Buffalo now shipping SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external hard drive
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted November 23rd 2009 8:39PM
posted November 23rd 2009 8:39PM
Yes, you've heard it right, kids! Buffalo's wild'n'wooly USB 3.0 external hard drive (the HD-HXU3) is now shipping. Available in 1TB($200), 1.5TB ($250), and 2TB ($400) designations, the package includes Memeo AutoBackup and a one year warranty. It's also backwards compatible to USB 2.0, but never mind that -- the company is concurrently releasing its dual-port USB 3.0 PCI Express Interface Card (IFC-PCIE2U3). Welcome to the future, indeed. PR after the break.
Buffalo Ships First SuperSpeed USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
The DriveStation(TM) HD-HXU3 Offers Lightning Fast Transfer Speeds in a Robust, Stylish Design
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking and network and direct attached storage solutions today announced the first SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external storage solution. The DriveStation HD-HXU3 is ideal for creative professionals, computer power users and digital content creators, delivering transfer rates up to 625 MB per second (or five Gbits per second) for the quick transfer and storage of high-resolution graphics, digital audio/video, large multimedia files, photos and more.
"Innovation has always been Buffalo Technology's core value and the new DriveStation HD-HXU3 combines both USB 3.0 performance, and the latest hard disk technology to give consumers the fastest, and most reliable solution on the market," said Ralph Spagnola, vice president of sales at Buffalo Technology. "The DriveStation HD-HXU3 delivers on Buffalo's ongoing commitment in delivering high quality, robust storage solutions to meet the high demands of today's consumers."
The DriveStation USB 3.0 storage solution is backward-compatible and works with all USB 2.0 enabled computers and notebooks, as well as forthcoming USB 3.0 models. Available in 1.0TB, 1.5TB and 2.0TB capacities, the DriveStation(TM) HD-HXU3 with SuperSpeed USB gives users the ability to quickly back-up and store important data and other digital assets.
In conjunction with the new SuperSpeed USB DriveStation, Buffalo has released a two-port USB 3.0 PCI Express Interface Card IFC-PCIE2U3. The USB 3.0 PCI Express Interface Card allows users to upgrade their PC or Mac to utilize SuperSpeed USB for faster data transfer speeds than ever before. The DriveStation HD-HXU3 gives users the ability to quickly back up important data and store office work, digital photos, music and movies in one central location.
Included with each DriveStation USB 3.0 HD-HXU3 storage solution is Memeo's award-winning backup package. Memeo AutoBackup software gives you the power to securely and automatically manage and backup your files in real-time. No need for manual or scheduled backups, Memeo AutoBackup will find any new or updated file instantly and automatically, copying them to the drive so that you have a safe copy. After the initial setup, you never have to look at it again.
Pricing and Availability
The DriveStation USB 3.0 HD-HXU3 is backed by a limited one-year warranty that includes toll-free 24/7 technical support and is available now at estimated street prices of $199.99 for 1TB (HD-HX1.0TU3), $249.99 for 1.5TB (HD-HX1.5TU3) and $399.99 for 2.0TB (HD-HX2.0TU3).
The DriveStation(TM) HD-HXU3 Offers Lightning Fast Transfer Speeds in a Robust, Stylish Design
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking and network and direct attached storage solutions today announced the first SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external storage solution. The DriveStation HD-HXU3 is ideal for creative professionals, computer power users and digital content creators, delivering transfer rates up to 625 MB per second (or five Gbits per second) for the quick transfer and storage of high-resolution graphics, digital audio/video, large multimedia files, photos and more.
"Innovation has always been Buffalo Technology's core value and the new DriveStation HD-HXU3 combines both USB 3.0 performance, and the latest hard disk technology to give consumers the fastest, and most reliable solution on the market," said Ralph Spagnola, vice president of sales at Buffalo Technology. "The DriveStation HD-HXU3 delivers on Buffalo's ongoing commitment in delivering high quality, robust storage solutions to meet the high demands of today's consumers."
The DriveStation USB 3.0 storage solution is backward-compatible and works with all USB 2.0 enabled computers and notebooks, as well as forthcoming USB 3.0 models. Available in 1.0TB, 1.5TB and 2.0TB capacities, the DriveStation(TM) HD-HXU3 with SuperSpeed USB gives users the ability to quickly back-up and store important data and other digital assets.
In conjunction with the new SuperSpeed USB DriveStation, Buffalo has released a two-port USB 3.0 PCI Express Interface Card IFC-PCIE2U3. The USB 3.0 PCI Express Interface Card allows users to upgrade their PC or Mac to utilize SuperSpeed USB for faster data transfer speeds than ever before. The DriveStation HD-HXU3 gives users the ability to quickly back up important data and store office work, digital photos, music and movies in one central location.
