LaCie Mobile Rugged RAID-0/1 With Two HDDs

LaCie, a brand from Seagate Technology plc, announced Rugged RAID, a product to join its line of iconic rugged mobile HDDs.

The Rugged RAID features twice the speed and capacity of a standard mobile HDD ⁽¹⁾ – all with the same rugged portability and durability that enthusiasts have come to expect. It is also the only product in its class to feature hardware RAID-0 and 1, which lets professionals optimize the product for speed or data security according to their workflow – and use it on any Mac or PC.

When on a deadline, every second counts. The Rugged drive features Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 along with two internal HDDs that are preconfigured in hardware RAID-0 for sustained performance of up to 240MB/s ⁽²⁾. With this speed, users can transfer 64GB of content in less than five minutes, and even start to edit photos in the field with Lightroom. This time savings is key for field-based professionals who collect and move tons of data onto external storage.

Professionals, especially photographers, face the challenge of keeping up with ever-increasing resolutions and file sizes. The Rugged HDD addresses this challenge by featuring 4TB in a compact footprint. With this capacity, it can store the equivalent of sixty 64GB memory cards. This allows professionals to carry fewer drives while acquiring more photos, footage, and other types of content in the field.

The Rugged features RAID-1 (mirrored mode), which is where the data is duplicated across the two drives. So, even if a single drive fails in the field, the data remains accessible from the other drive. This is especially helpful to on-the-go professionals with limited laptop capacity. The Rugged can serve as the primary safe storage during travel. Even in the case of a single drive failure, data is protected.

For added data protection, the Rugged is resistant to shock, dust and water. It is tested to withstand drops ⁽³⁾ of up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) and 1 ton of pressure. With its cap in place, the Rugged is IP 54-rated for resistance to dust and water splashing – even during operation. So whether it takes a jarring jeep ride, is buried under stacks of suitcases in the airplane cargo hold, or gets splashed during a tropical downpour, the data remains safe and accessible.

Portability is key, and professionals need their equipment to go and work anywhere. Powered through the Thunderbolt cable, the Rugged offers access to the data anywhere – no power outlet required. The integrated Thunderbolt cable ensures that the cable cannot be lost. Plus, with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0, it works with any standard computer.

The Rugged includes a backup software suite and compatibility with Time Machine and Windows Backup. It also includes Private-Public software, which lets users password-protect the entire drive or only certain volumes with AES 256-bit encryption.

See the Rugged RAID hit the North Shore with Zak Noyle, surf photographer.

The Rugged RAID, design by Neil Poulton, will be available in a 4TB capacity (MSRP $449.99) this quarter through the LaCie Online Store and Resellers.

It features a three-year limited warranty that can also be extended and upgraded. It provides comprehensive, complimentary web-based resources, expert in-house technical support, and repair and/or replacement coverage.

⁽¹⁾ Standard mobile HDD is defined as a 2TB HDD product with speeds of approximately 120MB/s.
⁽²⁾ These transfer rates were achieved using AJA System Test when connected to a Mac computer via the Thunderbolt interface. Actual data rates may vary depending on operating environment and other factors, such as chosen interface and disk capacity.
⁽³⁾ In non-operating mode.