Seagate Launches Connectivity-Flexible Storage Drives

SAN FRANCISCO-Seagate on May 5 launched a new generation of its FreeAgent external storage hard drives with an emphasis on connection flexibility, naming them GoFlex.

The key new feature throughout the line is this: Never again will a user have to buy a whole new drive just because the USB port has been upgraded. Using a GoFlex, you just buy a new, and cheaper, cable connector that fits on the top of the drive, which satisfies the need for faster USB and doesn't mess with storage.

Seagate Technology's interchangeable cable plug-ins offer several storage and external connectivity options, so the drive remains intact and unaffected.

GoFlex storage drives, which can fit in a shirt or coat pocket and range from 320GB to 2TB capacities, also provide interoperability between Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.

Using an HDMI connector, a GoFlex or GoFlex Pro drive can be used to play movies on a television, media player or computer monitor. Switching back and forth between USB 2.0 and 3.0 requires only the changing of a cable connector.

FireWire is another option, Seagate Product Manager Marc Lee told eWEEK at an analyst event here.

"The GoFlex family is made up of three components: ultraportable and desktop drives; storage system devices, which include an HD [high-definition] media player, network sharing device and smart dock; and a whole host of interface cables, one of which contains ingrained intelligence to enable new capabilities," Lee said.

GoFlex Desk drives, which spin at 5,400 rpm, ship in either 1TB or 2TB capacities for $120 and $190, respectively; bought as a kit, with continuous backup and a USB 2.0 cable, there's a $10 addition.

The portable GoFlex drives come in 320GB, 500GB, 750GB and 1TB capacities, with prices ranging from $90 to $190. Adding a USB 2.0 cable costs an extra $10.

The GoFlex Pro ultraportable drive spins at a faster 7,200 rpm and includes backup with encryption capabilities; it is priced at $130 for 500GB and $180 for 750GB.

The drives are available now. For more information, go here.