Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in digital consumer electronics and information technology, today announced its new 2.5-inch external hard disk drive (HDD), the S2 Portable 3.0. The new high performance external HDD features an on-board SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface and a 7200RPM spindle speed, delivering faster performance over preceding versions.

"As digital content continues to evolve from standard definition to HD and now 3D content, we expect the demand for high performance external HDDs to increase, especially among IT enthusiasts," Ho-Seong Lee, vice president, storage marketing, Semiconductor Business, Samsung Electronics. "The S2 Portable 3.0 delivers the benefits of top performance and quality, and as a result, lowers the power usage of the external hard drive also."

A-DATA Technology Co., Ltd., the worldwide leader in DRAM memory and Flash application products, today introduced NH03 -- its first 3.5" external hard drive with the new-generation SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, adding yet another high-performance storage solution in its complete USB 3.0 lineup. With the actual transfer rates reaching up to 140 MB/s, NH03 takes data transfer performance on external HDD to a whole new level.

The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface on the sleek-looking NH03 3.5" external hard drive is designed to deliver exceptional data transfer rates that was never seen on hard drives. With the addition of built-in TurboHDD USB software, the transfer performance is further accelerated, reaching up to 140 MB/s based on real-world test results. Users will able to experience a significant performance upgrade of at least 400% in terms of transfer speed compared to devices with conventional USB 2.0 interface. Meanwhile, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is backward compatible with previous versions for greater flexibility and convenience in daily computing use.

Shuttle caught our eye with their external graphics card system called the i-Power GXT Mini, which routes the PCIe slot (as x1) to an external enclosure in which you can put any single slot GPU with a power draw of up to 90W. The system currently only works with two Shuttle notebooks, but the company will expand the range of notebooks in the future. They are also showing off their extremely compact and fanless HTPC based on ION2. It is a bit larger than a 3.5 inch hard drive enclosure, but packs all the components. A quick look at the rear shows four USB 2.0 ports and HDMI along with the the rest of usual connectivity.

While not planned, we spontaneously stopped by the Icy Dock booth here at CeBIT and they have a few interesting products on display. First off, there is an external dock which allows you to use SATA, IDE or floppy drives. This is nothing new, but the shape of the device certainly is. Then there is an internal dual drive bay, which utilizes a single 5.25 inch bay and converts them into a single 3.5 and additional 2.5 inch hot-swappable bay. This is not only a space saver, but certainly useful as well. Last, but not least there is the external, dual 5.25 inch enclosure, which does not only look nice, but allows you to expand that ION based HTPC very nicely with additional storage an an optical drive of your choice.

A-DATA has a few nice new storage devices out there. The CH94 drive enclosures have a capacity of up to 640 GB. They are currently shipping in black, white and light blue versions and come with a set of stick-on letters and numbers, so that you may customize the look of it. The USB cable wraps around the plastic enclosure, so you won't have to carry one around separately. Then there are the Superior and Nobility drives. The first is very compact, while the other is intended for the budget minded user. A-DATA is also showing a SATA II based SSD, which features USB 3.0 connectivity as well. A little surprise are the A-DATA power supplies we got to see at the show here. They are all featuring detachable cables and can be had in configurations between 525 W and 825 W.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in digital consumer electronics and information technology, today announced the G Series, its new line-up of external hard drives, designed under an eco-friendly green concept. The new G series strengthen Samsung's external drive portfolio of 1.8", 2.5" and 3.5" drives, targeting the young adult market, which are looking for a fashionably styled mobile drive but that is also reliable with high density.

Samsung's new G-Series, introduced at the International Consumer Electronics Show, consists of the 2.5-inch G2 Portable with 250/320/500/640GB densities and the 3.5-inch G3 Station available in 1/1.5/2TB versions.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in digital consumer electronics and information technology, announced today it will display a prototype of its new slim external DVD writer, the SE-S084D optical disk drive (ODD) at the Treasure Island Hotel in a private product display room during CES 2010. Featuring a more compact footprint and lighter weight than competitive offerings, the new DVD writer also delivers high-performance with a USB power source to eliminate electrical outlet requirements.

"Because netbooks are designed for ultra mobility, they aren't typically equipped with optical disc drives, which can potentially make booting from a CD or playing a DVD movie a problem," said John Suh, director of OMS sales and marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. "But with the lightweight, portable SE-S084D Optical Disc Drive, you have the perfect on-the-go, stand-alone. And thanks to its USB BUS power source, you can write at maximum speed with no outlet in sight."

WD, the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its fastest My Book external hard drive ever -- the new My Book 3.0 desktop external drives are among the first devices certified with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface. With an interface that's up to 10 times faster than the previous-generation USB 2.0 interface, the high-performance My Book 3.0 drive significantly reduces the time it takes to open and save large files. Offered standalone, or in a kit that includes a USB 3.0 PCIe (gen2) adapter card, the 1 TB My Book 3.0 drive is available now at select retailers and shopwd.com. The 2 TB model is expected later this week.

