LaCie Intros Rugged SSD with USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt

LaCie said on Tuesday that the latest models added to its Rugged series of HDDs and SSDs are the first to feature both a USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt interface on the same form factor. The SSD models offer an average transfer rate of up to 380 MB/s, making them "the fastest bus-powered product ever." The HDD model performs admirably as well, up to 110 MB/s in fact, a 35-percent improvement over FireWire 800.

Available now, the new Rugged drives arrive in three speedy flavors: a 1 TB HDD model for $249.99, a 120 GB SSD model for $199.99 and a 256 GB SSD model for $349.99. The drives are bus powered, so users typically aren't required to fumble with an external power source. However when using the Thunderbolt interface, owners must use the electrical Thunderbolt cables to power the drive, as the recently released optical Thunderbolt cables don't support bus powering.

LaCie's new Rugged series gets its name honestly, as all three are MIL-compliant for superior data protection from accidental drops up to 4 feet – the SSD models are even resistant to intense vibration and shock. They're also tough enough to be shipped for reliable delivery to colleagues, clients or partners and includes AES 256-bit encryption software to protect files from prying eyes or theft.

"Since LaCie introduced the Rugged, it has been a favorite of creative professionals," said Philippe Spruch, CEO, LaCie. "It’s trusted and always with them through the content creation process. Today, LaCie gives the ultimate solution to those professionals. The most impressive speeds I’ve seen to revolutionize their productivity."

Because the drives provide both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt interfaces, they're guaranteed to work on any PC or Mac, Lacie said. And because USB 3.0 is backwards compatible, the user can connect it to "any standard computer on the planet."

LaCie said the three new drives are available through Apple Retail, as well as the LaCie Online Store and LaCie Resellers. Additional information can be accessed here.

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