14 DAY TRIAL // Buffalo has been rather active on the storage front recently, especially when it comes to devices designed for the USB 3.0 interface. More recently, however, the company has chosen to turn once again towards the mainstream segment and offer a couple of USB 2.0 portable hard drives that will cater to the common user's needs for efficient storage. The new series of portable hard disk drives (HDDs) is known as HD-PVRU2 and is made up of two models measuring 81 (W) x 16 (H) x 130 (D) mm.
Even though the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard seems to be picking up speed, Buffalo must be aware of Intel's prediction that the interface won't reach the mainstream before 2012.
As such, the company seems to have decided to let its USB 3.0 hub and previously unveiled portable USB 3.0 HDDs cover that area while the hardware maker sees to the more common needs of the mainstream for every-day portable storage. Consequently, the new HD-PVRU2 comes with USB 2.0, while providing all the storage space that purchasers might need.
The increased speeds of USB 3.0 are looked forward to by end-users because they make writing large files over USB up to ten times faster. Through USB 2.0, filling up 320GB of storage space, not to mention 500GB, takes a very long time. This is also one of the reasons why some customers might not use USB drives as backup solutions.
Nevertheless, such storage units still serve well mainstream consumers, especially when the devices come with the added bonus of power efficiency. Buffalo implemented the eco Manager software, which reduces platter speed when in idle mode, in order to save power.
The 320GB and 500GB portable hard disk drives will become available in Japan by the end of March, at roughly $100 and $150, respectively.