Ab Work Outs: Seagate FreeAgent Pro eSata 500GB Hard Drive Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)i debated and researched for a long time before purchasing this drive, looking at western digital, lacie, and cavalry drives (as well as the option of purchasing an external case and drive, which ultimately seems more expensive, and more hassle, for the same thing) in addition to seagate products.i had been told by a friend that wd drives were a better value, but i actually found this to be untrue, as this drive was ever so slightly cheaper, and offers a 5 year warranty (wd only offers a 1 year warranty) standard with your purchase.

just went out and got this (it was slightly cheaper than the wd version of the same size and usb2/esata interface at the time of this review at a local retailer) and am very happy with it "in the flesh".as a designer, i am far from immune to the appeal of good looks--and this drive works well for me.it has a very modern deep, dark chocolate brown finish (yeah, even though it looks dark grey in the online pics) to the aluminum drive case, and the soft orange glow makes for a very modern, sharp look (especially as compared to the wd drive, which just looks like a big heavy black brick to me).the drive comes with the base permanently attached, a small power cord (no larger or bulkier than my cell phone recharge cord), and a usb cord.yep, that's right---no esata cord.i'm not a fan of this, but it seems to be standard with everyone, as if they've all agreed to gyp us on this point.

i've had it on for a few hours now, and the base gets warm to the touch, but not overly so.and the actual case enclosure stays nice and cool, so the base temperature doesn't bother me much.install is practically a plug and play, though there does not seem to be an easy way to partition the drive, at least through the software--guess i will just have to learn more of how to do this through disk management.i also made the decision to go with the usb2/esata--my computer actually doesn't have an esata port--however--this seems to be the wave of the future, and until i buy my next computer with one of these ports, the usb will do well.(also--it seems that in order to use the version of this drive with a firewire port, you have to physically remove a piece at the base of the drive and replace it with another, removing the usb/esata unit installed for the firewire--though i am not 100 percent certain on this, the book with the drive i purchased seems to suggest this).

a quick word on some things in other reviews that gave me pause, but were ultimately a ok.

--the unit really does stay cool.my guess is that this is why they made it have to stand up--the overheating elements of the drive are in the base, and away from your data, and the slightly larger footprint of base vs. drive case ensure it can be stacked with your books while keeping free air "breathing" space around the drive.

--if you don't like the orange glow, don't worry--the included software has a section in which you can turn it off--you don't have to go to the extreme of disconnecting the LED connection wires as another reviewer suggests.

--yes, the online backup offered with the pro is going to be pretty puny for anyone purchasing an external of this size--not exactly a practical second backup location.but the reason to get the pro is not the online backup, but the inclusion of the esata port.

--other reviews have suggested that the drive purchase offers only a 30 day trial of the memeo software--not true, actually.yes, when you first install the drive, it installs a trial version of the software.but the minute you actually open the backup, it will ask you for a product key (which is on a sticker on the inside of the product pamphlet included with the drive) which when entered (as with most software), allows you to use the full software.

all in all, i like it and would recommend it.

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Product Description:
For the person who needs access to their digital content away from home, at work, or online, while also allowing that same content to be shared in a secure setting, look no further than the Seagate Free Agent Pro Portable Hard Drive. This powerful portable hard drive delivers high-speed transfers, while also giving you the ability to share content with others safely and securely from a remote location or even online.

Powerful storage device with a sleek new design.

This hip-looking hard drive takes up less room on your desk than an ordinary stapler.

Share your content with others safely and securely. With up to 1 Terabyte and an ultra-slim design for a clutter-free desktop, your FreeAgent Pro external hard drive helps keep you safe from goof-ups by automatically saving new versions of your content that you can easily access if need be. And should something happen to your PC, you can roll back your Windows operating system, settings, and applications to a point in time when they ran smoother, like before a virus attack. Even though the system settings are taken back in time, updates to photos, music and critical data files are kept current.
The Free Agent Pro is also ideal for those who want quick and painless transfers of their data from their computer to their drive, and from their drive to online accounts (such as Shutterfly or email). Simply plug it in to any power source and connect the USB cable to any computer, and you're ready to go. This hip-looking hard drive takes up less room on your desk than an ordinary stapler--1 x 3 x 5.2 inches (H x D x W)-- giving you more space for your other desktop items. Meanwhile, the hard drive only measures 7.5 x 1.4 x 6.3-inches (H x D x W) and it matches its small base.
High Speed Synchronization and Sharing
The Free Agent Pro data mover automatically duplicates and moves selected content from your hard drive to multiple locations, such as copying your contact lists and emails to your iPod, or photos to a Shutterfly account. This feature also allows you to move your entire 'My Documents' folder to the Free Agent, or move it to your own online space where you (or others you choose) can access it from any browser 24/7. The Free Agent software also offers the feature of rolling back your system to better time if something should happen to your PC while automatic revisions of your content help keep you safe from goof-ups.
Move files or other content with either USB 2.0 or eSATA allowing a maximum transfer rate of 480Mb/sec for USB, and 3Gb/sec for eSATA, while delivering a high performance spindle speed of 7,200 RPM. The unit also comes with a sophisticated touch point power on/off switch.
The Free Agent Pro software and drive formatting works only with Windows, but the drive can easily be reformatted for a Mac with OS X's Disk Utility. This portable hard drive is also compatible with Windows Vista (as well as Windows XP and Windows 2000), allowing you to backup your content regardless of operating system upgrades. A five-year warranty is also included, giving you complete peace of mind. Now with the ability to take your data with you anywhere you go, your digital content finally has room to breathe.

What's in the Box
FreeAgent Pro data mover drive, Free Agent software (preloaded) and electronic documentation, USB2.0 and eSATA interfaces, USB 2.0 cable, AC power adapter, and a quick start guide.