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LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt

Est. $200 for120 GB

Reviewed

June 2013

by ConsumerSearch

External solid-state drive

Pros

Fast Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 interfaces
Solid state (SSD) technology in 120 GB and 256 GB capacities
Very durable for a portable drive
Good value for an SSD drive with Thunderbolt

Cons

Pricier than traditional portable drives
Largest capacity (1 TB) is not solid-state

Where to Buy

for $188.66

Our Analysis
Specs
38 Amazon Reviews

Bottom Line

The LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt comes two ways: as an external solid-state drive (Est. $200 for 120 GB or Est. $350 for 256 GB) or as a mechanical external hard drive (Est. $250 for 1 TB). The former favors speed and durability while the latter offers much more capacity per dollar. Reviewers, who mostly test the SSD model, praise the drive's fast speeds, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt interfaces, and shock-resistant casing.

Performance

Fast, flexible and portable. Reviewers test the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt and find it offers very good performance overall. CNET's Dong Ngo tests both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connections, with results that he says "proved worthy of its $200 price tag." Joel Santo Domingo at PCMag.com says the LaCie drive really shines in its throughput for video-heavy jobs. This LaCie drive doesn't require an external power supply; you can take it on the go. A setup utility makes configuring the drive for use with a Mac, PC or both very easy. The supplied backup software is both PC and Mac compatible. The drive ships with both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt cables.

Reliability

Endures bumps and bruises, to a point. LaCie says the Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt drive can withstand falls from up to 4 feet, thanks in part to its orange bumper-sleeve. This only protects its edges, but the drive's aluminum chassis is sturdy, reviewers say. The solid-state versions enjoy that technology's reliability edge over mechanical hard drives, though even solid state drives are not immune to failure. In addition, while the Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt is certainly tough, unlike the IoSafe Solo G3 (Est. $350 for 2 TB) , it's still prone to moisture and heat damage. The drive comes with a two-year warranty.

Value

Good value in some configurations, not so much in others. For those who want a rugged SSD drive with a Thunderbolt port, the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt external drive presents a solid value. Fast speeds via Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 are a major plus, as are the rugged case and protective bumper. Keep in mind, however, that the 1 TB version uses a traditional spinning platter. While the tough case is again a plus, the cost per gigabyte of storage makes that a harder sell compared to other traditional external hard drives, such as the Western Digital My Passport (Est. $90 for 1 TB) .

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Where To Buy

LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series 1TB External Hard Drive (9000294)

(38 reviews)
Buy new: $229.99 $188.66 39 Used from $168.10

In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

Our Sources

1. PCMag.com

PCMag.com's Joel Santo Domingo tests the 120 GB SSD version of the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt external drive. While "solid-state drives are a little pricey on a GB-per-dollar basis," he writes, "the LaCie drive totally makes up for it in speed and flexibility." He tests performance hands on, saying the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt has the "fastest single mechanism drives we've tested." PCMag.com gives the Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt an Editors' Choice nod and 4.5 stars out of 5.

Review: LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt (120GB SSD), Joel Santo Domingo, Sept. 25, 2012

2. CNET

CNET calls the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt "fast, rugged and affordable," as well as "one of the best high-end portables drives on the market." Dong Ngo tests the 120 GB SSD version, finding the performance of both the USB 3.0 and the Thunderbolt to be excellent. Design and features are mentioned as well, and analysis here is informative without being too technical. The LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt external drive receives 4 stars out of 5.

Review: LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Review, Dong Ngo, Sept. 25, 2012

3. Macworld

Kean Bartelman also tests the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt in its 120 GB SSD configuration. Results are compared to similar Thunderbolt devices, and while the drive "yielded impressive speeds," Bartelman finds that other Thunderbolt drives perform better. On the other hand, he notes that the Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt drive costs considerably less than its competitors. Macworld gives the drive 4.5 out of 5.

Review: Review: LaCie Rugged USB3 Thunderbolt Series Portable SSD Is Fast and Affordable, Kean Bartelman, Nov. 27, 2012

4. PC Advisor

Britain's PC Advisor reviews the LaCie Rugged USB 3 Thunderbolt external drive in its 120 GB SSD version. Reviewer Cliff Joseph finds the performance of the USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt to be similar, "showing only slight variations between the two interfaces." Specific test figures aren't revealed. Analysis here is thin compared to other sources. PC Advisor awards the drive 4.5 stars out of 5.

Review: LaCie Rugged USB 3 Thunderbolt Series Review, Cliff Joseph, Nov. 26, 2012

5. Amazon.com

While most experts weigh in on the SSD versions of the LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt, more than 20 users give their impression of the 1 TB hard-drive version here. The 4-star rating overall indicates general satisfaction. Some owners are less pleased, however, with most of the grousing centering on the performance of the Thunderbolt interface. The SSD versions -- particularly the 256 GB version -- also score well here.

Review: LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 Thunderbolt Series 1TB External Hard Drive, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of June 2013

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