Lacie Ethernet Disk Mini 500GB

External hard disks for network usage are beginning to become mainstream. Devices based on such solutions are also cropping up much frequently than before. Lacie introduced their high capacity 500GB Ethernet based hard disk which is a network-attached-storage(NAS) drive and can serve files to various entertainment attached to it.

Lacie Ethernet Disk Mini 500GB Specifications :

• Dimensions : 1.7″ x 6.8″ x 6.3″
• Processor installed : 400Mhz
• RAM installed : 64MB DRAM
• Capacity : 500GB
• Spindle speed : 7200 rpm
• Buffer size : 16GB
• OS Compatibility : Mac OS X 10.3 or later, Windows 2000,Xp,Vista
• Approx. price : $150

The device is very attractively priced which is one of its biggest attractions. The Lacie Ethernet Disk Mini 500GB can serve files to your PC, Xbox, your music system and of course your PC. And this all can be done without the need to power on your PC. If that was not enough, it can be configured to deliver files remotely ie. via Internet.

Talking about the build quality of the hard drive, the Disk Mini has a good strong build. Lacie has preferred to use metal for the external casing as against with other manufacturers using plastic for external hard drives. It has a big power button which gives you option to manually power off the drive. At the back, you will find the standard set of ports and also vents for heat to escape. It certainly looks quite a beauty sitting upright on your desk!

Lacie has bundled Hipserv software for categorizing your files in sets and also assign permissions for their access, always a handy feature to have. The best part about the software is its ease of use, it has lots of options but all can be easily accessed. But the backup software is just the opposite. It has fewer features, lots of restrictions and not very easy to use.

iTunes users have more reason to smile. They can use the hard disk as an iTunes server and hence make your favorite music files accessible. It also features uPnP support which makes it compatible with other music players such as Windows Media Player, nice way to keep Windows users interested.

Accessing files remotely can be a bit of pain due to slow speeds and also it can hang sometimes. Local access is smooth though with no hiccups whatsoever. The fast processor ensures that you have skip files without lag. The write speed is around 4.5 MB/s and read speed of 4MB/s. Those numbers are good enough for a NAS drive.

Pros :

• High capacity
• Good design and build
• Can be set up as iTunes server
• uPnP support
• Good performance
• Remotely accessible
• Great file sharing software

Cons :

• Unreliable remote accessibility
• Bit noisy
• Back software not upto mark

Final Thoughts

The Lacie Ethernet Disk Mini 500GB is the perfect solution for all your media streaming needs for your house. The attractive price makes it a much better buy. So if you want such a drive then go ahead and purchase it.

My Rating : 4.25/5