Verbatim Store n Go Portable (€159 for 1TB) With USM Module

Verbatim is unveiling a Store ‘n’ Go Universal Storage Module (USM) Portable Hard Drive, an upgradable storage solution.

It can be connected using a choice of interface cables such as USB 3.0, FireWire or Thunderbolt or directly using the SATA interface. The new USM Hard Drive comes with a complementary USB 3.0 USM cable and is available in retail stores fo €109 (500GB) and €159 (1TB).

Main specs:

• USM – Universal Storage Module, a new standard based on SATA hard drives
• Available in capacities of 500GB and 1TB
• Includes preloaded extensive software package (backup software, Green Button energy saving software, formatting software)
• USB 3.0 cable included in pack. FireWire 800 USM cable, eSATA USM cable, Thunderbolt USM adapter available separately.
• FAT-32 pre-formatted on both PC and Mac

When used as PC HDD storage, the USM can be connected in the same way as any standard external USB HDD by using the included USB 3.0 cable. The optionally available FireWire 800, eSATA and Thunderbolt cables provide the user with the possibility to choose between other computer interfaces.

Cable-free solution for CE devices
However, the advantage of the USM hard drive is that it has the possibility of being plugged directly into devices equipped with an USM slot.

USM is a standard specification to define slots to accept a complete, powered external storage device into consumer electronic devices. Modules, slots and interfaces designed according to the SATA USM specification will enable consumers to access their music, movies, photos and other content from a variety of consumer electronics products, and to transfer content between devices without the aid of additional power or cables.

"The SATA Universal Storage Module (USM) specification for portable storage applications was developed by the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), a non-profit industry consortium in cooperation with nearly 200 of the leading technology companies", Peter de Waal, product marketing manager for Verbatim Hard Disk Drives explains. "This standard enables developers to incorporate slots into televisions, game consoles, set-top boxes, computers, docking stations and other consumer electronic devices that will accept powered, cable-free storage modules with integrated powered SATA interfaces for expanding storage capacity."

USM-based products are available from vendors like Seagate and Lenovo with more brands and products to come in 2012 and 2013.

"In the near future we will see more and more CE manufacturers releasing products incorporating USM slots, thereby making USM the new media standard of the future," de Waal says.