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Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro 2.5-inch (500GB)

07 Jul 2010

The newest and fastest of Seagate's 2.5-inch portable hard drive series, the GoFlex Pro model utilizes a 7200rpm drive for better performance. Comes with a desktop docking station and USB 2.0 connectivity, but can be upgraded with eSATA, USB 3.0 and more options.

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HWZ's Overall Rating: 8.5

Design:

Performance:

Features:

Value:

Upgradable Interface Options

Decent Performance

Short GoFlex cables

Dock supports only USB 2.0

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			<h2 class="header-green">Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro - Versatile Portable Storage</h2>
		<span class="byline">Reviewed by Vijay Anand on Thursday, 08 Jul 2010</span>
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		 		<h2 class="page-title">Seagate&#039;s New GoFlex Storage Solutions</h2>
		 		<h3 class="page_title">Seagate's New GoFlex Storage Solutions</h3>
<p>External storage drives are a dime a dozen these days, all the more because they are affordable and people increasingly realize the importance of these must-have gadgets. More people are using their PCs and engaging the internet in creative ways, thus creating the need for greater storage. While cloud services are growing, there's nothing like proper personal storage for privacy and immediate usage needs.</p>
<p>Not much has changed with portable storage drives these days other than the new USB 3.0 interface adopted on a few of the latest storage devices. However by large, most options in the market are still on USB 2.0 today. Seagate however, has a different take on their brand new series of FreeAgent GoFlex series of storage solutions. Emphasizing on flexibility and versatility, the new GoFlex products are pretty comprehensively thought out from implementation to marketing and we think they are on to something. We check their new line-up with the top of the line Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro 500GB external portable drive.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img height="501" width="450" src="/files/images/box-1.jpg" title="The packaging of the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex series has improved heaps from the FreeAgent Go lineup we've seen previously. Note that the Pro versions of the GoFlex drives as seen here are based on a 7200rpm drive and it's prominently noted on the box too." alt="" /></p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img height="354" width="500" src="/files/images/contents-1.jpg" title="The contents of include the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro 500GB drive, GoFlex USB 2.0 interface cable, and the GoFlex Dock." alt="" /></p>
<p class="rteleft">The star highlight of the GoFlex series is that the drive interface electronics is now on a dedicated attachment device, thus enabling Seagate to offer a whole array of interchangeable connectivity options and features with accessory add-ons. By default, all GoFlex drives get a GoFlex USB 2.0 interface cable bundled in the package. Upgrade options available from Seagate include a FireWire 800 kit, USB 3.0 kit, Powered eSATA kit, Auto Backup kit and more. You can even get multiples of any of the cable kits so that you can have one for your work place and another for your home, thus you only need to travel with the slim drive. As you might have guessed from the cable options, the drive is immediately compatible with PCs and Mac-based systems, just be sure to get the right connectivity option. These cable upgrade kits are a little expensive though, ranging from S$30 to S$60, depending on the cable choice.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><img height="500" width="450" src="/files/images/expansion-kit.jpg" title="Here's an example of a Powered eSATA cable upgrade kit. Take note that unlike the other connectivity options, this eSATA kit expressly indicates that it requires a powered eSATA to work such as the USB and eSATA combo ports. The GoFlex adapter doesn't have any power input options, so there is no way you can hook it up to a DIY eSATA expansion kit often found in slightly older motherboards where eSATA and power connections are separated." alt="" /></p>
<p class="rteleft">In addition to connectivity options, Seagate also has an expanded ecosystem of devices such as the FreeAgent GoFlex Net Media Sharing Device that allows you to dock up to two of their GoFlex portable drives that converts them into a NAS device and enables web interactivity (sharing and streaming content) via a Gigabit connection through your router. There's also a FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD Media Player that allows you to dock your external portable drive to effortlessly enjoy your media content with your home AV devices.</p>
<p>Now that you're more aware of the versatility offered by the GoFlex storage system, let's get back to finding out more details of the top of the line GoFlex Pro portable drive. Also, you might want to check on the Specs tab to get a quick overview of the drive's stats.</p>			</div>
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External Storage Guide

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Pro 2.5-inch (500GB)

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