Pros & Cons
SmartDisk FireLite Specs
| Ports: | USB 2.0 |
| Rotation Speed: | 4200 rpm |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested): | 80 GB |
Company:
SmartDisk Corp., www.smartdisk.com
Price:
$279.99 list.
Spec Data:
80GB; 4,200 rpm; USB 2.0; 0.7 x 3.3 x 5.1 inches, 6.0 ounces
Pros:
Good amount of storage; good performance; flexible interface and power options; reasonably priced.
Cons:
Backup software would be a nice addition.
Bottom Line:
The price for 80GB is right in the ballpark, and you get a choice of interfaces and power options.
Review
The 80GB SmartDisk FireLite is a shirt-pocket–size drive; it's a mere 6 ounces, barely noticeable in your bag, and a tidy 0.7 by 3.3 by 5.1 inches...
The 80GB SmartDisk FireLite is a shirt-pocket–size drive; it's a mere 6 ounces, barely noticeable in your bag, and a tidy 0.7 by 3.3 by 5.1 inches. We tested the USB 2.0 model, but SmartDisk also makes a FireLite with a FireWire 400 port. The FireLite was noticeably faster than the CMS and Transcend USB-powered drives, clocking 66 megabits per second to their 47 and 48 Mbps performance on our large directory test. We also found the FireLite faster than the CMS ABSplus on our multi-media test but essentially the same speed as the Transcend drive.
Installation under Windows XP is uneventful—you just plug the drive in. For systems that can't provide sufficient power from their USB ports, SmartDisk also includes a cable that will borrow power from a keyboard port.
The FireLite does not ship with any backup utility software; it's as suitable as a general-purpose external drive as it is as a backup drive. The lack of an external power supply will appeal especially to laptop users. We were able to schedule backups with Microsoft's backup utility, but there is no specific software for booting your system from the FireLite. You can, of course, use it in conjunction with the XP Backup Wizard, which creates a bootable floppy disk and a backup of your system.
At $280, the FireLite is one of the lower-cost drives in our roundup, and it's also a good value. But a comprehensive backup software bundle like Transcend's would make this a more attractive storage solution.