The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface on My Book 3.0 drives provides transfer rates of up to 5 gigabits-per-second, allowing users to open and save files up to 4.7 times faster than USB 2.0. The new My Book 3.0 drive is compliant with the USB-IF SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard to provide compatibility with other USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 products. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1.

I-O Data unveiled its new ultra-slim external Blu-ray disc writer, the I-O Data BRP-US6. Enclosed in its compact casing is a notebook (slim) form-factor drive. The unit measures 137(W) × 154(D) × 20(H) mm, weighing 330g. With its 20 mm thickness, its makers claim it's just about as thick as a Blu-ray movie jewel-case. It connects to a PC using a USB 2.0 interface. Disc burning speeds include 6x for single-layer BD-R, 4x for double-layer BD-R, 2x for single and double layer BD-RE, 8x for single-layer DVD+R/-R and DVD+RW, 4x for double-layer DVD+R/-R, 6x DVD-RW, and 5x for DVD-RAM. It is priced at ¥29,600 (US $336) in Japan.

Having recently announced one of the industry's first USB 3.0 external HDDs, Buffalo is diversifying its lineup of products that support the new interface. The BR-X1216U3 is an external Blu-ray disc writer drive that supports USB 3.0. The drive has the capability to burn Blu-ray discs at 12x speeds. At those speeds, the drive transfers data at 54 MB/s. Probably factoring protocol overhead, USB 2.0 bottlenecks proper data transfers, and hence USB 3.0 is called on to eliminate all bottlenecks, while also broaden compatibility with existing PCs.

The main unit measures 164 (W) x 50 (H) x 281 (D) mm, and weights 1.8 kg. Both single-layer and double-layer Blu-ray discs can be written at 12x, BD-RE single-layer and double-layer discs at 2x, 16x for single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x for double-layer DVD+R/-R and DVD+RW, 6x for DVD-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, 40x for CD-R, and 24x for CD-RW. Bundled software includes CyberLink PowerDirector 8 HE, PowerProducer 5, PowerDVD 9 BD edition, Power2Go 6, PowerBackup 2 and InstantBurn 5. It reaches stores in Japan next month, at a price of US $450.

Transcend Information, Inc., a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, today introduced the latest addition to its StoreJet external hard drive lineup, the StoreJet 35T. With its TurboHDD USB transfer mode and One Touch auto-backup button, the compact 3.5-inch StoreJet 35T is an ideal data management system for uploading, downloading, storing and transferring vital data and information.

About the size of a hardback book, the black streamlined StoreJet 35T offers up to 1.5TB capacity, providing ample space for essential files, folders, documents, photos, music and high-definition videos. Its slender design allows it to be placed upright, thus occupying a smaller footprint to save precious desk space. Ideal for use at home or at the office, the handsomely designed StoreJet 35T is both stylish and practical.

Samsung Electronics is releasing a new energy-efficient version of its Story Station external hard drive. Adhering to the European Union's EuP (Energy Using Products) Directive for Standby Regulation, effective January 2010, the new Story Station draws a mere 0.09W of power when in standby, down from its current 2.5W standby power draw. "User requirements for external hard drives now include eco-friendliness and lower power levels in addition to performance, reliability and exceptional design," said C.H. Lee, vice president, Storage sales & marketing, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung's STORY Station, which has been praised for its appealing external-drive design, takes a huge step forward in setting the stage for the timely introduction of environmentally-conscious hard drive technology," he added. The Story Station external hard drive comes in capacities of 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. Included are features that automatically backup data on to it, encrypting, and password-protecting it. It uses USB 2.0 for connectivity. The new drives will reach stores next month.

The Japanese company Buffalo is again in the news for the launch of its new ultra-fast external DVD writer DVSM-U24U2. The Buffalo DVSM-U24U2 is an excellent writer which can write DVD+R/-R at up to 24x, DVD-RAM at up to 16x, DVD-R/+R DL and DVD+RW at up to 6x, DVD-RW at up to 6x, CD-R at up to 48x and CD-RW discs at 32x. The DVD burner measures 164 (W) x 50 (H) x 266 (D) mm, weights 1.7 kg, and uses USB 2.0 connection to transfer information. Along with it, Buffalo bundles CyberLink's PowerDirector 7, PowerProducer 5, PowerDVD 8, Power2Go 6, InstantBurn 5 and PowerBackup 2 software products. The Buffalo external DVD writer is expected to ship early next month with a price tag of about $130 / 95 Euro.

Buffalo Japan introduced the HDS-CU2 USB external hard drive. Coming in capacities of 500 GB and 1 TB, this product is targeted to the SME and SOHO markets. The biggest USP of the HDS-CU2 is its automatic data encryption feature. Once configured with what type of data to auto-encrypt, the drive automatically manages encryption, using the 128-bit AES algorithm.

