14 DAY TRIAL // Iomega is a company specializing in data protection and security solutions. The company announced its new Iomega eGo Helium portable hard drive today. The USB 2.0 320GB hard drive is aimed at owners of an Apple MacBook Air and is said to be the perfect match for the style and incremental storage needs of Apple's slim laptop.
The eGo Helium portable drive also brings the the benefits of cloud computing available with Mozy's online backup service, in addition to its storage capabilities, giving users secure storing, protecting and accessing important files. The new device is on display this week at the Apple Expo trade-show in Paris.
The 2.5-inch portable hard drive is encased in an anodized aluminum shell to create a whole package that is a mere 0.63 inches thick (16 mm) and weighs only 7 ounces (200 grams). The 320GB hard drive not only sports Iomega's Drop Guard(TM) design feature that protects the drive from drops of up to 51 inches (1.3 meters) onto industrial carpeting-40 percent above the industry average for portable hard drives, but is also formatted with Apple's HFS+ file system.
The eGo helium doesn't require an adapter to power itself up, as it sucks juice from the Air's own power supply, via the USB port.
"Iomega's eGo portable hard drives have garnered tremendous attention in the beige world of external storage by offering consumers a choice of several different vibrant colors as well as a camouflage print and genuine leather," said Peter Wharton, vice president of marketing, Iomega Corporation. "The eGo Helium extends that strong commitment to delivering style with substance. What makes eGo Helium such an effective piece of industrial design is the way it dresses up a highly functional 320GB hard drive device into a durable and sleek package with plenty of storage capability, making it an easy-to-use 'eye-catcher' that's small enough to go anywhere."
Iomega also threw in two Mac OS(R) X backup (software) solutions with the eGo Helium as free downloads. Those are Retrospect Express for Macintosh 6.1, and MozyHome (online backup software), which offers 2GB free, or unlimited online storage for $4.95/month.
The Iomega eGo Helium will be available worldwide next month (October) for $149.99. You will be able to buy yours from online /select retailers, VARs, resellers, as well as at Iomega's official web site.