14 DAY TRIAL // Even though it is, currently, best known for its batteries and storage media, Maxell has decided to make a foray into the storage market, with lines of hard drives and USB flash drives already well on their way. The products are set to be presented as part of the GEN- and MyGEN-series hard drives and will come in form factors of both 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches. HDDs are not the only on the hardware maker's mind, however, as the MyGEN series will also feature several USB flash drives, with capacities of 2GB, 4GB and 8GB.
The upcoming GEN and MyGEN hard drives that use the 2.5-inch form factor will boast storage capacities of 250GB, 320GB and 500GB. In parallel, the ones using the 3.5-inch form factor will boast significantly larger capacities, namely of 1TB to 1.5TB.
Furthermore, the hardware developer is also preparing the GENpro external, 2.5-inch drives that have similar capacities as the GEN line, and also 3.5-inch drives with a maximum storage capacity of 2TB. In fact, the only notable differing feature of the GEN and MyGEN sets is the fact that the former possesses Rebit-developed backup software, whereas the latter does not.
Rebit's SaveMe backup software does not require configuration, schedules or user input. The software starts working as soon as it is installed and keeps running, providing users with the possibility to recover everything from individual folders to the entire system if the need arises. In addition, SaveMe backs up data to a single partition, sparing the rest for use at the consumer's discretion.
All hard disks and flash products in these families have a matte, black enclosure. The GEN-branded products will be compatible with the Windows operating systems later than 2000 and will supposedly even support Window 7.
Unfortunately, pricing and availability details have not been disclosed. What is known, however, is that the HDDs are backed by a three-year warranty and the flash drives by a lifetime warranty.