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Review
Created: January, 2001
It used to be that if you needed to transfer files from one
computer to another, you used a floppy disk.
The major problem was the lack of adequate storage; one disk
could only hold 1.44 megabytes. CD writers are now in vogue:
they can save up to 700 megabytes worth of files. But sometimes
that still isn't enough. If you need to transfer gigabytes of
files, the VST USB/FireWire Hard Drive is an option worth considering.
It's a portable hard drive measuring about three inches by five
inches and two thirds of an inch thick. Its weight is a non-factor.
You'll have to pack a couple wires and a CD with it during travel
but, overall, its portability receives top marks.
It connects with either a USB or FireWire connection and can
be used with both PCs and Macs. But even with all that upside
the VST USB/FireWire Hard Drive still has weaknesses.
It's disappointing when a product is sold without a printed
manual. It's even worse when the manual included on a CD doesn't
do the job.
After about a dozen attempts at correcting a failed driver installation,
the manual was of no help whatsoever. It then took a lot digging
through VST's Web site before finding a fix. No matter how great
a product, this issue could cause great frustration for those
without Internet access or the wherewithal to track down a solution.
You'll need to install the drivers on every new computer that
you want to connect with. So you'll have to be sure to bring
the installation CD along with you during travels.
Luckily, even if you do encounter problems during installation,
once you're up and running, your frustrations will be forgotten.
The VST USB/FireWire Hard Drive appears on screen as an icon
and works exactly like a hard drive inside of your computer.
After an initial formatting process, files can be stored on
the drive and then moved to another computer. It's hot-swappable
and hot-plugable meaning there's no need for rebooting or shutting
down when connecting or disconnecting.
You can buy the VST USB/FireWire Hard Drive in a variety of
sizes ranging from three gigabytes to 30 gigabytes. Comparing
the price to standard hard drives, it's no contest. You're basically
paying through the nose for portability. For the same price
you could get a hard drive close to a triple digit capacity.
But the difference is that you couldn't conveniently take it
with you everywhere you go.
If your business involves transferring files in large numbers,
a portable hard drive could be exactly what you need. If you
find yourself carrying a stack of CDs and have more than one
CD burner working constantly, you may need the VST USB/FireWire
Hard Drive. It's also handy as a substitute for dragging a notebook
computer around to presentations or meetings when you could
just use another computer on site.
The VST USB/FireWire Hard Drive is an expensive but handy way
to transfer files and share them with both Macs and PCs. Initial
setup problems and the lack of good documentation could cause
trouble but it's a convenient product for the business professional
with big data storage needs.
Reviewer's rating: 3.75 / 5
Comments: Some frustration with the drivers and documentation
may occur but the ease of transferring gigabytes of files in
a small, compact package will eventually forgive any of the
product's problems.
System requirements:
Macs: FireWire/USB support, Mac OS 8.6 or higher
PCs: A Pentium 200 MHz with FireWire/USB support, Windows 98SE
or higher
More info: http://www.vsttech.com
Buy it: On the web at PC
Mall
Price: $289 US, $429 Canadian
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Adding RAM is easy, 