External drive with style: Seagate FreeAgent Desktop

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

SEAGATE was the first to pioneer the large-capacity external hard drive in the last few years and most were well-built, truly protecting the sensitive hard disk inside. However, at the time, their external drives were expensive and still slower in performance compared to internal drives. It took a while before the old version of the USB was replaced by the faster performing USB 2.0, which has a transfer rate of 480 megabits per second compared to just 1.5 Mbps in USB 1.0. A few years later, Seagate starts to change their external hard disk business. This time, they launch a new model called the FreeAgent series, which includes mobile, entry level and professional level drives.

Seagate FreeAgent, distributed by Millennium Computer Technology Corp., has been totally redesigned from the ground up. That’s no surprise considering the fact that competitors have begun innovating. What’s more, some China-made new drive enclosures have provided budget-conscious techies alternative modes to have external drives.

The FreeAgent comes in four variants: the FreeAgent Go Small (12 Gigabytes) FreeAgent Go (80 to 160 Gb), FreeAgent Desktop (250 to 500 Gb) and the FreeAgent PRO (320 to 750 Gb). Apart from the sizes, there are a few differences in terms of extra features, though the Pro variant is the only one with automatic backup software as well as an online backup service.

The test was for the Desktop and Pro variants. While all of the variants have almost the same look, the FreeAgent Desktop and FreeAgent Pro are the ones with nearly the same design. Both are encased in hard but smooth black aluminum with orange LEDs running down along one side. These are also put straight up on one of their narrow sides on top of a solid base that has the output plugs for the power supply and the USB or Firewire cables. The base itself is not directly connected to the aluminum enclosure, making it look like the unit can tip over. However the design is both aesthetic and functional.

The difference between the two units is that the FreeAgent Desktop is just basically an external hard drive. Connect it to a USB plug and a power source the unit will be identified by Windows XP or Windows Vista as an external drive, much like attaching a USB flash drive into it. After it is identified, the user can start copying and pasting content from the PC hard drive to the FreeAgent Desktop. However, if the user has a third-party backup software, the FreeAgent Desktop can be used as the primary location for the backup, as long as it’s powered up.

Meanwhile, the FreeAgent Pro works similarly, except for several exclusive features such as the bundled backup software called Memeo, which works pretty well but is almost no different from other backup applications. Memeo, however, has one advantage and that is the Internet Drive option, which allows the user to have a 30-day free trial of an online backup and storage service, assuming the computer is connected to the Internet.

The user can set the FreeAgent Pro to connect and upload files online whenever it is backing up. There is a maximum capacity of 500 megabytes of online space when using the online service. Of course, it is not forever free and after the 30-day trial, users will have to pay around $30 for the same 500 Mb space. The biggest space that can be offered is 5 Gb, worth $120. While the cost of the service may be high, there is no limit to the size of each file that can be uploaded; thus, it becomes useful for FreeAgent owners who are in the multimedia business where files are usually very large.

Other features of the FreeAgent Pro are an extra Firewire and e-SATA plug, depending on the connectivity need of the user.

Going back to the design, the FreeAgent Pro and Desktop can both last for hours even at room temperature without ever heating up. The only part that does heat up is the stand. As the designers have dictated it, the heat is transferred downwards via a series of heatsinks, making the bottom side hot but ensuring that the hard disks are not affected (heat is the worst enemy of hard disks). There are no fans in any of the FreeAgents, unlike in PCs where heat is sucked out by small fans, thus the units’ operations are quiet. The online time there is sound from the external drives is when the plates are rotating, which is almost inaudible as well. The base is extremely solid, enabling the hard disks to stand upright, drawing heat away from the hard disks.

Overall, the FreeAgent line of external hard disks is perhaps the best in the branded category. They have the sleekest designs and deliver performance as promised. However, they still face competition from external hard disk enclosure makers, some of which have added extra features such as direct play to a TV set. Perhaps Seagate could count on the long-term performance of their device. I’ve personally tested some of the third-party external drive enclosures and there are times when my hard disk fails due to lack of proper heat dissipation. Seagate might still win this.

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