firewire 800

G-DRIVE mobile FireWire

G DRIVE mobile with MacBook Pro 300x197 G DRIVE mobile FireWire

At first look, the G-DRIVE mobile FireWire G DRIVE mobile FireWire1 will remind you of Apple’s MacBook Pro and though it’s not milled out of a single slab of aluminum, it is clearly cut from the same design cloth as the revolutionary notebook. It’s got the same matte finish on the sides and bottom, a shiny black top surface reminiscent of the MacBook Pro’s screen—even the activity light matches.

By the numbers, the G-DRIVE mobile is a light (9 ounces), portable 250GB or 500GB drive that spins at 5400RPM and transfers data over FireWire 800 or USB 2.0. G-Technology includes a FW800-to-FW400 cable for those of us who still makes use of some of Apple’s older tech. Best of all for this coffee shop hopping blogger, the drive is bus powered. That’s right—no frikkin’ brick. Yes, that means it will drain your MacBook Pro’s battery while it’s attached but, hey, you don’t need to leave it attached all the time and I bet you perpetually keep your notebook tethered to the wall with AC power anyway.2

Down to the cost and quality, the G-DRIVE mobile, like all drives I’ve ever had from G-Technology, is top tier and as such is a little bit more expensive than the run-of-the-mill portable FireWire drive. But at USD$149.99 with a 3-Year warranty, I think you’re getting incredible value and dependability. This is a sweet little drive and belongs in your laptop case.

  1. buying through this Amazon Affiliate will probably save you some money and it will definitely help keep this site going. Thanks ~RY []
  2. I gotta say, this is a practice I don’t quite get: you laptop wants to be free. Plug it in to charge it, not to use it…not when you’re out. That’s my rant. []

Second generation Drobo adds support for Firewire and improves USB 2.0

Drobo Front Med 20080708 192726 Second generation Drobo adds support for Firewire and improves USB 2.0

Today Data Robotics launched the second generation of its Drobo “storage robot”. Drobo is a drive system that offers redundant data protection, and instant expandability allowing storage capacity to grow over time as need be. New enhancements in the second generation Drobo include an upgraded core processor, two FireWire 800 ports, dramatically increased USB 2.0 performance, and newly optimized firmware. If you held off on buying the first generation Drobo because it was USB only, this new one is for you.

Features include:

  • Best in class performance
  • Redundant data protection
  • Hot expansion up to 16TB
  • Ability to take advantage of mix and match drive capacities
  • Two FireWire 800 ports (FireWire 400 compatible)
  • One USB 2.0 port

The second generation Drobo is priced at USD$499 and also comes in a 2TB version for USD$899, and a 4TB version for USD$1,299. Discount codes are also available if you know where to look.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Drobo, take a video tour with Cali Lewis.

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Griffin shipping Dock400 and Dock800 cables for iPods

6753581 53f310a44c m Griffin shipping Dock400 and Dock800 cables for iPods

Griffin Technology has announced that they are shipping the Griffin Dock400 and Dock800 cables, for synchronizing and charging your iPod using a PC or Mac’s FireWire ports.

Both the Dock400 and Dock800 cables are 48″ long, use Apple-approved connectors and can be used with Apple’s iPod dock, or plugged directly into the iPod. The Griffin Dock400 Cable costs USD$14.99 and the Griffin Dock800 Cable is USD$19.99. They are immediately available from Griffin’s website.
Apple’s newest iPod photo and iPod mini come with only a USB 2.0 cable, so customers with computers that lack USB 2.0 ports will need a FireWire 400 cable for fast music and file transfers. Griffin’s Dock400 cable is the perfect solution.

Dock800 is a dock-to-FireWire 800 cable for communicating with and charging iPods. Dock800 allows maximum flexibility in managing the use of FireWire ports.

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