LaCie Rugged Hard Disk 500 GB (301900)

by LaCie

• MIL-compliant; shock-proof up to 2.2 m, so you can be sure that you?ll be purchasing one of the sturdiest, toughest products on the market
• Maximum speed: up to 800Mbits/s with FireWire 800
• Triple interface, bus powered, plug & play
• 7200rpm rotational speed
• Compact, pocket-sized form factor
• MIL-compliant, shock-proof up to 2.2 m, so you can be sure that you?ll be purchasing one of the sturdiest, toughest products on the market

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.1 x 3.5 x 5.6 inches ; 8.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002G62Z18
• Item model number: 301900
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 18, 2009

Product Description

Capacity: 500 GB

From the Manufacturer

The LaCie Rugged 500 GB (7200RPM) FireWire 800/ FireWire 400/USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Disk is designed for maximum performance while withstanding the harsh elements of the real world. This durable, portable drive offers 500 GB of storage and a fast 7200 RPM rotational disk speed with a triple interface for maximum compatibility and performance. It is built with a rugged, drop-resistant aluminum-alloy shell and a shock-resistant rubber bumper making it ideal for travel anywhere.

LaCie Rugged 500 GB (7200RPM) Hard Disk

LaCie Rugged 500 GB At a Glance: 500 GB of disk space 7200RPM rotational disk speed Stylish and rugged enclosure designed by Neil Poulton Bus-powered design doesn't need AC adapter Triple interface for maximum compatibility Backed by a three-year limited warranty

The LaCie Rugged withstands bumps and shocks to keep your data safe and secure. View larger.

The stylish orange look was designed by world-renowned designer Neil Poulton. View larger.

With three connection interfaces, you'll have compatibility with nearly any computer. View larger.

Portable Data Shuttle

If you travel a lot with your data, the LaCie Rugged Hard Disk is the drive for you. With a 500 GB of space and a 7200 RPM rotational disk speed, it's ideal for power users who need fast performance for working directly off the drive and backing up and transferring large amount of files in as little time as possible. The Rugged Hard Disk is bus-powered, so it uses the power of the connected computer to operate, and doesn't require an additional AC adapter or power cord.

The LaCie Rugged Hard Disk is also available in 750 GB and 1 TB capacities.

Mobile, All-Terrain Protection

Designed exclusively for LaCie by world-renowned designer Neil Poulton, the Rugged Hard Disk is built like an off-road vehicle, ready to withstand the bumps and bruises of your travels. Featuring a unique, scratch-protected, aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper, the drive is shockproof up to 2.2 meters. And it's MIL-compliant, meaning it meets a series of standards from the United States Army's Developmental Test Command that test how well a specific device performs when placed under stress or extreme conditions.

Also, the Rugged Hard Disk can be outfitted with additional colorful bumpers (sold separately). Easy-to-change with the same durability once on, the bumpers are made of the same quality rubber as the original bright orange sleeve. The optional set of three additional sleeves includes green-grey, blue-grey, and black bumpers.

Measuring 1 by 3.5 by 5.7 inches (H x W x D) and weighing 8.82 ounces, the Rugged Hard Disk is designed for travel and will fit easily in your briefcase or backpack. Take it with you on business trips and vacations, or use it for transferring files from one desktop computer to another.

Three Interfaces for Fast Connections

The Rugged Hard Disk offers speed and versatility with three connection interfaces, letting you use it with almost any computer. The FireWire 800 interface provides up to 800 Mbits/s data-transfer speed, ideal for video editing and other intensive work. FireWire 400--a preference of Mac users--provides 400 Mbits/s transfer speeds. And the nearly universal USB 2.0 interface offers a transfer rate of up to 480 Mbits/s, and is backwards compatible with USB 1.1.

With its driver-free and plug-and-play functionality, exchanging data between Macs and PCs is easy. Simply plug the Rugged Hard Disk into any computer with a USB port and you're ready to go. (The Rugged Hard Disk requires no extra drivers for Windows XP/2000/Vista and Mac OS X operating systems.) It also comes with a power-sharing cable for low-powered USB hubs and computers.

Included with the drive is backup software for both Windows and Mac. The Rugged Hard Disk is also Time Machine compatible.

