Our Verdict
The Western Digital 6GB Passport Pocket Hard Drive is 2.5-inch micro-drive-based. Aptly named Passport, this 6 GB drive isn’t much larger than a Zippo lighter. Encased in a plastic casing, it is sturdy enough to withstand a fair amount of shock. The drive has a retractable USB connector that can swivel 180 degrees for easy attachment.
Based on a 5400 rpm drive, this model delivers the expected fastest performance compared to the others in its class: just 150 seconds to transfer a GB of assorted files and only 110 for a sequential transfer.
The drive comes without a CD, but WD has included the WD Sync software on the drive, which lets you easily synchronise and back up your data. You can even synchronise with Outlook.
Runner-Up: Seagate 5.0 GB Pocket Hard Drive
LaCie Design by F.A. Porsche 40 GB
Specifications
40 GB; 5400 rpm; 2 MB buffer; dimensions: 129 x 76 x 17 mm; weight: 180 gm; USB 2.0
Our Verdict
The LaCie Design by F. A. Porsche was designed by the well-known design agency Porsche Design GmbH. The drive has the USB 2.0 interface, but it also has a separate power connector. This is useful when the USB port of your computer is incapable of providing adequate power to the drive. The LaCie comes with 1-Click, a backup software, and MacDrive, a software that allows you to connect and use Macintosh-formatted media directly on a PC.
This model posted the highest overall scores in SiSoft Sandra, and performed respectably well in HDTach as well. Real-world file transfer tests saw it deliver the fastest times.
With a cost per MB of just 13 paise, good build quality, cool looks, and sound performance, what more could you ask for?
Runner-Up: Transcend StoreJet 2.5 80 GB
Our Verdict
Apart from the good specs, it is rugged, and has a stand so you can keep it in the upright position and save desktop space. When kept horizontally, more drives of its kind can be stacked one above the other.
The drive has a USB 2.0 port, and two FireWire ports to facilitate the connection of multiple drives in a chain to augment storage capacity.
Data backup software called Bounceback Express comes bundled, as does DiscWizard, which performs hard drive maintenance functions.
The low price of Rs 6,500, giving this drive a low cost per MB of just 4 paise, was the deciding factor in fetching it the Zero1 Award in this category.
Runner-Up: Seagate Pushbutton Backup 200 GB