14 DAY TRIAL // The USM (university storage module) interface isn't really as universal as it sounds, since USB (universal serial bus) has been stealing its potential buyers for years. It still exists though, and I-O Data decided to provide it on its new SSD, along with thunderbolt.
The HDUS-TBSSS Series of solid-state drives is a peculiar thing, featuring not two integrated connectors but just one, plus a removable adapter.
The drive has the USM interface by default, but ships with a USM to Thunderbolt adapter that can be uncapped at any time.
That's not the only odd thing though. There's also the fact that inside the drive lies a Samsung 840 EVO SSD of 500 GB or 1 TB.
So, in the end, it would be easy to call the new product a drive case bundled with a USM to TB converter.
Nevertheless, the newcomer does not ship drive-less, so it still qualifies as a portable SSD. There will even be 120 GB and 240 GB HDUS-SS Series later on, but we digress.
The I-O Data HDUS-TBSSS Series can reach sequential read and write performance of 264 MB/s and 240 MB/s, respectively. The Thunderbolt cable has a length of 500 mm / €19.68.
What's more, if you have the cash to spare, you can buy a USM to USB 3.0 adapter as well, separately. Not sure how much that converter will actually cost though.
We do know the prices of the 500 GB and 1 TB units at least. The former will ship for 72,800 yen ($706 / €515 according to exchange rates, such as they are) and the latter will bear a price of 119.800 yen ($1,163 / €850, give or take).
I-O Data has yet to reveal the prices of the 120 GB and 240 GB HDUS-SS Series. Since they won't have adapters, however, they are bound to be even lower than the capacity difference entails.