Included with each DriveStation USB 3.0 HD-HXU3 storage solution is Memeo's award-winning backup package. Memeo AutoBackup software gives you the power to securely and automatically manage and backup your files in real-time. No need for manual or scheduled backups, Memeo AutoBackup will find any new or updated file instantly and automatically, copying them to the drive so that you have a safe copy. After the initial setup, you never have to look at it again.
Pricing and Availability
The DriveStation USB 3.0 HD-HXU3 is backed by a limited one-year warranty that includes toll-free 24/7 technical support and is available now at estimated street prices of $199.99 for 1TB (HD-HX1.0TU3), $249.99 for 1.5TB (HD-HX1.5TU3) and $399.99 for 2.0TB (HD-HX2.0TU3).
This thing looks like an Xbox360 o.O
@JoeyTopolsky The only thing that's missing is the hard drive. Oh wait!
Nevermind the $80-100 premium just for USB 3.0.
So... where can I buy this stuff?
off-topic but I think the whole "The Engadget Show" banner under the menu on the main page looks AWESOME.
good job!!
I can't wait to see how much better my mouse and keyboard perform with USB 3.0, I'm expecting BIG things!!!
@(Unverified)
Your mouse and keyboard have no need for USB 3.0. There's plenty of bandwidth in USB 2.0 for those.
Well, it definitely looks super fast.
Great, now we just need USB 3 computers ;)
@(Unverified) Exactly.
but Apple is not shipping Macs with USB 3.0 this year, sorry
Moot, no mechanical hard drive approaches the maximum bandwidth of USB 2.0. Right now, at least for drives like this, its just another marketing point.
are you kidding me? what year are you living in, single hard drives now easily surpass the 480mbps theoretical limit of usb2.0 let alone the real world limitations which is more like 20MB/s, in case you haven't realised, hard drives these days surpass 100MB/s sustained, yes thats over 1000mbps, so there is a need for something above usb2.0.
Check out CNET UK's review of the beast. Doing a large file copy using USB 2.0 took 8 minutes. Using USB 3.0 it took 2 minutes, e.g. 4X as fast.
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/accessories/0,39101000,49304133,00.htm
They don't say how the drive was configured, given the dimensions quoted, roughly 6 x 6 x 2", there's likely room inside there for two 3.5" drives, so they may well be configured with RAID 0 in order to double the potential performance off the drives for sequential access. Or if they haven't done that certainly others might.
This was using Buffalo's PCIe/USB 3.0 card. Don't know what this one is selling for but ASUS has one for under $30 so you can definitely afford this upgrade.
@(Unverified)
PATA wasn't fast enough to keep up with mechnical hard drives max potential transfer speed. And it maxed out at 1.33Gbps...or roughly 3x the speed of USB 2.0. That's one of the reasons we moved to SATA and eventually SATA II (that and everyone hated the ribbon cables) which transfers data at up to 3.0Gbps. Better than 6x as fast as USB 2.0.
There may be some validity to the claims that SATA III is unwarranted and that it's not necessary for non-raid mechanical drives, but SATA III maxes out at 6.0Gbps...considerably more than USB 2.0's 0.48Gbps...
Hey Buffalo, what hard drive would I possibly be able to slap into this that's even capable of 5Gb/s comms? Kudos for being first to market anyway.
USB 3.0 Is one of the sweetest upgrades for flash drive this 2nd quarter of 2009. It's good to see Buffalo is starting to share their own version of 3.0 powered hard-drives.
You gotta give credit to freecom for pioneering this technology.
http://bit.ly/the-first-usb-3-0-ever-created
"and suddenly all became so fast now"
Hehe, Memeo is too close to "me meo" in spanish... it means "I'm peeing myself," literally, but it's used to say "I've gotta pee!" Get it? When you need to pee, you're "backed-up"? Worst... Joke... Ever...
@EliteGeek
Quick Unverified, REEL 'ER IN
@EliteGeek
*sigh*
Only if they had some type of USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 converter dongle type thing. I'd plug that bad boy right into my laptops existing 2.0 port.
@(Unverified) why would you do that? it'd be no different to any other external usb2.0 drive on the market
@(Unverified) You know that is completely stupid right. USB 3.0 is compatible with a USB 2.0 slot. It will work but it just wont move the files at blazing fast USB 3.0 speeds. Install USB 3.0 through a PCI express slot or wait til 2011 until intel fully implements this standard.
@(Unverified)
Looks like you hit that one right over their heads.
I laughed
Yay, new tech inflation!
Xbox720 design team take note!
@GingerFox
Errrrr, i wasent supposed to reply to this post....