About LaCie

Established in France in 1989, LaCie is a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple, and Linux users. With offices and plants in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore, and Hong Kong, LaCie develops and manufactures external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has distinguished its products with original designs and leading-edge technology.

The LaCie Rugged Hard Disk (500 GB) is backed by a three-year limited warranty.

What's in the Box

Rugged Hard Disk (500 GB), FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 400 cable, USB 2.0 cable, USB power-sharing cable, Quick Start Guide, Genie Backup Assistant (Windows), Intego Backup Assistant (Mac), and LaCie Setup Assistant.

Product Description

The exclusive creation of world-renowned designer Neil Poulton, this portable external hard drive is one of our most popular products, and offers the supreme speed of FireWire 800, along with FireWire 400 and Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interfaces for true universal connectivity. Conveniently bus-powered and plug & play, the LaCie Rugged Hard Disk is ideal for backup, video storage, and large data volume exchange on the go. You can plug it into almost any computer anywhere for instant backup, video storage and large data volume exchange. Its unique scratch-protected aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper make the LaCie Rugged Hard Disk especially resistant to harsh elements, providing extra protection wherever you need it. Best of all, it’s rated shock-proof up to 2.2 meters, and evaluated under the MIL-STD-810, a series of standards from the United States Army’s Developmental Test Command that test how well a specific device performs when placed under stress or extreme conditions.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

271 of 276 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little hard drive! May 7, 2010

By Claire Jordan TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Size Name:500 GB

I've used LaCie drives for years and they seem to fail far less often than other drives I've used (WD, Seagate, Maxtor.) Perhaps one of the reasons that my hard drives fail often is that I tend to be a little rough on them. I edit video, often on location, so I drag my drives all over the place. I'm hoping with it's rubberized shell, this LaCie will go the distance. I love that it is self-powered so I don't have to lug a power adapter with me. It's one of the few portable drives that is fast enough for video editing. I purchased the case LaCie Cozy 3.5-Inch Hard Drive Carrying Case 130903 (Grey) for it as well to further protect it. I'll update this review if it dies.

Update: I've used this drive for a year and it's still going strong. I'm going to upgrade to a larger capacity model soon.

PS - It always makes my day to know that people find these reviews helpful. So, please vote (the "Was this review helpful to you: Yes or No" buttons) and leave a comment if you'd like, even if it's just to say, "Hi!" I respond to all comments so feel free to ask a question about the product. Also, when you leave a comment, I will go to your reviews and pay you the same courtesy.

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little hard drive August 19, 2008

By Claire Jordan TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Size Name:200 GB|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've used LaCie drives for years and they seem to fail far less often than other drives I've used (WD, Seagate, Maxtor.) Perhaps one of the reasons that my hard rives fail often is that I tend to be a little rough on them. I edit video, often on location, so I drag my drives all over the place. I'm hoping with it's rubberized shell, this LaCie will go the distance. I love that it is self-powered so I don't have to lug a power adapter with me. It's one of the few portable drives that is fast enough for video editing. I purchased the case LaCie Cozy 3.5-Inch Hard Drive Carrying Case 130903 (Grey) for it as well to further protect it. I'll update this review if it dies.

Update: I've used this drive for a year and it's still going strong! I'm going to upgrade to a larger capacity model soon.

PS - It always makes my day to know that people find these reviews helpful. So, please vote (the "Was this review helpful to you: Yes or No" buttons) and leave a comment if you'd like, even if it's just to say, "Hi!" I respond to all comments so feel free to ask a question about the product. Also, when you leave a comment, I will go to your reviews and pay you the same courtesy.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Failed - and lack of support from Lacie March 5, 2010

By Shawn Rimmell

Size Name:500 GB|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this item from Amazon on Feb 10, 2010.
It fails on Mar 2, 2010.

It worked great for the first 20 odd days!

I contacted Lacie on Mar 2 and got the run-around for two days. I purchased the $49.99 Premium Care for this drive to help expedite support.
It is now Mar 5, and Lacie has not responded to my support ticket (the last correspondence indicated I still needed to pay for shipment back to Lacie.

Advise - NEVER purchase any support from Lacie - they have no clue what it really means. Seagate offers a $19.99 advance replacement program which I have used once and the experience with them was awesome.

-Shawn