Seagate 400GB Pushbutton Backup USB 2.0/FireWire HDD Review

All of us have movies, pictures and/or music that we treasure and would hate to lose. You may have already heard or read it a thousand times, but you really should back up any data that is important to you. Before you reach for those 3.5" floppies, you should realize that your backed up data is only as good as the media you put it on, which is why you should steer clear of floppies, especially when there are so many superior options available today. Besides, you can't fit much more than a few school papers on a floppy.

One common option employed is to install and utilize a spare hard drive. In the end this is probably the most convenient option because your backup media (the spare HDD) is right at your finger tips every time you use that PC. Unfortunately, if it's installed in your PC, that solution isn't very easy to take with you when you're on the go. This is one of the reasons external solutions are so popular; they make back up and sharing easy and convenient. Flash memory and hard drives are the most common external storage types for personal use. While I can't live without my 2GB USB flash drive, it just isn't big enough to back up all my media files. But, Seagate's 400GB Pushbutton Backup USB 2.0/FireWire external hard drive easily solves that problem.

Not only is this drive one of the biggest external drives available, it also offers the convenience of push-button backups, which allow you to simply push a button to initiate a backup (if you use the included software that is). Additionally, this drive features USB 2.0 and FireWire connectivity. Keep on reading to see how well this solution works.

Features

• Fast, Versatile, High-Capacity Storage
  • Available in a wide range of capacities, these compact, durable drives are ideal for all your business and personal storage needs. You can easily protect and access everything from multimedia presentations and digital photos to MPEG video and DVDs. Plus, you can connect with either USB 2.0 or FireWire.
• Back up with the touch of a button. Award-winning BounceBack Express software from CMS backs up faster and easier than any other method.
• High-performance 7200-RPM drives, with 8-Mbyte or 16-Mbyte cache.
• On/off button eliminates concerns that your hard drive hasn't been shut down safely.
• Built-in self-monitoring technology continuously checks your hard drive for data safety and drive performance.
• Advanced software lets you retrieve files fast, and even password-protect your data for added security.
• Designed to run much cooler than other external drives.
• Hot-swappable, so you can connect and disconnect without turning off your computer.
• Complete with USB 2.0 cable, FireWire 1394a cable, AC adapter and power cord, quick installation guide and backup software CD.
• Worry-free, one-year warranty - Full guarantee covers all parts and labor.
• Free tech support - Rely on Seagate for friendly, free technical advice even after your warranty ends.

Drive Specifications

• 7200 RPM
• 8MB cache
• 350 Gs nonoperating shock resistance
• Whisper quiet: less than 25 acoustic decibels
• Blue activity lights
• Horizontal dimensions: 7.125" D x 6.5" W x 2.25" H
• Vertical dimensions with pedestal: 7.125" D x 2.5" W x 7" H
• Weight: 2 lb. 9.5 oz.