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LaCie's popular portable drive adds more convenience and durability
Who hasn't misplaced an accessory cable at one time or another? We've all been there. Well, to combat that issue with its popular orange-draped Rugged portable drive, LaCie has built it right in. A Thunderbolt cable is now attached to the mobile storage unit, wrapping around the edge of the device for safekeeping. What's more, there's a cap that protects the jack and an additional USB 3.0 port with IP54-rated dust and water protection. This means that not only are the drives capable of taking a fall of up to two meters (just over 6.5 feet), but it can also keep debris and moisture out whilst in the field.
IRL: Chumby 8, LaCie Rugged Triple USB 3.0 and a duo of Nikkor lenses
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. You know what we're sick of talking about? (Okay, sick is a strong word, but you catch our drift.) Phones. Also, the iPad. Fortunately, this week's IRL touches on neither of the above. Instead, our audio guy Joe takes a different tack and explains his choice of Nikkor lenses, while Andy and Billy get hands-on with a rugged hard drive and Chumby 8, respectively. Head on past the break to see how we rate this stuff after spending more than a little time with all of it.
LaCie's Rugged Mini is rugged, also mini (video)
Got a knack for all things rugged, rubberized and orange? Then you're undoubtedly familiar with LaCie's robust line of drives, which the firm's been peddling to abusive storage lovers since 2008. Joining the family today are 500GB, 1TB, and (next month) 1.5TB miniaturized versions of Neil Poulton's shock, drop, and rain-resistant baby. They also tote USB 3.0, making them perfect candidates for speedy transfers while you're being hunted by some rare and soon-to-be extinct Amazonian jungle cat. Sound like your kind of shindig? PR and a video await you after the break.
LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 external HDD to hit stores this May
The gang at LaCie sure do love their orange, life raft-esque external HDDs. As you've probably guessed, the Rugged USB 3.0 takes the already familiar device, which is designed to resist drops up to 2.2 meters, and throws SuperSpeed USB into the mix. The 500GB (7200 RPM) model becomes available in early May for $150. If anything, it looks like this company definitely got its money's worth out of Neil Poulton!
LaCie refreshes connectivity options on Rugged eSATA portable HDD
LaCie's startlingly orange Rugged drive has been waltzing around and taking beatings for years now, but the company finally decided to give it an interface overhaul to deal with this phenomenon known only as "technological progress." The latest and greatest in the family is the Rugged eSATA, which maintains the iconic shape and color of the original, yet adds support for eSATA; reportedly, users can see transfer rates as high as 90MB/sec, and if you can only find a USB port, it'll also work with that when speed isn't a concern. It's up for order right now in a 500GB model, but you'll have to amicably part with $159.99 before calling it yours. %Gallery-85273%
LaCie ups the LaCinema Rugged ante with new HD version
At first glance, you'd be hard-pressed to notice the difference between LaCie's LaCinema Rugged HD and last year's model, but sure enough, the middle square of that device definitely has "HD" ingrained into its genetic code, and if you can't guess what that means, we'll tell ya: 1080p output. Other than that aesthetic modification and the new peak resolution, there's not a lot that's changed -- HDMI and composite output, USB 2.0 transfer, and a sizable number of supported codecs -- but that's not exactly a bad thing here. It's available as of this moment, and while previously we had a few variety of sizes, for now we're only seeing 500GB at a penny under $350 before shipping.
LaCie's Rugged XL: 1TB of ready-for-anything storage
Clearly LaCie's going for that "timeless" look, 'cause the Rugged XL looks precisely like the original Rugged that launched over three years ago. The drive, which was unsurprisingly designed by Neil Poulton, touts a durable aluminum casing with external and internal shock absorbers, USB 2.0 and eSATA connectors along with a software suit to handle your backups. Packed within is a single 1TB drive, and externally, there's a "warm orange LED strip" to either keep you informed of drive status or just look stupendously fashionable, one. It's up for grabs today (or it should be soon, anyway) for $159.99, and no, the orange exterior cannot be swapped for a non-DOT-approved hue.
LaCie snags Hitachi's 500GB 5K500, stuffs it into Rugged Hard Disk
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).
LaCie Rugged: Successor to the Pocket Drive?
First and foremost: I love LaCie Drives. From the bad boys we use at work to the beige, external SCSI boxes I have connected to my ancient Macs, they just run and run. For the longest time, my favorite general use LaCie external has been the recently discontinued Pocket Drive. It was very small, came in sizes up to 80GB and featured a dual interface (FW 400 and USB). Best of all, its edges were wrapped in a very durable layer of rubber that made it possible to just toss it into a bag, backpack or what have you without worry. I loved it, then it disappeared.Last week, LaCie announced the Rugged Drive, and it looks like it could fill the hole that the Pocket Drive left in my geeky heart. This "all-terrain" drive features a bus-powered triple interface, storage capacity up to 120GB and a durable rubber edging that takes the stress out of transportation. I want one.LaCie is currently taking pre-orders (shipping is scheduled for February of 2006) at the following configurations: $169.99US for 80GB (USB 2.0), $329.99US for 120GB (USB 2.0), $199.99US for 80GB (triple interface), $399.99US for 100GB (triple interface) and $359.99US for 120GB (triple interface).[Via MacNN]
