Mobile Computing Tips: Portable Hard Drives

Sleek, rugged, pocket-size, fairly affordable, versatile, and convenient storage on the go.

James A. Martin

Feature: Hard Drives to Go

One of the worst things about traveling is deciding which shoes to pack. The sleek brown Italian dress shoes? The casual but still business-like black loafers? The all-purpose black suede slip-ons? Too frequently I end up packing them all, just in case, and hating myself for it when my suitcase feels as if it contains Martha Stewart's financial records in their entirety.

I'm the same way with computer files, sad to say. When heading out of town, I loathe the idea of leaving behind all my Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, MP3 music files, digital photos, and video clips. But packing a bunch of Zip discs, CDs, and other storage media for all that stuff is tedious and unwieldy.

To my rescue and yours comes a new class of portable hard drives. Sleekly but ruggedly built, pocket-size, fairly affordable, versatile, and convenient (hot swappable and plug and play), these handy pocket drives store just about anything--except, alas, my shoes.

I tested two such drives: a 30GB FireWire version of Iomega's HDD Portable Hard Drive and a 30GB USB 2.0 version of SmartDisk's FireLite. I recommend them both, for different reasons.

Iomega HDD Portable Hard Drive

Redefining versatility, Iomega's HDD Portable Hard Drives can be used with a PC or a Mac via either USB 2.0 or FireWire connections. Should you buy a USB drive and decide later you want to connect via FireWire (or vice versa), no problem: You can buy an easily swappable adapter for about $50. When installed, though, the adapter makes a Portable Hard Drive nearly 8 inches long; compare this to SmartDisk's FireLite drives, which are about 5 inches.

Iomega's drives are attractively styled in titanium and black, and are less than an inch thick. They come with an easy-to-use program called QuikSync for automated backup. They also offer fast data transfer: I was able to copy 100MB in about 35 seconds using the 30GB FireWire model. I found Iomega's drive easy to install, too. My Windows XP computer recognized it right away, and I didn't need to install a driver.

Current capacities are 20GB ($199 for USB 2.0, $229 for FireWire) and 30GB ($259 for USB 2.0, $279 for FireWire). The higher price for FireWire models is worth it if, like me, you have a computer with a FireWire port and a USB 1.1 port. FireWire connections theoretically provide data transfer rates of up to 400 megabits per second, compared to the 12-mbps transfer rate of the current-generation USB 1.1 bus found on most notebooks and desktops.

Though USB 2.0 devices are capable of faster speeds, when connected to a computer via USB 1.1 that bus's 12-mbps transfer rate limits performance. Also, unlike Iomega's USB models, its FireWire drives can be powered by your notebook's six-pin FireWire port, a big convenience when you can't get to a wall outlet. For an explanation of the pros and cons of USB vs. FireWire, including FireWire's power advantage, see last week's newsletter.

It's worth noting that Iomega also sells a line of external drives for USB 2.0 and FireWire ports called, appropriately enough, the HDD External Hard Drive. These drives are also portable, but they offer larger capacities (up to 120GB) and are heavier (1.8 pounds) and bulkier (1.25 inches thick) than the HDD Portable line.

For current prices on Iomega HDD Portable Hard Drives, go to the PCWorld.com Product Finder.

SmartDisk FireLite

The FireLite is a sleek bundle of storage in a tiny silver case. Less than an inch thick, proportioned at 3.5 inches wide by 5 inches long, the FireLite is roughly the same size as a Pocket PC PDA.

My Windows XP computer recognized the 30GB FireLite USB 2.0 drive I tested right away, without needing a driver. This drive took about twice as long as the Iomega FireWire drive to transfer 100MB of data from my computer; but that's understandable, given my PC has a USB 1.1 port. SmartDisk's FireLite is available in FireWire models as well, though you can't use an adapter to switch interfaces as you can with Iomega's portable drives.

The FireLite ships with Retrospect Express Backup software for Windows, a venerable and useful backup utility, and three utilities for Mac computers. Drive capacities for both USB and FireWire models are 20GB ($200), 30GB ($250), and 40GB ($300), with no price differences between USB and FireWire drives.

SmartDisk has also begun shipping the FireFly, an even smaller series of portable drives. FireFly drives are 0.5 inch thick, 2.5 inches wide, and 4 inches long; they weigh less than 4 ounces. The drives are available for Windows and Mac computers in USB 2.0 and FireWire models, but in capacities of only 5GB and 20GB. Also, you pay a premium for the petite size. The FireFly 20GB USB drive, for instance, retails for $330, compared to $200 for the same capacity FireLite USB drive.

The bottom line: If flexibility is important, the ability to use a single Iomega HDD Portable Hard Drive with FireWire or USB ports is a key differentiator. If you want a smaller and lighter drive, though, the SmartDisk FireLite models are your best and most affordable option.

For more information about the FireLite and FireFly drives, go to SmartDisk's Web site. For prices on the FireLite line, search on our Product Finder.

