Turbocharged Transfers
The TurboUSB feature incorporated on the Buffalo HD-HS250U2 external hard drive promises a 37 per cent improvement in transfer speeds over regular PATA-based external USB drives.
The drive is well built with matte-black plastic edges. The bottom half of the silver coloured side panel and the top panel have pores to aid air circulation. Additionally, you can improve the drive’s cooling by clipping the optional HD-HSU2 fan to the top of the drive.
The drive automatically powers itself down when it detects a disconnection from the host PC, or when the PC shuts down. It enters a state of hibernation when inactive for a preset amount of time. The bundled Secure Lock Ware allows AES 256/128 encryption of important data, preventing unauthorised access. Then, Memeo AutoBackup is a feature-rich and simple-to-use software—it allows you to back up to a shared network device, network folder, iPod, Memeo Internet drive, or Flash drive.
The tests were performed in both normal and TurboUSB mode. In the latter, the drive outper-formed the Digit Best Buy June 2007 Western Digital MyBook Essential (500 GB). Switching between Turbo and normal mode is easy using the TurboUSB utility.
The drive is definitely not the cheapest amongst the 250 GB drives available, though the performance in TurboUSB mode justifies the cost to an extent. Power management, along with the option for additional cooling, makes it a good purchase if you’re looking for a dedicated external drive.
| RATINGS |
| Features : 3.5 |
| Performance : 3.5 |
| Build Quality : 3 |
| Value for money : 2 |
| Overall : 3 |
Specifications
7200 rpm SATA; USB 2.0; TurboUSB; Dimensions: 4.6 (W) x 16.3 (D) x 20(H) cm; Weight: 6.2 kg
Contact : Buffalo Inc.
Phone : 91-11-41436751
E-mail : csbuffalo@adventelectronics.com
Web site : www.buffalotech.com
Price : Rs 7,800