LaCie's bright orange Rugged Hard Disk hasn't changed much externally since it surfaced over two years ago, but what used to buy you 160GB will now land you a full half-terabyte with dough left over for several In-N-Out runs. The latest Rugged drive packs Hitachi's 500GB Travelstar 5K500 and still maintains the scratch-resistant aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper. As for ports, you'll find a USB 2.0-only edition or a more versatile iteration that includes USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 sockets. Either flavor comes bundled with the company's Setup Assistant and backup software, and if you're tired of waiting for 1TB in your pocket, you can make do with this one for just $299.99 / $399.99 depending on your choice of interface(s).

In typical LaCie fashion, it's latest external hard drive isn't even mentioned on the outfit's own website, but nevertheless, it most definitely exists. The tried and true Neil Poulton HDD has been refreshed with two new ports to coexist alongside the USB 2.0 socket: FireWire 400 and eSATA. Outside of the two new holes flanking the rear, the drive looks essentially the same, and is available on the streets as we speak for $139.99 (500GB), $187.99 (750GB) or $276.99 (1TB).

[Via CNET]

Update: LaCie mounted these up on its website, after all. Thanks, bjrcboy!

LaCie's been known to launch a few products under the cover of darkness before, and sure enough, it's decided to do just that with a trifecta of new externals. Starting from the top, we've got the 1TB Desktop Hard Disk, which sports a USB 2.0 port (only) and an exceedingly simplistic black design. Next up is the more compact 250GB - 500GB Desktop Hard Disk, which sports the same name (and sole USB socket) but a much less bulky chassis. Lastly, the Mobile Disk comes in 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 250GB and 320GB sizes, fits in most cargo pockets and gets all the juice it needs from your machine's USB port. Word on the street has both the Desktop and Mobile drives starting at around €80 ($123), and if you look hard enough, you can actually grab these right now.

Read - LaCie 1TB Desktop Hard Disk [Via Gizmos]
Read - LaCie 250GB - 500GB Desktop Hard Disk
Read - LaCie Mobile Hard Disk [Via Gizmos]

Remember that 1.3-inch hard drive that Samsung cut loose at CES? Even if that somehow managed to get lost in the blur, you can refocus a bit now that LaCie has decided to slip it into its forthcoming Little Disk and USB Key Max. Reportedly, the devices will be available (as in, real soon) in 30GB / 40GB flavors, and yes, they'll now fit into even tighter jeans. We'll hand it to 'em -- that's quite a bit of space for Deep Purple jams, receipt scans and interoffice love letters, but you'll have to pony up at least $119.99 for the Little Disk (now with more little!) or $109.99 for the USB Key Max.

[Via Tech-On]

Alright, LaCie. We understand when you namecheck the designer of your new ultra-minimalist external drives, but the d2 line has been shipping since like 2002 -- so we're not going to get excited about the look of the thing, no matter how "quintessentially Neil Poulton" the design. Additions to the lineup includes a revised d2 Quadra eSATA / FireWire 800 / FireWire 400 / USB 2.0 drive, an eSATA version of the Big Disk Extreme+, and the new Little Big Disk Quadra portable drive. The d2 Quadra gets a couple more heatsink ridges and a new lower starting price of $189, while the Big Disk Extreme+ stays pretty much the same with the addition of eSATA. The new 1.4-pound dual-disk Little Big Disk Quadra starts at $475 and features a fanless design with one eSATA port, two FireWire 800 ports, and a single USB 2.0 port for access to capacities of up to 500GB. The drive also features built-in RAID 0 capability, which boosts transfer speeds to 110MB/s over eSATA. All this stuff is available now, according to LaCie.

Read - d2 Quadra
Read - Big Disk Extreme+
Read - Little Big Disk Quadra

While we've seen plenty of pixels so far this year, most are aimed at the consumer's living room or the gamer's desktop. LaCie's taking the snobbish route with its 324 LCD Monitor, however. The 1080p 16:10 display supports 92 percent NTSC gamut, 10-bit gamma correction and embedded Faroudja DCDi and TrueLife tech. Plugs include VGA, DVI and dual HDMI, with HDCP support for kicking back with some HD movies after a long day at the office. There are also three USB 2.0 ports and a headphone jack, and LaCie is tossing in the blue eye pro for automatic hardware color correction. The display should arrive in January for $1050.

Apparently, this one's been on a few store shelves already, but LaCie didn't even bother trumpeting its release to the world. Fret not, as the LaCinema Premier can hide no longer. This USB 2.0 "multimedia hard drive" arrives in 500GB, 750GB and 1TB flavors, packs 7,200RPM hard drives within and outputs via composite / S-Video / component (rear shown after the break). Furthermore, it supports 1080i upscaling and provides S/PDIF optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, and just in case you're curious, it'll handle MPEG1/2/4, ISO, IFO, VOB, MP3, WMA, AC3, OGG, JPEG, BMP, TIF and PNG file formats. Yeah, it also touts that played out "one-touch backup" feature, but we know it's the bundled remote that really turns you on. Apparently, the trio starts at around £149.99 ($299) and tops out at £324.99 ($648) for the 1TB edition.

