TrekStor DataStation Maxi T.uch External Hard Drive Review
The T.uch TrekStor DataStation Maxi from Germany is a USB 2.0 hard drive external, you can add to your PC to complete your storage space. It differs from readers outpatient basis with its flash-memory-card reader and two USB 2.0 hub.
Our test unit, built around a desktop-class 7200 RPM hard disk with a capacity of 250 GB, sells for about $ 159.99. If you need more space, TrekStor sells a 320GB model for $ 179.99, a 400 GB model for $ 199.99 and a 500GB model for $ 299. The high-card reader supports commonly used formats such as CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Microdrive, MultiMediaCard, SD and xD-Picture Card. If you plan to drive on your desktop, two USB 2.0 ports make it a practical platform for connecting other peripherals. The T.uch Maxi is available only with a USB connection, support for external FireWire or Serial ATA (eSATA) is remarkably absent.
You will notice Heft disk even before the lifting of the box. The disc weighs 1.7 pounds (without accessories) and comes with two stands for vertical positioning. The external accounts in brushed aluminum for some weight, but it also brings a hard, solid feel you will not get hard drives in external enclosures plain-plastic. You also get an external power supply similar to those that come with laptops, unlike portable drives that can be powered via the USB bus of a computer, Maxi T.uch must be plugged into an electrical outlet .
Because it is pre-formatted, the Maxi T.uch can connect to machines running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux right out of the box. (To use the disk with Windows 98, you will need to install a driver first.) As with all external hard drives once connected, the disk appears as an additional hard drive on your PC. (Similarly, flash-memory cards and USB devices appear as removable storage.) You can also boot your PC from the floppy, which is handy if you need to start your computer after his main hard drive fails.
In our tests, it took 6 minutes and 49 seconds to write a 10GB folder of mixed file types from our test PC to the player, which is about 24.5Mb per second. He reread the same file on the PC test in 8 minutes and 1 seconds, or 20.8MB per second.
The Maxi T.uch also includes Nero BackItUp 2 Essentials software. By pressing the Backup button on the front panel of the player activates the backup process. Unfortunately, our player did not include the software CD, and we could not test this feature.
Although you will not find the Maxi T.uch a revolutionary product, it is worth checking whether you are looking for an external drive to the convenience of a built-in card reader and USB hub.
Pros
Up to 500GB capacity; two-port USB 2.0 hub; card reader supports nine formats; support for both Windows and Mac; sleek aluminum casing
Cons
No support for FireWire, eSATA; too heavy to be portable; requires external power supply
Conclusion
If you need more hard drive space, more USB ports, and a way to transfer photos from your camera’s memory card without a PC, this multifunction external drive has you covered.
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