INFO: USB 2.0 Powered, Portable External Backup solution. (Model # X1)
REVIEW DATE: 7/09/04
COST: $39.00 - $49.00 USD (No HDD Included.)
AUTHOR: David Kroll
EDITOR: Jon "Wampa" Bender
SPONSOR: COOLMAX
Pre-intro:
If you want to visit a brief overview of what this does,
click
here. It is a link to an html page that will display a Shockwave file.
Coolmax has it on their website, but I thought it'd be nice to cache it here
too. It's only about 50kb, so you won't have to wait long...
Intro:
While we all should back up our data regularly, do we really
practice what we preach? I don't think so. How about if it were easy? Well, how about 3 buttons,
like Selective Backup, Total Backup, and Restore? That about sums the COOLMAX
2.5" X-treme Files up for you. While there can be improvements made, as with any
product, this one stands on it's own pretty well for being a 1st revision.
Continue on to take a closer look with me!
| FEATURES: |
- Simple operation, no hassle with
complicated software operation.
- Data and system Back-up function with
single push button back-up function, for PC’s system and data. Setup done
with software, single push button for the actual back-up operation.
- Data and system restoration done single
push button operation as well.
- Selectable restoration according to
system or data.
- Selectable restoration by back-up date.
- Capability of backing up all the files,
systems and partitions up to 4 HDDs on a single PC.
- The product can also be used as a normal
external HDD for other storage purpose.
- External USB2.0 HDD solution at 480
Mbps/sec, 40 times faster than the USB1.1 HDD.
- Cooling specification to keep HDD
operating less than 45 degree Celsius to protect HDD and data integrity.
- On-line up-gradable firmware for the
latest updates.
|
|
SUPPORT: |
| OS Support Win 98 / SE / ME / 2000 / XP |
| MAC OS 8.6 / 9.X / 10.X or above
|
|
| SPECIFICATIONS: |
|
Model No |
2.5" X-treme File (X1) |
| Interface |
USB 2.0 |
|
Interface Transfer Rate |
480 M bits/sec |
| Connector |
USB 2.0
mini B |
|
Data Transfer Rate |
24 M Bytes/sec |
| OS Supports |
Win
98SE/ME/2000/XP |
|
Dimension |
76(L) x 139(W) x 14(H) mm, (3.2 x 5.4 x 0.55
inches) |
| Material |
Plastic |
|
Power Requirements |
Bus Power |
| Package Contents |
USB 2.0
cable A-mini B manual, backup CD |
|
Contradictions as to above and below:
Right now, this unit's (Software) is only PC compatible, and
not Mac compatible. It doesn't use a special driver to get it to show up as a
drive in an OS such as XP that recognizes removable devices. There is a special
driver that is installed for it to work with the software that drives the back
up procedure and runs the buttons, which we'll see later.
The manual states that you should get a warranty card and a
power adapter for the unit. Because this was a review sample, no such things were
included. 98% of you won't need an AC to DC power adapter anyway. Unless your
USB voltage is weak, or you are running a very huge drive, it isn't necessary.
However, an AC power adapter will come with the 3.5" external enclosure since
3.5" hard drives require 12 volts, unlike the 2.5" (laptop HDD's.) And in
general, since there is a 2.5", which you see here, and a 3.5" enclosure, I
suppose just having one manual is needed. However, there should be clarification
as to which unit details like that apply to.
The packaging and what you get:
Picture 1 shows the package, a box with see-through plastic.
Picture 2 is the back. It summarizes
what you have seen above in the features and specifications, and if you saw the
small
flash file in the pre-intro. After opening the box, you are presented
with an almost 3 foot USB cable, the required driver on CD, and a black and
white 16 page manual in English. Pretty good English I might add, and not your
usual Engrish...
 |
 |
(1) Front of package
|
(2) Back of package |
 |
 |
| (3) Includes... |
(4) The manual |
The enclosure:
The unit is plastic, and measures about 5 1/2" tall, 3" wide,
and 1/2" thick. This is a truly small and portable thing. Theoretically, you may
not need it to be portable, but it sure will fit into a pocket without much
resistance. I'll make note now that it does use a normal A to mini B USB cable.
So picking an extra one up at Wal-Mart, or some PC shop, shouldn't be that hard
if you didn't want to lug the cable around also.
 |
 |
| (5) Top of unit |
(6) Bottom of unit |
A closer look:
Not that much to see here, really. There are 4 small rubber
feet to hold the unit in place. In picture 8, you can see the external DC 5V
power connecter than you probably won't need. And lastly, a warning... What that
means really is don't take apart your unit with the cable plugged in...
 |
 |
 |
| (7) The sticker |
(8) Connections |
(9) Caution! |
Well, gotta open it up:
Initially I was confused as to how to slide the unit apart. If you look at picture 10, you can see that the top
slides back away from the USB connecter. In picture 11, the unit is upside down,
so you can see the tabs I'm about to mention, are, well, tabs. So with a push,
pull up on the back a little, the cover is freed.
 |
 |
| (10) Opening 1 |
(11) Opening 2 |
There's electronics in them thar hills:
If you hadn't figured it out, you just slide your 2.5" drive
into the IDE interface, and close the unit. Even though the IDE connector isn't
tabbed, you can't install your hard drive in there upside down. Not from
personal experience, but if you hook up a laptop hard drive the wrong way, you
fry it. Why? well, power has to go to it somehow. Unlike your 3.5" drives that
have a Molex connector on them separately, two of the pins carry power over the
IDE connecter. So, insert it upside down, you are giving 5 Volts to 2 pins that
shouldn't have 5 Volts. Hence, "damn, my drive doesn't work anymore." Dang, I'm
blabbering....
 |
 |
| (12) The electronics 1 |
(13) The electronics 2 |
Next >>>
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