Digital Trends

Larger Image | More Images

LaCie continues its tradition of designer-cased hard disk drives, with its latest hard disk offering USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and eSATA interfaces.

Peripheral and accessory maker LaCie has long believed that a hard disk only gets better if it sports a designer case—that's why the company has pulled in industrial designers like Sam Hecht, F. A. Porsche, and Ora-Īto to spiff up its storage offerings. But the company apparently also believes a hard disk isn't any good unless you can plug it into a computer, and to that end the company has revamped the LaCie Hard Disk—design by Neil Poulton—to sport not one, not two, but three interfaces so users can plug it into darn near any system they like. The black LaCie Hard Disk sports a blue underglow courtesy of a blue LED, comes in 500 GB, 750 GB, and 1 TB capacities, and offers USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and eSATA interfaces.

"We are very excited to offer the new triple interface Hard Disk, Design by Neil Poulton," said LaCie's product manager for desktop hard drives Lise Manteau, in a statement. "The USB-only version announced late last year has been very popular. With this new product offering, we are now able to reach customers who prefer faster transfer rates with FireWire 400 and eSATA 1.5 Gbit connectivity."

The eSATA interface supports transfer speeds of up to 80 GB per second; FireWire 400 offer about 35 MB per second, while USB 2.0 tops out around 30 MB per second. The drives com with cabling for all three interfaces and an external power supply, plus backup software for Mac OS X and Windows. The 500 GB version carries a suggested price of $149.99; LaCie is asking $229.99 for the 750 GB version and $339.99 for the 1 TB edition. All three capacities are available now through LaCie and LaCie's dealer network.