Posted to Hard Drives 2009-11-25
The LaCie SAFE Hard Disk 301087U 500GB external hard drive has biometric fingerprint scanning available for security purposes. A user can setup a fingerprint profile which effectively locks your data in to place on the drive. Each time access is requested to anything on the external drive, your fingerprint will be required. As an external hard drive is likely to be ported around you need to ensure that it is capable of withstanding what it might come in to contact with. The 301087U version of the SAFE Hard Disk is housed within a grey plastic exterior, which is not as robust as some other hard drive exteriors around. Transfer rates from this unit are also only as fast as the USB 2.0 connection will allow, so you should expect that getting large files to and from the drive will be cumbersome.
FeaturesThere is no automated backup software with this drive, so you will be left with the standard backup assistant that is available in your operating system. The drive is made to be compatible with a PC or MAC, so getting files from one operating system to the other should be easy. Fingerprint scanner is included, as is a firmware lock that prevents access at the physical level should the fingerprint not be recognised. Additional security is also included with a cable lock connection on the drive, making it a good candidate for use in areas of high public traffic. ErgonomicsDespite the other external hard drives in the LaCie range being thoughtfully designed, the SAFE Hard Disk 301087U appears to lack that same design flair. Available only in a standard and rather dull grey color, the drive measures 1.7inches high and weighs approximately 2.2 pounds. The finger print scanner is conveniently placed on top of the drive and is easy to access should you have the unit within arms reach on your desktop or beside your laptop system. Where the drive is let down is its lack of visual design with the standard grey plastic exterior not offering any improvements over the standard physical hard drive look. SummaryWhat this LaCie SAFE Hard Disk 301087U drive gives and what you actually need out of an external hard drive are slightly apart. Though the fingerprint scanner is a handy addition to those who are worried about the security of their data, the scanner technology itself is not foolproof and sometimes lacks the ability to recognise the fingerprint. It is a trade off however as traditional data encryption takes time to complete, so decide which avenue best suits your needs. Pros
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