Hitachi SimpleDrive External Hard Drives Reach 2 TB

Hitachi has just announced a redesigned SimpleDrive external hard drive...and they're available with capacities up to 2 TB.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has just taken the wraps off a resigned SimpleDrive external hard drive, featuring a vertical orientation that takes up less desk space than its predecessors, and an anodized aluminum enclosure that helps cool the drive. What’s more, the new SimpleDrive Rev 3’s are available in capacities up to 2 TB—and Hitachi is extending the top 2 TB capacity as an option across its entire line of 3.5-inch hard drive offerings.

Hitachi is emphasizing the SimpleDrives not only as a way to expand available storage on a system, but as a necessary backup option as users accumulate and pack away more and more digital content like movies, music, photographs, and video.

“Even though people are inundated with digital content daily, many are not taking the necessary precautions to safeguard their content,” said Hitachi GSP markting VP Azmat Ali, in a statement. “Our external drives, together with consistent backup practices, will help people keep their digital memories, entertainment and business documents safe.”

The SimpleDrive Rev 4 features a USB 2.0 interface (using a mini 4-pin socket) and relies on an external 12V/1.5A external power adapter, rather than running off bus power. The drive will work with Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac OS X 10.3 or later, and is available in capacities of 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB for suggested retail prices of $99,99, $129,99, and $249.99 respectively.

Hitachi GST is also extending the 2 TB top capacity across its 3.5-inch drive offerings, including the SimpleTech Pro drive (which features USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and eSATA interfaces), along with the RAID-savvy SimpleTech Duo Pro and the company’s internal hard drive kits.