Portable SSD Has USB, eSATA Connections

By Kevin Parrish
published

This cool flash drive features a USB and eSATA connector.

Is it a USB flash drive or its it a miniature, portable SSD? That's the question with Verbatim's new eSATA/USB combo SSD based on the device's appearance. Closely resembling SanDisk's Cruiser flash drives, Verbatim's SSD measures just over 3-inches long and less than an inch wide. There's also a sliding mechanism for storing and extracting both the eSATA and USB connectors (one at each end).

According to the specs, the Combo SSD delivers read speeds of up to 60 MB/sec. and write speeds of up to 25 MB/sec. in eSATA mode. When plugged in as a USB 2.0 device, the drive provides read speeds up to 26 MB/sec. and write speeds up to 15 MB/sec. The drive offers 32 GB of space, and is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. the drive even provides software to encrypt the stored data.

"The completely portable, built-in EasyLock software simultaneously encrypts documents as they are transferred to the Combo SSD drive," the company said in a press release. "EasyLock software guarantees 256-bit AES software encryption and minimizes the risk of data loss and theft. For older eSATA ports that do not carry current, there is a separate Y-cable included that creates a functioning eSATA port from the USB (power) and eSATA (data)."

Verbatim said that it's eSATA/USB Combo SSD is now available at "specialist" retail outlets.

Kevin Parrish
12 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ubernoobie
    I say it's just a regular flash drive
    Reply
  • endorphines
    Those speeds aren't even enough to saturate USB so the ESATA port is just a gimmick. A very cool gimmick, but still a gimmick.
    Reply
  • El_Capitan
    Mmm... imagine the speeds in RAID 0!
    Reply
  • buwish
    Yeah, it's just a flash drive with a lot of space.
    Reply
  • doomtomb
    Lol if it gets 200MB/s read, then we call it an SSD
    Reply
  • Drag0nR1der
    buwishYeah, it's just a flash drive with a lot of space.
    its not even a lot of space, there are a few 32GB memory sticks around now.

    As someone said, the speeds ar enowhere near enough for this to be considered a proper SSD drive, and it clearly lacks the proper interface hardware of SSD drives.

    Also not sure why the encryption software was worth a quatation, it's just fluff, encryption software hads been bundled with usb sticks for ever to try and sell them, i don't know anyone who actually uses it... if they need encryption then they already own the software they need for it... additionally, how exactly does it protect you from data loss?
    Reply
  • Gin Fushicho
    Too slow to call it a portable SSD.
    Reply
  • wildwell
    Marketing BS. Calling it a mobile SSD suggests better speeds than this has. It's a thumb drive with an eSATA option.
    Reply
  • It's a flashdrive with a USB interface. So, it's a USB stick.
    But it has an e sata connection, which technically makes it an external drive.
    Reply
  • jacobdrj
    OCZ had this last year. Almost bought one until i read that ESATA isn't buss powered...
    Reply