In addition to the new 1TB model, the Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini is available in nine other “Quad Interface” models offering a variety of speed, capacity, and drive type options:
5200/5400RPM
250GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $119.99
320GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $129.99
500GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $154.99
640GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $189.00
1.0TB 5200RPM 8MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $299.99
7200RPM
320GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $144.99
500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $189.99
Solid State Drive featuring the OWC Mercury Extreme Enterprise SSD
50GB SSD FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $299.99
100GB SSD FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $469.99
200GB SSD FW800/400+USB2+eSATA Storage Solution $849.99
All OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini models, including the new 1TB model, are available for immediate ordering from Other World Computing at http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/EliteALmini/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB and are compatible with Apple OS 8.6 and later including the latest 10.6 “Snow Leopard”; and Windows 98SE or later operating systems; and come ready for Plug and Play ease of use with all supported interface connecting cables, a $200 retail value disk utility software bundle, and an industry leading three year complete solution warranty.
For more information on the complete OWC Storage Solution line, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/
Portable & Bus Powered For Mobile Lifestyles
Measuring a compact 3.8″ W x 5.5″ L x 1.1″ H, the OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini offers storage capacity up to 1TB – enough space for up to 1,000,000 JPEG photos, 500 DVD movies, 76 hours of digital video, or 350,000 MP3 songs – in its fanless, aircraft grade brushed aluminum enclosure. Because it’s bus-powered, the Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini doesn’t require an AC adapter, which makes it ideal for in-the-field business professionals, creative/entertainment professionals, students, and anyone else needing to back up data, transport large files between computers, gain additional storage capacity, and even perform video editing and live music recording.
Built For Performance & Flexibility
Designed to emulate the award winning history of the larger desktop sized Mercury Elite-AL Pro, the new Elite-AL Pro mini portable storage solution features the fastest 2.5″ SATA hard drive mechanisms up to 7200RPM as well as OWC’s Mercury Extreme Enterprise SSD for demanding A/V, digital photography, professional music, graphics, general data, and Time Machine ready storage needs. With two FireWire 800 ports, users can “daisy chain” multiple devices, connect legacy FireWire 400 devices via the included 800 to 400 connecting cable, and can even utilize the fastest data transfer interface, eSATA, while bus powering via FireWire. The Mercury Elite-AL Pro mini can also be used with storage capable digital cameras and camcorders with FireWire and/or USB data ports for fast, on-location backups of images and video.
“We’re very pleased to have our renowned Mercury storage line achieve another industry first,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO, Other World Computing. “With the highest capacity and most interfaces in a portable design, our ‘mini’ delivers massive, professional grade data storage/backup to the modern mobile computing society.”
Easy & Convenient To Use
Using Voyager is so simple: just insert any standard 2.5″ or 3.5″ SATA I/II hard drive (up to 2.0TB) into Voyager’s compact docking base and select the fastest of the four interfaces supported by your computer for read/write data speeds of up to 3.0Gb/s. There’s nothing else to install or configure. Voyager saves users the time and inconvenience of installing a hard drive into a computer or using an external hard drive enclosure with limited interfaces and slower speeds.
Plug and Play Hot-Swap Ready
With the most interfaces available on the market, Voyager provides Plug and Play ease of use for a fast external hard drive solution that works with both Macs and PCs. In fact, Voyager is so easy to use, that combined with today’s low cost of hard drive storage, users can think of a bare SATA I/II drive as being as convenient to use as a flash memory card, with the same instant access benefits and the addition of huge storage capacity gains. In addition, Voyager is completely hot-swappable for consumers wanting to move multiple drives at will while their computer is on and running. Its unique design and drive eject button makes inserting, using, and removing SATA I/II hard drives a safe and effortless procedure.
Ideal Solution for Storage Archives
The ideal solution for storage archives, professional photographers, videographers, and other hard drive storage archivers will no longer need multiple drive enclosures and power supplies for every archived hard drive. “Whether consumers want to re-task an older swapped-out hard drive, need to access multiple drives, or want to add big capacity, low cost external storage capacity to their desktop, Voyager is able to travel any computer user’s data universe needs with ease,” said Grant Dahlke, NewerTech’s Product Manager. “Its design and ‘Quad Interface’ functionality offer high speed ‘slide and swap’ hard drive read/write performance and convenience never before available.”