[Via Gizmos]

We've definitely seen some wild designs come out of LaCie's workshops, so the company's latest external drive, billed simply as the LaCie Hard Disk, is something of a departure. The monolith-looking unit was designed by Neil Poulton for the company, and features a smooth surface marred only by a power switch, fan grate, and USB 2.0 and power connections. Not available until January, but LaCie's taking pre-orders now, with sizes ranging from 320GB for $119 to 1TB for $399.

No need to fix something if it isn't broken, right? Apparently LaCie is feelin' said mantra, as its latest version of the Hub differs very little from last year's iteration in the design department, but it certainly shows preference for the tried and true Universal Serial Bus. The revamped Hub sports a totally round base for maximum wobbling, but maintains the white polycarbonate finish and strung out ports just like last time. If you'll notice, however, each of the seven cables are some form of USB 2.0, and no, there's not a production line snafu to blame. LaCie is betting that some of you out there would actually prefer an all-USB Hub, and if you just so happen to fit that mold, you can grab one now for $79.

[Via Electronista]

Microsoft's Windows Home Server is saying balls to its dicey launch year and rallying the troops for a holiday hardware blitz. Its original hardware launch partner HP's on-sale-again-off-sale-again MediaSmart Home Server is officially back and on sale (huzzah!), and multiple hardware partners are (re)announcing their own boxes.

Up to bat with new and "new" WHS hardware: Fujitsu-Siemens, Gateway, Iomega, LaCie, Leo Computers, LifeWare, Maxdata, Medion, and Tranquil. Sure, some have already announced, but those named today will either be introducing new WHS gear in short order, or at least intend to in the next quarter. Also getting official and on sale today: Velocity Micro's NetMagix (previously VMHS). Expect it with a Core 2 Duo, 1GB of RAM, eSATA, gigabit Ethernet, front / rear USB, and up to 4TB of storage (starting at $1000 for 1TB).

P.S. -We're sure Microsoft would like us to remind you of the burgeoning WHS software add-on scene, with the dozens of apps now written for the platform. That's all well and good, but we'll worry about getting that hardware first, then take a look at that software.

Apparently, releasing one external hard drive with 500GB of storage isn't enough for one week, as LaCie has now introduced its half terabyte Ethernet Disk mini Home Edition Personal Media Server. As with previous iterations, this drive is meant to "save, show, sync and share" your media, and it boasts the ability to "stream multimedia files through DLNA-compatible UPnP media players and act as an iTunes music server." Additionally, users can setup "free remote access to their personal information via LaCie's media portal," and aside from the gigabit Ethernet port and USB 2.0 socket, you'll also find an additional USB jack for backing up data to another external HDD. This one's slated for an October launch and should carry a $199 pricetag.

Remember that measly 40GB silverscreen from years past? Thankfully, LaCie has finally found time to upgrade that thing to a much more stylish creation, complete with a half terabyte of built-in storage space (or 320GB if you're short on cash). The USB 2.0-based unit still features DivX compatibility and plug 'n plug operation with your television, and it even plays nice with JPEG / MP3 formats as well as offering up an optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital 5.1 support. Buyers will also find a wireless remote bundled in, and for those with HDTVs, the silverscreen is reportedly able to upscale content via component. No word on availability just yet, but we're hearing that the 500GB iteration is set to cost around €240 ($338) whenever it lands.

[Via Gizmos]

LaCie, always known to drop a fresh drive on us during our extreme times of need, has once again stepped up to the plate with a new line of petite storage options aimed at "people on the go" and other likeminded busibodies. The company's new "Little Disk" line was designed by the "award winning" Sam Hecht, and comes in 1.8- or 2.5-inch varieties, ranging from 30GB to 250GB, all with retractable, USB 2.0 connectors. Mr. Hecht also oversaw the creation of LaCie's other small offering, a portable DVD+RW drive with LightScribe technology (allowing you to etch custom labels into discs), that comes in both USB 2.0 and Firewire varieties. The hard drives and optical drives are available now, ranging from $99.99 to $119.99 for the disks, and $99.99 to $149.99 for the DVD writers.

[Via PhotographyBLOG]

Read -- LaCie Announces the New Little Disk Family of Mobile Drives, Design by Sam Hecht
Read -- LaCie Ships Portable DVD±RW Drive with LightScribe, Design by Sam Hecht

We know, you're probably still gawking at that shiny hunk of hard drive that LaCie announced earlier today, but for the pros out there, this lineup is likely to be more your style. The 2big family -- which will include the 2big Dual, 2big Triple and the 2big Network -- range in capacity from 1TB to 2TB, and all include a new "thermoregulated progressive smart fan" to keep things cool and quiet. As for the 2Big Dual, you'll find eSATA II and USB 2.0, while the 2Big Triple offers up both flavors of FireWire / USB 2.0 and the 2Big Network "is an Ethernet version that can act as a file sharing or backup server." Pricing on the trifecta will vary based on storage space and connectivity options, but you can find these hanging out in September and starting at $399.

[Via Electronista]

Just in case LaCie's LEGO / Porsche-inspired hard drives don't excite you, the firm is apparently looking to snatch your business another way: by gilding an external HDD and waving it in your grille. The Golden Disk itself is an exclusive designed by French designer Ora-Ïto, and includes 500GB of storage, PC / Mac compatibility, a USB 2.0 interface, and LaCie's own 1-Click backup software to boot. Not much else to mention besides the price, so go on and get your $189 ready for an October landing, ya heard?

[Via Pocket-Lint]