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Small form factor computers have gained in popularity over the last several years. These systems generally have onboard graphics chips and sound processors to lower the price, as well as limited internal expandability. Apple´s Mac mini and Jadetech´s MicroPC computers are in this category and by design, have virtually no internal expansion capabilities. And there´s the rub. Digital media devices such as DV camcorders, digital cameras, and music services have exploded in popularity over the last several years, and guess what, those who pursue these digital endeavors have found out just how quickly their puny 40GB or 80GB hard drives are filling up. Fortunately, there are companies that offer solutions to these limited capabilities via the connections that ship with nearly all computers these days.
FireWire and USB connections are godsends for installing peripherals on computers. Over the years, the two connection standards have enabled a whole different range of desktop peripherals to easily be connected to a computer. Storage devices are one of the devices that have benefited greatly from these connections. You don´t have to open your computer to install a hard drive that is FireWire or USB based, and there is a good market for flash-based storage devices that plug right into a USB port. We´re not talking about Flash based or micro drive based storage media, but of true hard drives in their own enclosures. That is where external storage devices seem to benefit the most, at least for those who have minimally upgradeable computers.
G-Technology, makers of FireWire based storage solutions has such a device with its G-Drive mini. The G-Drive mini is a portable storage device that offers up to 100GB of storage space in a bus powered mini form factor. The device, which is basically a hard drive in a highly designed metal enclosure with a bit of electronics mojo, connects to your PC or Mac via FireWire or USB 2. It is a hot pluggable device so you can move it easily between computers. |
