SimpleTech by Hitachi [re]drive R500U 500 GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Grey/Bamboo)

by SimpleTech

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.8 x 1.6 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001CZETXQ
• Item model number: R500U
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

[re]think storage with [re]drive. SimpleTech's resource-conscious R500U 500GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive takes to the next level with a host of energy-efficient and high-performance features. Featuring an elegant case made from naturally grown bamboo and recycled aluminum, the [re]drive offers a fast, reliable, and green way to save and transport your files, music, and photos.

The SimpleTech® [re]driveTM: Is made of naturally grown bamboo and recycled aluminum. Uses Turbo USB for speeds up to 25% faster than USB 2.0. Fabrik Ultimate BackupTM for 2 GB of free secure online storage. Is backed by a 1-year warranty.

The [re]drive case is made of naturally grown bamboo and recycled aluminum. View larger. View back.

Elegant Design
Side panels crafted from renewable, naturally grown bamboo and a durable case made of recycled aluminum come together in a unique, stylish design that helps keep the [re]drive cool without the use of a fan. This saves energy and ensures that the drive will be a quiet, unobtrusive addition to your work station.

Other energy-saving features include a low-power hard drive, an auto-sensing power feature that turns the drive on and off with your computer, and an Energy Star certified AC power adapter. And not to be outdone, the drive's packaging is even designed to reduce waste. All this to make the [re]drive a conscientious storage choice for anyone concerned about the environment.

Fast, Reliable Storage with Turbo USB 2.0
The [re]drive is a good choice for your storage needs; it's also a smart choice.

Featuring the Turbo USB 2.0 interface that moves data up to 25% faster than a USB 2.0 connection and 500 GB of storage, the [re]drive provides a speedy, reliable way to store and protect your data. (The Turbo USB 2.0 is compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1.)

Measuring just 4.75 x 7.50 x 1.60 inches (HxWxD), the [re]drive can be easily integrated into your home office or workstation, and it's compact enough for travel. Since it can operate standing vertically or sitting horizontally, it's the ideal choice for tight work spaces.

Award-Winning Local and Online Backup Options
SimpleTech includes two backup options that will keep your mind at ease regarding important data. With the included Fabrik Local Backup software, you can set up automatic backups from your computer to your [re]drive.

For ultimate protection, the [re]drive offers the award-winning Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution, so you can upload your files to a secure, online server and protect your data from real-world mishaps. This provides near-real-time protection without bogging down your computer. (Although the [re]drive is both Mac and PC compatible, at this time the Fabrik Ultimate Backup solution is only available for Windows-based computers.)

The drive has a distinctive, elegant look. View larger.

Fabrik's Ultimate Backup allows you to store up to 2 GB for free on one of its 448-bit encrypted servers, and for just a few dollars a month, you get unlimited capacity to securely store all of your important files and media collections offsite.

You simply set Fabrik Ultimate Backup once, and it automatically and regularly backs up your content behind the scenes. All backups -- to the external drive or online service -- are unobtrusive. Once your initial content has uploaded, the software will then perform incremental backups, so only the data that has been changed or modified in your files will be updated.

To keep your content private and confidential, all files are encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key. Fabrik's offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housed by a Fortune 500 company, ensuring protection, security, and peace of mind. So now, no matter what happens to your drive -- a curious toddler, a spilled drink, or natural disaster -- your irreplaceable photos, music, videos, and files are safe and secure both offsite and online.

The [re]drive comes with unlimited free technical support and is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
[re]drive Turbo USB 2.0 external hard drive, USB 2.0 cable, and Energy-Star AC adapter.

Product Description

Introducing SimpleTech [re]drive, the energy-efficient, resource-conscious external hard drive made with renewable, naturally grown bamboo and recyclable aluminum, the most recycled metal on the planet. These durable materials come together to create a unique design that looks and stays cool, without noisy fans. Add to that a low-power hard drive and Energy Star power adapter, and youve got a storage and backup solution that keeps your grid demands to a minimum. With Turbo USB 2.0 on board (up to 25% faster than USB 2.0) and award-winning backup software included, [re]drive is also a speedy, reliable drive thats plug n play simple ¿ perfect for giving you more room to store and protect your precious files from lifes little disasters. [re]think storage with [re]drive.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Returned this product, October 3, 2008

By 

C. Dixon "[e-mail]" (Sunnyvale, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SimpleTech by Hitachi [re]drive R500U 500 GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Grey/Bamboo) (Personal Computers)

I needed an external drive and wanted to minimize power consumption. The drive needed to be ready on demand but, when not in use, spin down to save power. This drive does not spin down ever. As long as the computer is on this drive is spinning. In addition, the drive would just vanish from the drive list for no apparent reason. I tried with both Vista and XP and it did the same thing. Their tech support never replied to several email requests.
I liked the packaging, very green, and was even prepared to pay a little more for it. However, it didn't work properly. I returned it and got a MyBook essential edition instead. It spins down when not in use and never vanishes from the drive list.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great drive, less guilt!, September 27, 2008

By 

Matthew Mendoza "Good Person" (Classy San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SimpleTech by Hitachi [re]drive R500U 500 GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Grey/Bamboo) (Personal Computers)

I just got this drive so I could backup all my music and pictures and so far I love it! I researched this drive and was quite happy to see all the steps the company took to reduce waste and power consumption. Its not quite as attractive as it looks in the photos, mainly because the metal is powder coated rather than a satin like coat but its a handsome devil nevertheless.
The package is completely barebones, finally! I am happy to report that the only thing in there I couldn't recycle was two little pieces of plastic that line the inside of the egg carton corner protectors. The startup guide is printed on the inside of the box and the software and manuals are all located on the drive itself, but it really is a plug and play device. It comes with this turbo USB software and it seems to make the transfers a bit faster. Overall I'm very happy with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone!!

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Failed after less than 30 days!!!, October 28, 2008

By 

Momma of Two (FLA Panhandle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SimpleTech by Hitachi [re]drive R500U 500 GB Turbo USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Grey/Bamboo) (Personal Computers)

First off - I bought this product to work with my Mac and TimeCapsule...
Well this "energy efficient" drive never spun down...It was always running (and I might add that its fan is quite noisy).
Second, when my Mac went to sleep, the drive would not spin down. Then when my Mac woke up, I would get an error message saying that the drive was not properly shut off and I could have lost all my data...I contacted tech support about this and they said that if I walk away from my computer I should always eject the drive...ANNOYING!
Third, after 3 weeks of use the drive has totally failed. It no longer shows up on my hard drive and is DEAD! Again, I contacted tech support and was advised that I could pay and mail it to them and wait for a replacement or return it to the store...
Lastly, SimpleTech's tech support sucks. They are slow to respond and do not fully stand behind their products. I was advised to just return the product to the store - If I still could.
I plan to return it and go with Apple's Time Capsule...Apple has great tech support and stands behind their products...No more Simple Tech for me!