of catchy name for products? take cameras for example: canon's starter model is the "rebel xs" (ooh) versus it's systematic European name of "1000D".

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:36AM]

Not strange, normal. Americans like flashy stuff, Europeans like boring stuff and Asians like futuristic stuff.

[David Topping Posted Jun 26th 2009 6:56AM]

I'm not convinced this is all that 'catchy'

I'd be worried by any product that has "Mini" and "Metro" as its name. I just hope that this is more relaible than the original Mini Metro.

"While the Metro was a huge seller in the UK, it gained a reputation for unreliability and lacklustre build quality" -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Metro

[a dark day Posted Jun 26th 2009 4:57AM]

i now know that i will be able to get 500 gigs for $100 in about 13 months so i will pass on this to get one then

[calagan Posted Jun 26th 2009 6:42AM]

I like the shock absorption design, which seems quite efficient.

I wish it also came with eSata, because when you taste that kind of speed, you don't go back.

[DBrim Posted Jun 26th 2009 10:55AM]

Not on topic or anything, but your name is awesome.

Carry on.

[mikeweezer Posted Jun 26th 2009 12:07PM]

I have a few Buffalo Linkstation NAS drives, and wow, they suck. Their software is very rough and configuration of them is a complete pain. Try deleting anything... it takes literally a day to do so since you can't wire in via USB (despite there being a USB port on the back). Oh, and it is supposedly gigabit, connected to my gigabit router and PC. No reason for it to be this slow.

sorry for the rant - just not buying anymore Buffalo.

[whyme Posted Jun 26th 2009 12:42PM]

I wish they would build a 2 port gigabit switch (e.g. making it a NAS unit) into these so we can have higher speed access. USB 2.0 is way too slow.

[Richard Posted Jun 26th 2009 1:18PM]

Welcome, Vlad! So glad that London has an Engadget editor now. :)

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 27th 2009 1:56AM]

It's even cooler that he is a Bulgarian.Way to go!

[graywolf Posted Jun 27th 2009 9:54AM]

Hello Vlad, and welcome!!

HDD: Rotation speed, anyone? Be nice if it was 10,000 rpm.