Notebooks

Review: Reasonably Priced LifeBook A Series

Fujitsu's LifeBook A Series offers solid options for budget-minded shoppers looking for a big screen, a combination optical drive, and wireless networking. The notebook we tested had a hearty battery life of 2 hours, 48 minutes. A small button on the lid turns Wi-Fi (802.11b) networking on and off. The scratchy-sounding speakers weren't music to our ears, however, and our evaluation unit turned in a somewhat unspectacular performance.

The unit we tested retails for $1649 and includes a 1.2-GHz Athlon 4, 256MB of PC133 SDRAM, 512KB of L2 cache, Windows XP Professional, a 14.1-inch active-matrix screen, a 40GB hard drive, an 8X DVD-ROM and 8X/4X/24X CD-RW combination drive, and more.

Review: Lightweight LifeBook S Series

We're not done reviewing the new Fujitsu portables yet. The LifeBook S Series ultraportable is one of the lightest you can buy that has a modular bay. The notebook has a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combination drive in its bay, yet the total package weighs just 3.8 pounds. A Wi-Fi antenna is cleverly built inside a long black plastic panel along the notebook's lid. The wireless receiver's on/off switch is on the back of the notebook, and the power switch is conveniently located on the side next to the FireWire port. But forget about legacy ports: the LifeBook S lacks parallel, serial, or PS/2 connections.

Our review unit cost $1929 and came equipped with a 1-GHz/733-MHz Pentium III-M, 256MB of PC133 SDRAM, 512KB of L2 cache, Windows XP Professional, a 13.3-inch active-matrix screen, a 40GB hard drive, and more.

Review: Jumbo Screen From Gateway

The new Gateway 600XL makes a good desktop replacement, especially for digital-video editors, graphics professionals, and others who need a notebook with a large screen (15.7 inches). The 600XL offers all the standard connections, two USB 1.1 ports, and Wi-Fi networking. A composite TV-out port plus S/PDIF digital audio and FireWire ports grouped conveniently help make this portable a good option for multimedia users. But this notebook weighs nearly 10 pounds and measures about 14 inches wide by 12 inches deep by 2 inches tall; the XL in its name must stand for "Extra Large."

The $3149 unit we tested came with a 2-GHz/1.2-GHz Pentium 4-M, 512MB of DDR266 SDRAM, Windows XP Professional, a 40GB hard drive, an 8X DVD-ROM and 8X/8X/24X CD-RW combination drive, and more. Check out our Product Finder for the best prices.

Handhelds

First Look: Acer's Tablet PC

One of the first Tablet PCs to arrive is the Acer TravelMate 100. Our colleagues at Computerworld magazine tested a preproduction unit with a 10.4-in. screen, a 700-MHz Pentium III processor, 256MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive, and built-in Wi-Fi networking. The verdict? Compared to notebooks, the TravelMate 100 is a decent computing device (but not earth-shattering). The screen and keyboard are small and battery life only average. Pricing hasn't been set, but expect this model to be about $2000.

News: Dell to Sell PDAs

Michael Dell, the head of Dell Computer, recently confirmed the company will sell PDAs, as has been speculated in this newsletter and elsewhere. He wouldn't specify when Dell-brand PDAs would appear, though some believe the Dell handhelds will be released in the fourth quarter. Initially, Dell is likely to compete mainly on price; it should add new features to the second generation of products, according to analyst Steve Baker, director of research at NPD Techworld.

News: Sony Clie Features Rechargeable Battery Pack, More Memory

The new Sony Clie PEG-SJ20 is similar to its predecessor, the Clie PEG-SL10, but it uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack instead of two AAA batteries, comes with 16MB of memory (compared to 8MB in the SL10), and costs $200, $50 more than the earlier model. The new Clie features a 320-by-320-pixel monochrome screen, a 33-MHz Motorola DragonBall VZ processor, the Palm 4.1 operating system, a Memory Stick slot, and mini-USB and Enhanced IrDA infrared interfaces. Check our Product Finder for current prices.

Wireless

News: Palm-Based Phone for Sprint Network

Samsung's SPH-1330, expected to be available by the time you read this, is based on the Palm 3.5 operating system, runs all standard Palm apps, and works as a tri-band mobile phone: It's compatible with CDMA at 800 MHz and 1900 MHz, and is also compatible with the analog AMPS technology. On the CDMA side, the telephone supports Sprint's new CDMA2000 1x network, which offers packet data rates of up to 144 kilobits per second. The large touch screen displays 256 colors, and the unit includes a GPS receiver, speaker phone, infrared sensor, and a Web browser for wireless Internet access. Samsung is also expected to launch a phone based on Microsoft's Windows Powered Smartphone operating system sometime later this year.

Need Answers?

The Mobile Computing FAQ answers your questions about notebooks, handhelds, and wireless services. Previous mobile computing FAQ topics include:

• FireWire vs. USB
• The differences between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
• Why notebook screens wash out in bright sunlight
• The differences between memory card formats: CompactFlash, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital, SmartMedia, and XD Picture Card

Send your questions to james_martin@pcworld.com for possible publication (with answers, of course) in future issues of this newsletter.

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