NewerTech Voyager Features:
• Supports all 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA I/II hard drives up to 2.0TB
• “Quad Interface” for maximum system compatibility and data transfer rates
• Data transfer rates up to 3.0Gb/s (300MB/s)
• Push button drive eject for safe hard drive removal
• Hot-Swap functionality for fast access of multiple hard drives
• Weighted base and non skid rubber feet for stable operation
• 2-Color Status LED: left side blue for power on, right side flashing red for disk activity
• Compact design: measures 5.28″ x 3.70″ x 2.68″ inches and weighs 1.35lbs without drive
• Whisper Quiet operation – no cooling fan needed
• Plug and Play with Macs and PCs
• All interface connection cables included
• RoHS Compliant
• One year warranty
NewerTech Voyager is priced at $99.95 MSRP and is available immediately from NewerTech’s exclusive distributor, Other World Computing (OWC®), at www.macsales.com, as well as through the retail channel. Voyager includes all its supported interface connector cables and an auto-switching power supply for worldwide compatibility. For more information, visit: http://www.newertech.com/products/voyager.php Additionally, OWC has created five Voyager/Hard Drive Bundles priced starting at $157.99 to offer consumers the ultimate in convenience and economy. For details, visit http://eshop.macsales.com/search/Voyager
It seems I’ve been throwing a lot of difficult problems toward Apple Care to become baffled on. I wrote about my odd iCal problem back in December of last year that neither Apple Care nor Microsoft could figure out (to which I later solved on my own genius bar) and now I have another one to add to the list.
I purchased one smokin’ Mac Pro last July and it was pretty much at the top end when all the features where added. Even with a 10% discount, the baby was a tad under 5k. So when after a month I started experiencing some really annoying slow downs due to constant hard drive spinning, I got on the phone and gave Apple Care a holler. After getting over the hurdle of what “swap” space was, I attempted to explain to the customer care representative that my hard drive was spinning more than an old 78 rpm record. After not getting anywhere with the first tech, I was sent to the second level. I defeated Level 2 as well. No answers. No wait, reformat and install was a suggestion which I had already tried prior to the call. So I lived with the spin for nine months.
Yesterday I added two more drives to my Mac Pro filling up all available slots. I now had the original drive and three added drives. I like cleaning out the inside of my computers every so often, so I pulled out the two already installed SATA hard drives and got a can of air and sprayed until it was exhausted. I secured back the two hard drives as well as added the two new ones. I closed up the Mac Pro and booted up. Guess what? No more hard drive dance floor spins!
So what could have caused the constant hard drive spinning is hard to say. It could have been a number of things such as dirty contacts on the SATA interface, not a fully seated hard drive, or the hard drive controller freaking out on just having two hard drives plugged in. I doubt it was that later and most likely just a hard drive not fully seated. Dirt could be it, but I really think it was the hard drive not being fully secured.
So, if you’re having a similar problem and Apple Care along with its forms offer no help, then give this a try. It may help.
Take an award winning Contour case then apply a luxurious rubberized finish to the outside. Snap securely together and what do you get – the protection and structure of a hardshell case seamlessly blended with the style and feel of a supple skin. Introducing the Contour HardSkin, a light weight, polycarbonate shell with the soft touch of silicone.
Based off of the iSee iPhone v3, the Contour HardSkin retains all of the protective qualities of its underlying chassis. From the durable hardshell to the click through buttons covering the volume and power switches, the HardSkin iPhone v3 offers total protection while still allowing full access to all of the controls. Add to all that the rich texture of its rubber finish and you will know, without a doubt, when you are holding a Contour HardSkin.
“And if you ever get tired of carrying it,” say Mike Jackle, Director, Product Development, “just pop the HardSkin in the included belt clip hip holster and rest easy.”
- Key Features
- Rubberized finish over a light weight, polycarbonate shell
- Secure snap on and off design
- Full access to all controls (camera, headphone jack, dock port, volume, power)
- Click through buttons offer added protection
- Perfectly contoured to accent the iPhone’s shape
- Slimline holster fits iPhone face in or face out
- Removable, multi-position belt clip doubles as a video stand
Availability and Pricing
The Contour HardSkin iPhone v3 is available now. MSRP is $34.95 the US.
So you’ve got a Mac or a Windows box with disk encryption and you’re feeling pretty good about your data’s safety. Bitlocker on Vista and File Vault (developed for the Depart of Defense even) on OS X put you at ease with its promises of using some super hard encryption scheme to defeat. The only way anyone’s getting in is via a key. Guess what? Hackers now can get that key.
