Two backups are better than one. It is the only principle, the geeks close than follow the Prime Directive.
Back up your data on a drive, and make a backup of a backup voila, the second drive in an exact duplicate of the first. In IT parlance referred to as a redundant backup, and the most popular system for dealing with it is RAID or redundant array of independent disks.
The Popdrive DHK outsourcing plans, one of the first low-cost, consumer level RAID drives to be. It comes packaged with two separately, Western Digital 2.5 inch hard drives, such as those in laptops. The package with two 500 GB hard drives will cost you $250, for two 750 GB drives, you'll pay $350.
You get a USB 2.0 cable and an eSATA cable. The drives which in two retractable slots on the aluminium housings are Popdrive pop, hot swap, if you use the eSATA cable, but not when used USB. Unfortunately, most computers today have not the faster eSATA ports, but for those who do, the throughput is fast - you get 3 GB / s eSATA versus 480 Mbit / second1 USB 2.0.
While the idea for the Popdrive is easy, if he is not. In fact, is the Popdrive establish stuck as on night at the airport in a Blizzard. Also from the DHK storage, the process entry leads a leisurely 10 to 15 hours. It took 12, especially during the drives mirrored and for the first time with that includes each other, enigmatic SteelVine Manager software checks. The virgin discs had to then format and partitioning are; an other user assistance exercise, but this time with native Windows or Mac utilities. Fortunately the illustrated step-by-step manual on the installation CD me through the process led, but I kept me why a product aimed, consumers with pontificating loaded would come ' mumbo jumbo. As furniture from IKEA should read the package "-Assembly required."
But once this agonizingly slow exercise is complete, the Popdrive is ready to rock ' n ' roll. To avoid confusion, it establishes Popdrive with only a drive letter. We provide only on a drive, as well as always, the second drive is only a slave of the first.
With the price of external hard drives drives in the range of 500-750 GB now below $100, what's the big deal about the Popdrive, that about three times as much costs? For one thing, while external hard drives are cheap, they offer no security or malfunction if they crash. You are not yet that "Fail Safe" backup links. The Popdrive contains always a second, accurate double drive. And if a drive dies, you can easily stick in another by popping open the door. The Popdrive accepts almost all 2, 2.5 inch hard drive, whether new or one of your notebook.
The real cost of Popdrive is those who takes it, the effort to get it up and running. Past offers the peace of mind that backing up your data has a just-in case twin.
WIRED At the same time secure portable consumer versions of IT-style RAID drive with a set of two disks, one of the other. Aluminum construction is light - about a pound - but robust. Work with either USB or eSATA, both cable included.
Tired Spending half a day set up with a dull utility trying your patience. You can create your own for cheaper you create have the smarts.
Photo by Jon Snyder/wired
1: The original version of the review adulterated the speed of eSATA and USB, citing instead gigabytes of Gigabit and MB instead of megabits.
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