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LaCie, Seagate’s premium line of storage appliances, announced a new line of Porsche Design Drives, manufactured in collaboration with Porsche Design Group. LaCie also announced a Chromé desktop storage solution.
Housed in an all-aluminum enclosures that reflect the Porsche design style, the mobile and desktop drives feature USB-C connectivity for next-generation computers like the latest Apple MacBook.
This feature makes the drive easier to connect, since both ends of the cable are identical and the connector is reversible, and as a result, there is no wrong way to connect the drive to a USB-C computer.
The cables also are compatible with standard USB 3.0 (Type-A) ports thanks to the included adapter cable. By harnessing the power of USB 3.1, the Porsche Design Desktop Drive will charge a compatible laptop’s battery when the drive’s power supply is connected to the wall outlet. That means that using a single USB-C cable, users can power their notebook and access their drive at the same time.
When the product is connected to a standard electrical wall outlet, it delivers up to 30W of power to charge compatible laptops such as the MacBook.
The Porsche Design Mobile Drive will be available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities starting at $109.95, whereas the desktop drive comes in 4TB, 5TB and 8TB capacities starting at $209.95.
The drives will be available from March through the LaCie online store and LaCie resellers as well as from Porsche Design stores and online.
The drives also feature a two-year limited warranty that includes comprehensive, complimentary Web-based resources, in-house technical support and worldwide repair or replacement coverage.
In addition, it is possible to upgrade this service with warranty extensions and fast product replacement, the company said.
The all-aluminum enclosures make the products lightweight yet sturdy, while the rounded corners, high-polish beveled edges and a sandblast finish combine to form a modern style.
Beyond aesthetics, the solid aluminum enclosure is also scratch resistant, protects the hard drive mechanics and dissipates heat for optimal performance.
Featuring USB 3.1 Gen 2 technology, USB-C connectivity and solid state drives (SSDs), the Chromé, housed in an aluminum enclosure by Neil Poulton, features a pair of 500 GB M.2 SATA SSDs in RAID 0.
The elevated form is an homage to a 1935 bronze statue from Constantin Brâncuși, one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century, and is forged from solid chromed zinc.
The stand securely docks the product with neodymium magnets and detaches for easy transport. Once machined, the enclosure is hand assembled, then chromed to a mirror polish.
The Chromé comes in a 1 TB capacity, retails for $1,100, and will be available as early as this quarter through the company’s online store and LaCie resellers.