Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Seagate ’s latest arduous drive , theGoFlex Desk External Driveoffers a walloping 4 TB of computer memory . It also offers connectivity transcriber and comme il faut fastness . Do n’t get your hands all over it , though , because it quickly gets lousy from too much manipulation .
Upon first glance , the New GoFlex look like a thick soft-cover book . It stands vertically , incase in reflective black plastic . To keep the crusade cool , ventilation holes are on the top and back of the unit of measurement . The all - fatal finish looks great , but the reflective nature of the inclosure micturate it a fingerprint and spot magnet . In our lab , the crusade required constant cleaning with a indulgent material to keep it nice and shiny , something I was n’t piercing on doing every day . But in most situations , you ’ll set the GoFlex on your desk , and never have to deal it .
What crap Seagate external drives stand out is that they ’re not tied to one type of connector technology . Our review unit came with a USB 3.0 adapter ( compatible with USB 2.0 ) . you could get a $ 50FireWire 800 / USB 2.0 adapterfrom Seagate ’s web site . When the adapter is affixed , it feels uncompromising and stone - substantial . Detaching it have a bit more muscular tissue than was forestall , but that should n’t be a trouble unless you design on shift between adapters on a frequent basis .
Using the GoFlex is an effortless endeavor . Just secure the thrust into a wall retail store with the include AC adapter , plug into it to your organization with the also included USB 3.0 transmission line ( which can be secure into a USB 2.0 port ) , and you ’re estimable to go . The gadget powers on when you pinch it up to a Mac , and king off when you disconnect it from your computer . The drive comes preformatted for Windows , but the Seagate Setup Assistant software ( located on the private road ) lets you choose between establish an NTFS driver for Mac and PC use , or format it for Mac only operation and Time Machine documentation .
What about speeding ? The GoFlex holds its own amongst the competition . It wrote a 2 GB folder at 30.8MBps and copied it back at 36.1MBps over USB 2.0 , not quite beating the CalDigit AV ( ) in writes , but definitely surpassing it in reads . In our write 2 GB file cabinet test , the GoFlex beat the IomegaeGo Silver Desktop ( ) , write data at 32.7MBps . However , the GoFlex ’s 2 GB filing cabinet translate speed was 38.5MBps , a bit slower than the eGo ’s score . The GoFlex completed our abject - memory Photoshop psychometric test in 80 seconds , and was just 0.2MBps shy of achieving the AJA scheme publish test high grudge of 32.2MBps .
Macworld’s buying advice
The Seagate GoFlex Desk gives you a lot of storage space and lease you connect to the port of your choice . Sure , it attracts blotches and marks , and its connectors require some strength to take , but those are small quiddity for what otherwise is a nifty entry into the external hard parkway market .