A video on YouTube demonstrates just how easy it is to retrieve the very key that unlocks your hard drive. From start to finish, the video shows the retrieval of a laptop, the sniffing of a key, and then the opening of all the “protected” files. Just like that.
Now granted, the hacker will need physical contact with your computer in order to grab your key; however, this isn’t that reassuring if you think about it. In recent months, there has been a slew of reports of lost laptops from not just business professionals, but from government agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and of those in Congress. These laptops are in danger of losing very important and highly classified data. If enemies of the state are able to obtain such a nugget, it’s no telling what could result from the breach.
Again, the video does demonstrate a small window of opportunity in data retrevial; however, in our busy lives, it is easy to lose track of our laptops for a few minutes. That’s just enough time for someone to simply walk by and grab it without you even knowing.
The easiest and best way to protect yourself is to insure your laptop is OFF and not in standby when in public. Make sure it has been off for at least 30 minutes prior to placing yourself in a vulnerable situation. These two measures alone will greatly reduce the chance of the key residing in your memory and thus keep your data safe.
Universal drive adapters are becoming a must have accessories for not just the IT guy at your work but also for anyone with a PC or Mac. With hard drives becoming larger in capacity and cheaper in price, swapping them out and upgrading to a new drive is easier than ever before. Keeping the old drive around for archive purposes is great but it’s when you need it that becomes a drag. Hooking up all the cables (or the pain of just sliding it into the slot on the Mac Pros…yes, pain 
) can be a hassle for just a quick copy to the new drive. With universal drive adapters, all you have to do is plug the adapter into the old drives IDE or SATA connector, hook up the power and bingo, up comes your drive in My Computer or on your Mac Desktop. Just like that.
NewerTech will be showing off its newest connector with convenient and easy to read status lights at Macworld 2008. This is a nice addition to the other adapters I have used that leave you wondering if you have even a valid USB connection let alone know if your data is streaming though the cables. Working with any 2.5˝, 3.5˝, or 5.25˝ hard drive or optical drive (standard IDE/ATA/ATAPI 40 pin or Serial-ATA), the NewerTech adapter connects to a USB port of any computer working with USB 2.0, 1.1, and 1.0 ports. NewerTech told SvenOnTech that the, “USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter has been tested to work with all hard drive brands, including Maxtor, Seagate, IBM, Hitachi, Samsung, Western Digital, and Fujitsu; optical drive brands, including LG, Lite-On, Panasonic, Pioneer, Plextor, Sony, Teac, and Toshiba; and removable media drives, such as Iomega Zip. The adapter provides a USB 2.0 transfer speed of up to 480Mbps and is also backwards compatible with USB 1.1.”
The adapter will be available for $29.95 and more information can be found at NewerTech’s Universal Drive Adapter site.
SvenOnTech will be stopping by the booth and talking to NewerTech’s CEO Grant Dahlke at Macworld. Stay tuned for more from that interview.
No matter how many times you warn computer users to back up their data, more instances than not, you find a boat load of people that don’t and end up losing important data. DriveSavers has made its riches from these people and now it plans to make an industry first announcement in a few weeks at Macworld Expo 2008. SvenOnTech was told in an email that it will be making a “big announcement for Apple users”. The email went on to tease, “DriveSavers is the first data recovery company to offer this service, and will be rolling out the service at MacWorld.”
Possibly offering an insurance-like policy to Mac users, it is conceivable that DriveSavers will offer a program where customers can make monthly payments on their Macs fitted with hard drives that could become faulty. When the drive does become unusable, the user would then simply send in the drive for recovery.
What ever the announcement, we’ll be on the floor to report the news when it hits in January 15th.
Newer TechnologyNewertech Announces New Ministack V3
‘Quad Interface’ 1.0Tb Storage Solution, Inc. (NewerTech) , a leading developer of PC, Macintosh® and iPod® performance upgrades and accessories, today announced the newest addition to its award-winning storage solution line, the miniStack® v3 ‘Quad Interface’ powered hub storage solution with up to 1.0TB of storage capacity, for Plug n’ Play ease of use with any Mac or PC with an available FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, or eSATA port.
