Freecom FHD-XS

Portable storage has always been a big requirement in our game. Journalists are perpetually transporting huge print-ready graphics, typeset copy, sample applications, you name it. The introduction of the ability to cut a CD was a real boon, although was quickly found to be lacking in capacity. So, for some time, we have kept a watchful eye on developments in the portable devices market.

So it was no surprise that the world's smallest mobile hard drive - the FHD-XS from Freecom Technologies - caught our eye.

The FHD-XS is indeed tiny; far smaller than anything we have ever seen, at just 1.8 inches thick. It is worth remembering that we are talking about a platter device here, not NVRAM devices such as Flash memory, which comes with the benefits of mass storage. The FHD-XS can store up to 60 Gb of data, which is pretty substantial for a device so small.

The FHD-XS is hot-swappable (recognised immediately as a mass storage device when plugged into a Windows, ME, 2000 or XP USB port) and is bus-powered through the integrated USB cable. This is a clever little design whereby the connector cable folds and locks inside the edge of the unit itself, meaning it is protected during transit. It does also mean that the drive can appear a little precarious, dangling from a USB port in mid-air. In any event, it gave us no problems.

In operation, the FHD-XS is fast. Admittedly the seek and transfer rates do not match those of internal hard disks of desktop systems, but it certainly stands up well against the competition and appeared very quick indeed when we transferred data in the order of 20 Gb.

As is usual with Freecom, there is a host of supported software, none of which you actually need if you choose not to install. But I did particularly like the one-button synchronisation feature.

Verdict

We liked the FHD-XS very much. It is tiny, yet capacious enough for our needs, fast in operation and well constructed. I would have like a snug-fit padded case in the package, though. But the unit itself is difficult to fault. And with prices tumbling almost daily, if you are looking for a highly portable mass storage device, you have probably found it.