Product Roundup: Expand Your Storage Capacity
Several new hard disc drives and DVD products make it easier to backup and transport large amounts of data.
Easy Hard Drives
NetDisk Mini from Ximeta is a pocket-sized hard drive that offers both a USB 2.0 interface for direct computer connection, and an Ethernet port for use on your LAN. The sub-$400 unit measures approximately 1 x 3 x 5.5 inches, and provides 40 GB of secure networked storage. If you are looking for more capacity in a LAN-enabled hard drive, the larger Buffalo LinkStation 250 GB (about $400) is a relatively simple and inexpensive solution. The LinkStation also lets you connect a printer or an additional hard drive to your network through one of its USB 2.0 ports.
For a lot of capacity in a portable, non-networked drive, consider the Procom Promobile 3.5. It is a 250 GB external drive with FireWire and USB 2.0 ports, measures only 7.8 x 4.4 x1.7 inches, and costs about $500. To jazz up your desktop while you expand your storage, check out the 250 MB Western Digital Special Edition External Combo hard drive. This FireWire/USB 2.0 drive is available for less than $290, complete with cool looking neon tubes and fast 7200 RPM performance.
Double Your Fun
Recordable DVD disks www.imation.com have become a popular medium for backup and distribution of business data, and the advent of Dual Layer (DL) DVDs offers a good way to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a single disc.
The new Iomega Super DVD QuikTouch USB 2.0 drive is an external unit that can burn DL DVDs, and incorporates a video capture card for direct transfer of video clips and full-length programs. The sub-$290 unit includes Iomega's easy-to-use backup software, and Sonic MyDVD and Cineplayer for video editing.
Sony's DRU-700A is a cost-effective and reliable internal drive that will burn DL DVDs and a host of other disc formats. The unit costs less than $200 and burns DL-DVD+R discs at a respectable 2.4X, and CD-Rs at a fast 40X speed.
Dual Layer DVD+R media from Imation and other major manufacturers is already available for about $15 per disc. For information about DL usage and compatibility, go to http://didyouknow.imation.com/information-art11.
Are You Being Served
The transition from individual data storage to file servers is a big step in the growth of any new business. The new HP StorageWorks NAS 500s server makes it much easier for a growing business to take advantage of NAS (Networked Attached Storage) technology. The basic system costs less than $2,300, provides 320 GB of storage, and includes an Intel Celeron 2.66 GHz processor. Additional slots let you increase hard drive capacity to up to one terabyte.
For extreme data protection, services such as AmeriVault provide backup, restoration, archiving, disaster recovery, and other services via secure online connections. These services often save time and money, and assure that your valuable business information will always be available when you need it.
Sidebar: Why Lug Around a Laptop When You Don't Need To?
The Imation USB 2.0 Swivel Flash Drive (available in 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, and 2 GB capacities) is a compact and powerful flash device featuring a miniature form-factor and a proprietary "never-lose" swivel cap. With an ultra-fast USB 2.0 connection, it's the quick and easy way to transfer or share business presentations, digital photos and videos, or other large files. Use the lanyard around your neck to wear the drive like a pendant or slip it into your pocket or toss it into your briefcase -- it weighs only one ounce.
For more information, visit www.imation.com/flash.
