LaCie Rikiki 2.5-Inch External HDD Packs 640GB

Of course, anyone who follows the news has already gotten used to hearing about products that claim to be the best or the fastest, or the smallest or the most reliable and so on and so forth. The latest company to claim that its portable hard drive is the most compact is LaCie. In this case, however, it might be on to something when it says that its Rikiki portable hard drive is the “smallest of its species” (Rikiki means “tiny” in French).

Designed to allow end-users to take along their important or otherwise needed data, the Rikiki 2.5-inch hard drive is a USB 2.0 device capable of storing up to 640GB of data while measuring only 109.7 x 75 x 13.4 mm (4.3 x 2.9 x .5 inches). This means that the drive actually packs 640Gb into only 110cm3. The drive works with both PCs and MACs and is ready for true plug and play, without any need for a system restart after plugging it into the USB 2.0 interface.

The drive's storage space is enclosed in a solid, brushed aluminum case and, besides the obviously noteworthy storage capacity, it also features USBH boost software capable of speed improvements of up to 33 percent. The only downside to this feature is the fact that it only works on the Windows operating system. Nevertheless, the drive will perform well for any end-user thanks to its ability to fit inside a pocket and still ensure data integrity, regardless of the file types stored on it. The drive's reliability can even be improved via the simplified software suite that allows for quick setup and backup through just a few mouse clicks.

"We are part of a generation that wants more from our electronics, but in the smallest form factor possible, and with a competitive price," said Anne-Sophie Marchand, Consumer Product Manager, LaCie. "With the LaCie Rikiki, we have done just that by fitting high-performance and high-capacity in the palm of your hand, for under $100."

The drive comes in multiple capacities, specifically 250GB for $74.99, 500GB for $109.99 and the aforementioned 640GB, which bears a price of $149.99. All models are available through LaCie's online store, LaCie Reseller+, and LaCie Corner.