The Samsung G2 500GB external drive
By Jenny • Jul 7th, 2010 • Category: Mobile Computing Accessory News
- Photo: Samsung
As the lines between traditional consumer electronics manufacturers and specialist PC hardware manufacturers get more and more blurred, we’re seeing companies like Samsung encroaching in territory previously dominated by the likes of Lacie and Western Digital. We took the Samsung G2 500GB USB external hard drive for a spin to see how it compares, and you can read our thoughts below.
Stats attack
The Samsung G2 500GB USB external hard drive, as its name suggests, has a 500GB capacity. It runs at an okay 5400rpm and is whisper quiet. The disk is 2.5-inches in size, meaning it doesn’t need an external power source, so all you need is a sole USB cable for transferring data and plugging it in. Even when we tried very hard to listen out for it, we couldn’t hear so much as a fizz. To this effect, Samsung has included a clever blue LED light that remains solid when the drive is plugged in but inactive, and flashes on and off when data is being read off or written to it.
Aesthetics
The drives come in four colour varieties, namely cobalt black, silver white, cobalt blue and olive green. The top of the drive is studded – think almost of how lego blocks have those little connectors – that makes the drive shimmer when light bounces off of it. Sure, it makes no difference to performance, but it’s a pretty effect (and Twilight fans will certainly appreciate it).
Added features
- Photo: Samsung
The hard drive comes with Windows only (sorry Mac fans) password protection and backup features. While Time Machine should suffice for backing up a Mac, the file hiding and password protection of sensitive files would have been nice to have. Samsung also has faith in its manufacturing quality, selling the external hard drive with a healthy three-year warranty, which is always a good sign.
Performance
These drives are aimed squarely at consumers, and perform competently when held to that mantle. Professional users who need high 7200rpm disk speeds, or Firewire 800 or USB 3.0, which bring significantly improved transfer speeds, this drive is not for you.
Verdict
The Samsung G2 500GB USB external hard drive has grown on us the more we’ve used in. Its tiny, almost pocket book size makes it great for carrying with you pretty much everywhere you go and with its clever diminutive design, it won’t look out of place with your slightly flashier electronics. The omission of 7200 rpm and USB 3.0 may be a big deal for some, and if that’s the case, look elsewhere. Also the lack of Mac love in this day and age is somewhat bemusing. Nonetheless, if these things don’t deter you and you like smart design, it’s very difficult to say no to a product that comes with a three-year warranty.
Tags for this article: external drive, external harddrive, Samsung G2, usb, usb 3.0
