Storage is both incredibly cheap and amazingly portable these days, allowing us to carry gigabytes upon gigabytes of iTunes media, Time Machine backups, and HDD clones in our messenger bags. Too, hard drives are getting much more sophisticated, adaptable to both local Mac and network sharing. I’ve had the chance to play with a pair of GoFlex external hard drives for the Mac that offer some notable flexibility.
GoFlex For Mac Ultra-Portable
Seagate’s GoFlex for Mac is the smaller of the two HDDs in our review, but it still packs a big punch. Oddly the naming conventions don’t quite work out here, but while the Pro model of the GoFlex only comes in capacities from 500GB to 750GB, the Ultra-Portable version I reviewed comes in 1TB to 1.5TB capacities. GoFlex products are advertised specifically for a Mac (maybe for the price markup), but work with Windows via an HFS driver.
The GoFlex for Mac Ultra-Portable includes SATA adapters for USB 2.0 and Firewire 800 in the box. At first I hated the idea of having these adapters, but you’ll quickly learn to love their chunkiness. With Thunderbolt announced on the Mac, you’ll soon be able to purchase an adapter for your portable Seagate HDD. Cool right? Optionally, you can also use a USB 3.0 or eSATA cable if you have a machine that supports those.
GoFlex is certainly Flexible, but most of you can get by on the Firewire 800 cable. Having an older Mac, I had to succumb to the slowness of USB 2.0.
GoFlex products come loaded with nothing more than a readme and an installer for Seagate’s GoFlex software which shows up as Seagate Drive Settings once installed. Oddly, the diagnostic software wants users to keep putting the icon on the desktop (why not the Object Dock?), but it’s essentially a version of Disk Utility specifically made for GoFlex drives. Its use is limited, showing you the serial number, firmware revision, and volume format and capacity. You can also test the HDD for errors, and disable the drive’s activity lights through the software if you desire.
I was a little disappointed at the construction of the drive, if only because it looks terribly cheap. The indicator lights are boring in design unlike the patterns from recent FreeAgent designs, and the external shell looks like it was painted in a cheap silver paint. The external case does flex a bit, and I can’t quite understand why it isn’t slimmed down unless Seagate is avoiding potential heat issues. The drive is 22mm deep weighing around three-quarters of a pound at 0.362kg. It’s certainly pocketable in a messenger bag, but it isn’t the slimmest portable hard drive I’ve used.
But maybe the size will encourage customers to buy the GoFlex Net Media Sharing Device. Unfortunately I didn’t have a chance to get hands on with this optional accessory, but the idea is you can plug your GoFlex drives into a dock that will allow you to share media over the Internet. It’s an intriguing concept, especially when you can access that content via your iPad or iPhone.
The GoFlex for Mac Ultra-Portable comes with a three year warranty, and can be registered during the Seagate Drive Settings app installation. The upgradeable interface and drive capacities offered, plus the option to share content online might be what you’re looking for in external storage. While the build quality leaves much to be desired, you should be able to place it with your car keys without worry of scratches.
GoFlex Desk for Mac
Coming in 2TB-3TB capacities, the GoFlex Desk for Mac houses a 3.5-inch drive that stands on an adapter offering two Firewire 800 ports and a USB 2.0 connection. The drive has to be powered from the wall with the included power supply, so the desk name is fitting for a drive this large.
Just like the GoFlex for Mac Ultra-portable, the GoFlex Desk for Mac sits on an adapter that can be upgraded or swapped out. Currently available are two options: a USB 3.0 adapter for $39.99, and a USB 3.0 adapter with a PCI-Express card featuring USB 3.0 ports for your Mac Pro at a hefty $79.99.
The adapters sport three prongs and a SATA plug that’s used to sit and secure Seagate’s external drive. On the front of the adapters, you’ll find five lights that blink and buzz depending on HDD activity and status. What’s cool is that the four barred lights indicate how full your HDD is, filling up as you stuff your drive with more media. Four rubber feet on the bottom of the adapter ensure the HDD just can’t be slid off a desk, though it’s not wide or heavy enough to keep the external drive from rocking if the table is bumped. The polished black edges are fingerprint magnets unfortunately, though ultimately it’s more professional that what Seagate decided to choose for the external housing for their hard drives.
Seagate’s GoFlex Desk drive looks okay from a distance, but still feels cheap due to whatever coating China slapped on this thing. The sides of the case are perforated golf-ball style with Seagate’s logo embossed in the middle. Worse than the Ultra-portable, the chassis feels sticky and flexes like its younger brother. It’s heavy at just over two pounds (1.08kg), and maybe that’s what makes the drive almost top-heavy on top of the adapter. You won’t be carrying this one around, but it’s fine in accompanying an iMac.
The same software is offered when you plug in the drive, and you can use the HFS driver to interface with your Windows machine. A 3-year limited warranty is also provided with the GoFlex Desk.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for storage, Seagate can certainly accommodate your needs with up to 3TB of storage via the GoFlex Desk for Mac. With drive performance being on par with relatable consumer class external drives, you’re most likely interested in either the look of the drive or the GoFlex for Mac Ultra-portable’s network sharing capabilities with the $69.99 (normally $129.99) Net Sharing device. Formatted for your Mac out of the box, the Seagate GoFlex for Mac Ultra-portable is $189.99 for the 1TB model, and $219.99 for 1.5TB. The GoFlex Desk for Mac starts at $199.99 for the 2TB model, and tops off at $259.99 for the 3TB capacity.
