Derrick
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This device is ideal for a business environment, not only by dint of its functionality, but also by dint of its price tag! Most private users will find the unit a bit too pricey. Nevertheless, in the correct context, this unit can become quite indispensable. If used for its intended purpose, the REV 120GB performs admirably.
We live in an age of portable information.
Whether it is a USB flash drive, a cellphone’s on-board or card-based memory, an external hard drive, or perhaps a notebook or PDA, most of us usually have some portable storage device for transporting or saving data.
External drives come in two primary varieties: bulky drive enclosures that require external power; and the compact models (usually incorporating a notebook drive) that are powered via a USB port. The bulkier models also sometimes offer alternative connections, such as FireWire or eSATA (external SATA). Iomega brings something rather different to the party with its REV 120GB.
In terms of physical characteristics, this device falls somewhere in the middle: it is fairly compact, but still requires external power. While this would normally be considered a disadvantage, in the context of this unit, it is not a problem.
To understand why this is the case, let us look at what the REV 120GB is actually about. The device is a compact drive that accepts drive cartridges, each of these with a capacity of 120GB.
In this way, this drive is quite reminiscent of backup tape drives of old (well, not so long ago, actually).
What this drive does is combining the massively scalable storage capacity of tape drives with the flexibility and random access of hard drives. This, to a large extent, defines this drive’s role as a primary backup device for mediumsized companies.
Large backups can be scheduled, and the drive cartridges can then be archived. The drive cartridges are very compact. They also store almost 30 times as much data as a DVD, which means that the REV 120GB allows a similar level of physical compartmentalisation of data, but with much higher capacity, and with the access simplicity of a hard drive (as opposed to the potential hassles of burning an optical disc).
Another possible purpose for the device is more specialised. Picture for a moment the professional who has two workstations (one at the office and the other at home), and who requires the processing of large amounts of data (high-end graphical work, or audio or video editing, come to mind). Such a person could have two such drives - one at each location - and a few drive cartridges, and easily move the data to-and-fro, without even needing to synchronise it (which can be a nuisance at times, or even quite tricky in some cases).
Of course, the REV 120GB can be used as a traditional external drive, too, if desired.
The drive performs well. Considering that it connects via USB, I was very impressed by its data transfer rate. Although not as fast as copying data from one internal drive to another, it nevertheless is quite fast and not that much slower than internal drive datatransfer rates.
On the downside, the unit is quite noisy, making distracting clicking sounds from time to time. In terms of aesthetics, the unit is slick and understated, and being very compact, tucks easily into any available space.The blue power light is also quite fetching.
Cartridges are ejected electro-mechanically, so the drive needs power for this - just as an optical drive does.
Price R5200.00
We live in an age of portable information.
Whether it is a USB flash drive, a cellphone’s on-board or card-based memory, an external hard drive, or perhaps a notebook or PDA, most of us usually have some portable storage device for transporting or saving data.
External drives come in two primary varieties: bulky drive enclosures that require external power; and the compact models (usually incorporating a notebook drive) that are powered via a USB port. The bulkier models also sometimes offer alternative connections, such as FireWire or eSATA (external SATA). Iomega brings something rather different to the party with its REV 120GB.
In terms of physical characteristics, this device falls somewhere in the middle: it is fairly compact, but still requires external power. While this would normally be considered a disadvantage, in the context of this unit, it is not a problem.
To understand why this is the case, let us look at what the REV 120GB is actually about. The device is a compact drive that accepts drive cartridges, each of these with a capacity of 120GB.
In this way, this drive is quite reminiscent of backup tape drives of old (well, not so long ago, actually).
What this drive does is combining the massively scalable storage capacity of tape drives with the flexibility and random access of hard drives. This, to a large extent, defines this drive’s role as a primary backup device for mediumsized companies.
Large backups can be scheduled, and the drive cartridges can then be archived. The drive cartridges are very compact. They also store almost 30 times as much data as a DVD, which means that the REV 120GB allows a similar level of physical compartmentalisation of data, but with much higher capacity, and with the access simplicity of a hard drive (as opposed to the potential hassles of burning an optical disc).
Another possible purpose for the device is more specialised. Picture for a moment the professional who has two workstations (one at the office and the other at home), and who requires the processing of large amounts of data (high-end graphical work, or audio or video editing, come to mind). Such a person could have two such drives - one at each location - and a few drive cartridges, and easily move the data to-and-fro, without even needing to synchronise it (which can be a nuisance at times, or even quite tricky in some cases).
Of course, the REV 120GB can be used as a traditional external drive, too, if desired.
The drive performs well. Considering that it connects via USB, I was very impressed by its data transfer rate. Although not as fast as copying data from one internal drive to another, it nevertheless is quite fast and not that much slower than internal drive datatransfer rates.
On the downside, the unit is quite noisy, making distracting clicking sounds from time to time. In terms of aesthetics, the unit is slick and understated, and being very compact, tucks easily into any available space.The blue power light is also quite fetching.
Cartridges are ejected electro-mechanically, so the drive needs power for this - just as an optical drive does.
Price R5200.00