Hitachi Launches First External Hard Drives

Traditionally, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has been all about the internal hard drive. That paradigm changes today, though, with Hitachi's announcement that it is joining its competitors in the external hard drive space.

I find Hitachi's decision to launch an external hard drive now an interesting choice: After all, the market is crowded with external hard drives, including 500GB models priced at under $150.

But Hitachi is confident there's room at the party for one more player. Says Marcia Bencala, vice president of marketing and strategy at Hitachi, "With the growth prospects of this segment, we definitely feel there's room for another supplier. Analysts are predicting a rapid expansion of the personal USB-attached storage market and given consumers' almost insatiable desire to create and share more and more digital content; we saw an opportunity to deliver high-capacity external storage products directly to the consumer segment."

Hitachi's spec sheet emphasis look and ease-of-use over such performance specs as RPM and shock ratings. The drives, dubbed the External USB Storage and Portable USB Storage drives, ship to Best Buy stores this week. The External USB Storage line of drives will be available in 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB capacities. The Portable USB Storage drives will be available in 160GB, 200GB, and 250GB capacities. Hitachi says Best Buy will be setting the prices on these models.

The three external, desktop-sized drives are black, and feature Hitachi's upright drive design, with an elegantly cinched-in middle. The drives are USB 2.0 connected, and are designed to operate quietly. Each model comes pre-loaded with ArcSoft's Total Media Backup software, so you don't need an installation disc to get up and running. Just plug the drive in and follow the prompts on the screen to ready your system for backup. Future backups can be initiated by pressing the large button on the front of the unit.

Comments

I don't think this is the "first external hardrive" as U state = "Hitachi Launches First External Hard Drives"

it may be hitachi's - but you have a really unfortunate title for yor story.

buckwalter

June 05, 2007

7:19 AM PT