‘Quad Interface’ Benefits
With an ergonomically unique rear and side port configuration of one eSATA, two FireWire 800, one FireWire 400, and three USB 2.0 ports, miniStack v3 lets users connect multiple desktop digital accessories like scanners, printers, memory card readers, digital cameras, and iPods simultaneously and clutter-free. Its port flexibility and compact design also makes miniStack v3 an ideal portable external hard drive storage solution to move among multiple systems for future system compatibility.
Fast & Vast For The Modern Digital Lifestyle
miniStack v3 is ideal for data intensive uses like audio/video editing, digital photography, MP3 libraries and high-speed back up because it utilizes the latest generation Oxford 924 bridge chipset, the fastest drive mechanisms available, and an eSATA port to deliver the fastest single drive data transfer rates possible…up to 150 Megabytes per second. And with vast storage capacities up to 1.0TB, users can store up to 1 million JPEG photos or 350,000 MP3 songs on miniStack v3 depending upon file settings/preferences. Read the rest of this entry »
Western Digital Corp. today announced it is now shipping its 250 GB WD Scorpio™ 2.5-inch Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives. The drives employ perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology to achieve the highest capacity available in a small form factor drive and have WD proprietary features that make the drive quiet, use less power and run at cool operating temperatures.
“The 2.5-inch market continues to be a major focus for WD, and this 250 GB WD Scorpio drive represents our second-generation PMR platform,” said Jim Morris, WD’s vice president and general manager of notebook storage. “The WD Scorpio 250 GB hard drive is a direct result of the significant investments WD has made in proprietary head technologies as well as significant system level feature innovation. With the introduction of our latest-generation WD Scorpio drives, WD continues to offer mobile computing and portable storage customers the same outstanding quality, reliability and performance that have earned the company a leadership position in the desktop PC market.”
According to market research firm, IDC, adoption of PMR technology in mobile 2.5-inch hard drives will sustain an increase in the average capacity shipped close to the average growth rate of 32 percent for the past five years. The firm states that by 2011, shipments of mobile 2.5-inch hard drives will more than double 2006 shipment volumes.*
Demand for 2.5-inch hard drives continues to increase at a rapid pace, driven by notebook computers, portable storage devices and consumer electronics products. Users of these applications need high capacity drives to manage storage-hungry content. WD Scorpio drives deliver the performance and features to meet demands that are specific to notebook PCs and portable storage devices, such as WD Passport® portable drives: quiet operation, high shock tolerance and low power consumption.
The new WD Scorpio drive further expands the company’s breadth of 2.5-inch mobile hard drive offerings to capacity points ranging from 40 GB up to 250 GB.
WD Scorpio Exclusive Features Read the rest of this entry »
Other World Computing (OWC) http://www.macsales.com, a leading Mac and PC technology company, announced today the new OWC Mercury On-The-Go USB2+eSATA Portable Drive Solution. Universally accessible on any computer with a USB Port, the new OWC 2.5” portable hard drive provides exceptional performance via USB and USB 2.0 bus interfaces. Even greater levels of performance are available via the solution’s external SATA (eSATA) port connection, providing transfer rates well beyond what USB and USB 2.0 Bus interfaces are able to support.
Stylishly designed in a sleek, impact-resistant acrylic enclosure, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go USB2+eSATA Portable Drive Solution incorporates shock-isolation technology to give maximum protection for your precious data. Weighing less than 11 ounces, the portable drive is a must-have for users requiring reliable high-performance compact storage small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.
OWC Mercury On-The-Go Portable Drives can be used between any computer with an available USB or eSATA port. The solutions are portable and low-cost, utilizing the latest SATA 2.5” hard drives for maximum performance and reliability. Via USB, the drives power via the bus through the USB interface cable, so no A/C adapter is needed. However, since eSATA does not provide bus power, the included A/C Adapter must be used for powering the drive when connecting to eSATA.
The OWC Mercury On-The-Go USB2+eSATA Portable Drive Solution includes the cables for USB2 and eSATA and full retail licensed versions of the award-winning data backup software utilities, Prosoft DataBackup III for Apple OSX and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows (a $59 and $49.95 retail value). The OWC Mercury On-The-Go USB2+eSATA Portable Drive Solutions are available immediately priced starting at $117.99, with capacities of 80GB to 200GB. A USB 2.0-only version is also available, priced starting at $99.97. It uses the same drives as the OWC Mercury On-The-Go USB2+eSATA Portable Drive Solutions and is fully USB bus-powered, but does not offer eSATA port support. For more information, see http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go.