The LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt (1TB SSD) ($999 list) is the latest version of the aluminum-clad thoroughbred series of external solid-state drives (SSDs), keeping a single user's data easily accessible at a moment's notice.

Expensive per GB; Requires included AC adapter for use (not bus powered).

The LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt (1TB SSD) ($999 list) is the latest version of the aluminum-clad thoroughbred series of external solid-state drives (SSDs), keeping a single user's data easily accessible at a moment's notice.

Today we're looking at a member of LaCie's Rugged range of external hard drives, in the shape of the Mini, a tough external hard drive with a self-powered USB 3.0 interface.

Excellent performance: read speeds: 116 MB/s; write speeds: 114 MB/s, Very well protected against shocks, USB 3.0 interface, Self-powered over USB 3.0

Rubber protection is bulky (but can be removed

The bi-directional dual-channel Thunderbolt interface is perfect for working with uncompressed video files. I can now record and edit videos on-the-fly. The drive has exceeded all my expectations.

quiet; high capacity; fast; Easy to Setup/Install; easy to use; Highly Compatible; reliable

I use this product to backup multiple computers (Using Retrospect Express HD) and as secondary storage for videos and digital images. I don't need fancy wizards or outside services to tell me know to connect, create share and use this stuff.

Durable; Fast Connectivity

Huge Power Supply

I have been using this drive for about 2 months. i am mostly happy with the drive. the web page works well, and is a nice feture so that others on my network can access the drive. download speeds are decent i think the biggest limitation on that would be your connection speed to your router.

Durable; Fast Connectivity; Reliable

Difficult Setup; Noisy; Very Big Very Heavy

I needed a solution that I could easily pick up and take with me when I travel. The Mini is perfect in that respect, it's resilient enough to handle a few bumps in my backpack. It's fast and very easy to use.

With people starting to amass more and more data on their PCs, the old methods of backup such as tape or CD & DVD are becoming woefully inadequate. As a result, by far the most cost efficient method for either storing data or backing it up is the external hard drive .

Capacity; looks; decent manual; cheap

A bit slow; a lot to lose in one go

This is a terrific little hard drive. I work from home, but also travel a lot and so I needed something that I can plug into my iMac in my studio, but also my MacBook when I am on the road - the rubber housing makes this EHD bullet proof!

Durable; Lightweight; Plug and play

Great for backing up just not very portable

Long lasting; great service

Expensive; if this drops then all your data will be lost