I think this neat and travel-friendly VAIO hard drive would be a great addition to us who own VAIO X505. It also matches it well in color!
This hard drive comes with a pouch and special wireless keys to lock and unlock it.
It will be available soon at SonyStyle.com
Sony VAIO Portable Hard Drive With Security, Model:VGP-UHDM08
The VAIO® portable hard drive with a slim and light design is perfect for mobile or home use. The spacious 80GB1 storage capacity with USB 2.0 interface allows you to instantly save AV files and backup data. Ingenious wireless keys easily locks and unlocks your data to keep it secure.
Features:
* Instant data transport between PCs so you can store your Digital images, MP3s and videos, or just backup important files.
* Slim and light design is perfect for mobile or home use.
* Ingenious Wireless keys let you lock and unlock your hard drive so you can keep your data safe and secure.
* Memory Capacity: 80GB 4200rpm (speed sucks, could be replaced with speedier drive)
* Interface: USB 2.0 (High-speed/Full-speed/Low-speed) lets you easily plug in the drive directly to your PC.
* For use with: Sony® VAIO® personal computers and IBM PC/AT compatible computers with Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, XP Home Edition or Windows® 2000 Professional
Box Contents:
* USB Cable
* Carrying Pouch
* AA batteries (2)
* Wireless Keys (2)
Well, I finally was able to pick up this Hard Drive, since I had 20% OFF with SonyStyle.com, I thought it would be a good catch.
First impressions: it is definitely the best looking external hard drive I have ever seen! Sony has done a great job in its design: brushed look that really resembles the X505SP carbon fiber lid, it is very light (about 9.8 oz or 275 g) and comes with a nice pouch to protect it from scratches. The upper part of the body is made of shiny plastic that resembles the polished look of iPod Nano (black).
This hard drive also comes with 2 wireless keys that can lock the drive. You will need to register those keys first to enable the security function. If you do not want to use that function, you can just use it as a regular removable drive.
To unlock the drive, you simply touch the wireless key receiver with either key.
This hard drive works on regular 2 batteries (AA), with battery life under continuous use of 12 hours. You may also use an AC adapter.
Pros: Light, Portable, Beautiful Design to match VAIO notebooks, Cool Looking Cons: 4200 RPM (I’m sure, you can stick a faster drive), AC Adapter was not supplied (that was the first one, Sony usually includes one; the manual recommends VGP-AC5V1 AC Adapter)
Lol, nice. I am convinced Sony Syle hates me…once again, my product was shipped back. I need to schedule them to deliver only Thursday and Friday when I am home.
Hows the locking features?
Erik
Edit: Wait, this doesn’t draw from USB power at all?
Locking feature is good and very easy to use. For now I do not see the need for it, because I am not planning to store any secure or sensetive information on it.
It is USB 2.0 and apparently uses just the batteries to power itself. I guess it will save your battery on your notebooks. :wink:
[quote author=“VAIOfreak”]Locking feature is good and very easy to use. For now I do not see the need for it, because I am not planning to store any secure or sensetive information on it.
It is USB 2.0 and apparently uses just the batteries to power itself. I guess it will save your battery on your notebooks. :wink:
Man it didn’t say anything about that on the site. I guess I am not re-ordering this…no way am I going to start looking for AA batteries for my HDDs…bad move Sony.
I understand using the AA for the security feature, but the power from the drive should come from the USB port…what happens when the AA battery dies while in use? that would be terrible for data…nope, not for me.
There is a Battery indicator and if it starts blinking, it is time to exchange them. So it is not a big deal to me. I have wireless keyboard and mouse that use batteries as well (VGP-WKB1), so I am kinda used to it.
Yeah, the battery requirement makes it sort of a turn off. It’s good in the sense that it’s not proprietary and doesn’t have to use bus power which can prolong your notebook.
Of course, the device should work without any batteries at all since there’s plenty of bus power for the device. Requiring yet another ac adapter and/or batteries just complicates things and makes for carrying around yet another thing.
[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]Yeah, the battery requirement makes it sort of a turn off. It’s good in the sense that it’s not proprietary and doesn’t have to use bus power which can prolong your notebook.
Of course, the device should work without any batteries at all since there’s plenty of bus power for the device. Requiring yet another ac adapter and/or batteries just complicates things and makes for carrying around yet another thing.
admittedly its alot bigger physically, but if size isnt hugely important to you (i.e. you’ll mostly be using it at home) this is a good value alternative.
it does require external power via a supplied AC lead, but if its for use at home, that doesnt matter alot.
$300 for 80gb, or $180 for 250gb
and this drive is also beautifully designed, I have one sitting on the desk in front of me :D maybe an alternative for people looking for something specifically for home use.
i spent an extra $100 and bought the iPod 60. With synctoy i backup my entire notebook hardrive. Now I do it on a daily basis when i attach my ipod at night to charge it. I have a small external hardrive but I only made backups occassionally, i.e., once a month. so as an incentive i spent extra on the iPod for three reasons: 1) to make more frequent data backups 2) to have an extra 1.8” hdd lying around incase the one in the vaio failed 3) to listen to music on a device that is made for just that.
