The Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive SuperSpeed USB 3.0 delivers everything users seek in external hard drives: durability, performance and style furnished in a neat, compact case. Equipped with the latest USB 3.0 interface and relatively few drawbacks, the portable eGo is a universally appealing drive apt for anyone who needs on-the-go file access.
This eGo external hard drive joins the rapidly growing hoard of USB hard disk drives (HDD) now offering USB 3.0 connections. The benefit of a USB 3.0 interface is two-fold: users get faster transfer speeds (up to ten times the speed of USB 2.0) and it is backwards compatible. The latter is especially advantageous for users because it means the drive can be used on any computer with a USB connection, regardless of whether it has a USB 3.0 or 2.0 interface.
Not only does the hard drive come in 500GB capacity, it's also one of the few portable drives we reviewed that comes in a 1TB capacity. Although it weighs slightly more, the 1TB model maintains the same dimensions as its smaller-capacity sibling, giving the drive an impressive portability to storage capacity ratio.
The eGo external hard drive was clearly designed with motility and sturdiness in mind. The drive is bus-powered, so it uses a single USB cable to power and transfer data. Furthermore, the drive measures mere inches in length and width and has a durable aluminum casing. A unique design feature on this USB HDD is the pre-installed Iomega Power Grip band, a rubber-like band that crisscrosses the drive which is designed to protect it from bumps and drops. We like that the band offers sound protection against blunt force trauma, but it does little for its overall aesthetics and can make the drive feel bulkier than it really is.
That being said, the drive itself is stylish, smooth and sleek, and it's design is likely to appeal to more avant-garde users. Furthermore, aside from black, the drive comes in a handful of bold colors including red and midnight blue.
The eGo external hard drive offers a solid feature set including hardware-based encryption, password protection and Iomega Protection Suite software. This bundled software package includes anti-virus, backup and security applications, in addition to a free subscription to Mozy online backup (owned by the same parent company of Iomega). The backup software only offers basic functionality – such as the ability to choose files to backup and setup incremental backups – but it gets the job done and allows users to back up their files effectively. The software is not pre-loaded on the drive, nor is it included with external discs that require installation; rather, Iomega smartly includes licenses so each included application can be downloaded directly online. While the drive itself works on both Windows and Mac operating systems, we were disappointed to find the software is compatible only with Windows. Subsequently, Mac users are relegated to using the eGo as a basic, plug-and-play storage drive.
Under a limited three-year warranty, Iomega will replace any eGo external hard drive with a manufacturing defect. For other issues, the user forums and support section found on the Iomega website prove to be excellent troubleshooting resources. Additionally, the site has emails, toll-free numbers and even live chat as methods to contact the company directly.
The Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is an all-around excellent external hard drive. We don't love that the drive's bundled software isn't Mac-compatible or that the backup software lacks flexibility; however, these deficiencies aren't unique to the eGo drive. Worthy of note are the drive's fast transfer speeds and remarkable durability, which make the drive a perfect choice for digital enthusiasts and clumsy consumers alike.