The drive can be configured to use Windows-level login authentication and a more compulsive authentication every time files are accessed. The encryption is care of the drive's own hardware, and has no overhead on the host computer, to which it uses USB 2.0 for connectivity. It is supported by most recent versions of Windows (2000 SP3+, XP, 2003, Vista, and 2008), and Mac OS 10.4.

The newest in toolless technology, the eSATA EZvault is the pinnacle of stylish design and functionality. Made with the highest quality materials combined with outstanding design, the EZvault is vibration proof and excellent at getting rid of and keeping out any heat that could damage your harddrive.

Buffalo's optical drive line-up has been updated to include a new model, the BRC-P258U2 external Blu-Ray drive. The drive measures 141 (W) x 23 (H) x 155 (D) mm and weights 370 grams, has a 4.5 MB buffer, a USB 2.0 interface, and can read Blu-Ray discs at 2x and write DVD-R/+R SL at 8x, DVD-R/+R DL, DVD-RW/+RW at 8x, CD-R at 16x and CD-RW at 10x.

According to its maker, the BRC-P258U2 should already be hitting stores in Japan with a price tag of about $218.

WD, the world's leader in external storage solutions, today expanded its My Book family of external hard drives to include a 2 TB capacity, the largest available capacity in a single-drive system. With its wide variety of models, WD offers a solution for every type of user, whether they're a creative power user on a Mac or a home user on a PC. The new 2 TB My Book family includes: My Book Studio Edition, My Book Mac Edition, My Book Home Edition and My Book Essential Edition models.

Market research shows that consumer creation and acquisition of digital media is growing rapidly, driving demand for increasing storage capacities. According to market research firm IDC, the number of digital cameras and camera phones in the world surpassed 1 billion (Mar. 2008). Separately, market research firm GfK reports that HD (high definition) video camcorders are experiencing record growth and now account for 42 percent of total camcorder sales (Aug. 2008). HD video requires massive amounts of drive space: at least 8 GB per hour of video. Since 2006, when Apple began offering movie downloads, the Apple store has already sold more than 250 million TV episodes and sold or rented more than 33 million movies (Apple, Mar. 2009).

Storage and peripherals specialist Buffalo announced the HD-PEU2-RD external hard drive. It is designed to woo the fairer sex with its glossy coloured shells, available in red, white and black. The 81 (W) x 16 (H) x 130 (D) mm shell houses a 2.5 inch hard drive, which comes in capacities starting from 250 GB to 500 GB. The unit tips scales at 190 g. The drive uses USB 2.0 to connect to any PC or Mac. Depending on the capacity of the hard drive, the HD-PEU2-RD is priced between $95 for the 250 GB model, and $171 for the 500 GB model.

Buffalo today presented the DVSM-PN58U2V DVD writer primarily designed to be used with netbooks. The optical drive is installed in a super slim body with 137x20x142 mm dimensions and weighs only 340 g. Available in black or white, the new recorder can write DVD-R/+R SL and DVD+RW at 8x, DVD-R/+R DL at 6x, DVD-RAM at 5x, and CD-R, CD-RW at 24x. It uses one or two USB ports for connection, depending on the write speed. The Buffalo DVSM-PN58U2V is set to ship in mid-March, and sell for about $85.5.

Japanese hardware manufacturer Logitec (≠ Logitech) released the new LHD-ED line of 1.5TB external hard drives, variants of which are segregated on the basis of connectivity options:

• Model LHD-EDU2 provides just USB 2.0
• Model LHD-EDFU2 provides USB 2.0 and FireWire
• Model LHD-EDSAU2 provides USB 2.0 and eSATA

Connectivity aside, the variants are identical in measuring 42 × 225 × 132.5 mm, weighing 1.1 kg (around 2.42 lbs), and feature hard drives with spindle-speeds of 7,200 rpm. They are backed by a one-year company warranty, and will go on sale by the end of this month at prices ranging between US $282 and $304.

Vi-ON external hard drive enclosure is the world's first external enclosure with embedded hard drive suspension system and Active Smart Cooling System. It utilizes a temperature sensing fan that reacts to hard drive temperature and changes fan speed in real-time for utmost efficiency and silence.

While most users do not realize, hard drives are capable of producing a fair amount of vibration when hard drives are at their maximum rotation speed. That is exactly why Thermaltake engineers designed-in the world's first HDD suspension system to minimize those vibration noises.

As a globally renowned manufacturer of computer peripherals and optical drives, ASUS is constantly at the forefront of cutting edge technologies, providing users with innovative solutions for everyday computing. In pursuing this philosophy, the new ASUS External Slim SDRW-08D1S-U utilizes user-centric design in the Scenario-Based Design model to better address the needs of the user. By integrating these needs into its development and creation, the ASUS External Slim SDRW-08D1S-U combines both aesthetics and practicality.