14 DAY TRIAL // Although USB 2.0 remains the most popular connectivity interface around, there are certain users who would rather go for something a little faster, due to the fact that they work with data-intensive applications that require faster data transfer rates. And this is exactly the reason why G-Technology has decided to upgrade its G-Drive mini line of portable HDDs and announced the launch of some triple-interface models, which cater to the user's every need with FireWire 400, FireWire 800 & USB 2.0 connectivity options.
The new storage solutions provide quite a fair amount of storage space, as the company released 120 to 250 GB models (with 2.5-inch Hitachi SATA HDDs inside, 5400 and 7200 RPM, depending on the model), and, according to the company, they're built especially to serve the needs of mobile users, due to their very sleek and portable form factor. Hence, they feature an all-aluminum enclosure, feature a built-in heat sink that ensure cool and reliable operation and their industrial design proves the company's love for Apple's MacBook/Pro systems (as you can see from the picture).
And since we've mentioned the company from Cupertino, it's worth adding the fact that G-Tech's G-Drive minis are pre-formatted in order to work with the Time Machine feature from Mac OS X. Thus, they're formatted at the factory HFS+ with Journaling, and all the user has to do in order to get them going is carry out a simple initialization process.
Obviously, the most important selling point of the new triple systems is represented by the provide connectivity options. Thus, since it features two FireWire connectors, the drives also incorporate an Oxford 934 chipset, and are capable of attaining some pretty high data transfer rates as well, namely up to 33 MB/s for USB 2.0, 38 MB/s for FireWire 400 and 61 MB/s for FireWire 800. Furthermore, they're bus powered, so there's no need for an external power source (although the device does feature a DC-In connector).
The new drives are available starting at 179 US dollars and up to 299 US dollars (the 250 GB model), which are not exactly very small prices, taking into account the fact that there are quite a few portable and external storage solutions (albeit with lesser connectivity options) that provide the same capacities for lower price tags.
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