LaCie D2 Quadra hard drive review

26 February 2008 11:44 GMT / By Stephen Patrick

No matter how large the hard drive in your PC, it pays to have an external backup source and this latest device from LaCie is both stylish and easy to use.

The white box is rather attractive in an understated way and while there is only enough room for a single hard drive, you can opt for a 1TB version (£300 inc. VAT) or this slightly less impressive but more affordable 500GB version.

There is a blue LED button on the front of the box that indicates activity and it can be programmed to launch any of the bundled software tools.

In this age of power-conscious PCs, there is even a three-way power switch that allows the unit to power up or down in direct response to you using your PC.

Connections on the back are well covered with support for USB 2.0, eSATA and even Firewire 400 and 800, so you can hook it up with ease. LaCie even provide cables for all four ports and it can be used with either Windows or Mac OS systems.

The drive is a 7200rpm full-size disc, so sharing files is quick. To keep things cool there is a fan built-in but we found it rather quiet and only noticable when copying large amounts of files over.

There is a variety of software included, with the most interesting being EMC Retrospect Express, which allows you to easily backup your PC's hard drive on a regular basis.


Verdict

The LaCie D2 Quadra is a fast and reliable external hard drive that comes in an increasingly large array of capacities. We found it easy to setup and manage and a great addition to anyone looking for a regular backup.

Score

4.0
share print story pdf email story

Review Recap

Made by
LaCie
Price as reviewed
£120
The good
Plenty of connections, power saving features
The bad
Can be cumbersome to set up
Quick verdict
Fast hard drive access times and good bundle of software make this an attractive external hard drive, just a pity larger versions are so expensive
Score
4.0

Recommended articles


Full tags
Hardware, Storage, LaCie, LaCie D2 Quadra
Loading

Best iPad 2 apps

We detail the best iPad 2 and iPad apps in the app store Which iPad app should you download?

Best new iPad apps

We detail the best iPad apps in the app store for your new Retina Display Which iPad app should you download?

Windows 8

First Look: Windows 8 Consumer Preview reviewed

The new iPad

The new iPad: Everything you need to know

Pocket-lint poll

Q. Does the Samsung Galaxy S III deliver what you hoped for?

Vote YES Vote NO

» LAST TIME
When asked Would you switch from iOS to Android? 54% said yes and 46% said no