As its name denotes, the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra-portable Drive is an ultra-portable external hard drive that provides convenient plug-and-play connectivity and pre-loaded backup software. The drive would be the ultimate portable hard drive if there weren't a considerable investment required to fully take advantage of the device.

Out of the box, the FreeAgent GoFlex is a basic USB hard disk drive (HDD) with a USB 2.0 interface. Subsequently, the drive delivers decent transfer speeds that max out at 480 megabits per second (Mbps). The drive is also available in an array of various storage capacities ranging from 320 gigabytes (GB) to a staggering 1.5 terabytes (TB). The larger capacity drives are slightly bigger in size and weight than the smaller capacity models but are still very handy and portable.

What we consider to be the external hard drive's most glaring drawback is one that may also be the drive's biggest selling point – at least for those willing to pay the price. The drive lets users easily upgrade to USB 3.0, FireWire and eSATA bus interfaces, making the drive universally compatible with all computer host ports. However, users must purchase separate accessories (i.e., compatible interface cables and adapters) from Seagate to fully utilize these upgrades.

Pre-installed on the external hard drive is the Seagate Dashboard backup and management tool. Relatively simple and easy-to-use, the software allows users to schedule automated, incremental backups, encrypt files and view drive statistics (such as how much storage capacity is currently available). We would have much preferred the drive to have hardware-based encryption, which is inherently more secure and less system-intensive than software-based encryption. Although the drive works interchangeably with both Windows and Mac operating systems (meaning files can be saved and accessed on both types), the drive must be reformatted to use the backup software on a Mac.

When it comes to design, the 500GB FreeAgent GoFlex is pretty basic, sporting a black, glossy plastic casing that allows the drive to blend seamlessly into any environment. In terms of dimensions, the external hard drive isn't the smallest portable drive around but it's one of the lightest, weighing it at just over 5 ounces.

For the most part, Seagate's help and support options are comprehensive and efficient. Aside from email and telephone support, the manufacturer also offers live chat on their website. What we particularly liked is when filling out the form to initiate live chat, the site automatically searches for relevant topics in its knowledgebase based on the information provided by the user. If the resources found are not helpful or don't answer the user's questions, they can begin chatting with a customer service rep. What we didn't like so much was the fact that Seagate charges for telephone support for inquiries past a 30-day complimentary support period. Additionally, the FreeAgent GoFlex only comes with a two-year warranty.