World’s First USB 3.0 RAID From LaCie?

LaCie, in collaboration with Symwave, Inc., supplier of system solutions for SuperSpeed USB devices, announced the industry’s first dual hard disk RAID storage solution based on the new SuperSpeed USB (3.0) standard.

LaCie’s 2Big USB 3.0, a dual-disk RAID 0/1 storage solution, powered by Symwave’s USB 3.0 standard-compliant dual SATA and RAID bridge controller, reaches the highest throughput ever achieved in a USB 3.0 external storage product – setting a new standard in the dual disk market. The 2Big USB 3.0 will be available in up to 4TB capacities and is bundled with backup software for both Mac and PC users.

“LaCie has a strong worldwide brand and a proven track record for developing high-performance and innovative storage solutions. This collaboration with LaCie, which coincides with our SW6318 USB 3.0 dual-SATA product announcement is yet another first in the industry and for Symwave,” said John O’Neill, Vice President of Marketing at Symwave. “The end user experience of external storage is undergoing a very significant upgrade with the launch of USB 3.0 products. We are pleased to be leading the market transition with such a strong partner like LaCie.”

“Offering fast speeds is a major priority for LaCie. Our customers have long-awaited a robust, super fast interface to enable a better workflow. Symwave’s industry-leading dual SATA bridge controller enabled us to address this demand, and to achieve the highest speed ever obtained with a dual-disk solution,” said Minh Lê, Marketing Director at LaCie. “LaCie intends to lead the market transition to USB 3.0 technology and will launch a full range of products in the coming months.”

Now professionals who require a large data flow can leverage the USB 3.0 interface. Developed for users that require sizeable data flow and fast storage products – such as video professionals who needs high bandwidth, the 2Big USB 3.0 will let users transfer a high-definition uncompressed video at speeds up to 275MB/s burst read transfer speed, or perform real time streaming and editing of multiple HD files simultaneously.

The LaCie 2big USB 3.0 will be available in early 2010 and will be showcased at CES 2010, January 7-10, 2009 in both the USB-IF Pavilion (South Hall) and in Symwave’s private suite at the Las Vegas Hilton (Suite #2900).