Seagate launches 3TB external desktop drive

Seagate has released what it claims to be the first ever 3TB external desktop drive, allowing users to store up to 120 HD movies, 1,500 video games, thousands of photos or hours of digital music.

The 3.5in, 3TB FreeAgent GoFlex is compatible with Windows or Mac OS X computers, due to an NTFS driver included for Mac use, and provides automatic, continuous backup with software file encryption to increase data security.

The drive’s USB 2.0 interface can also be adapted to a USB 3.0 or FireWire 800 connection by purchasing an additional GoFlex desktop adapter.

However, take up of the 3TB drive may be muted due to the limitations of many home PCs. Desktop PCs running Windows XP, for example, can handle a maximum 2.1TB of disk space.

Newer operating systems, such as the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista, can handle larger drive volumes but the legacy BIOS firmware inside most PCs will remain incompatible, so even these newer operating systems would be unable to boot from a 3TB disk.

In May this year, Seagate advised that users of its 3TB drive will need a PC with a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, the replacement for the legacy PC Bios, or to use drives larger than 2.1TB connected to Raid controllers or host bus adapters, commonly used in workstation and server environments.

Dave Mosley, Seagate executive vice president of sales, marketing and product line management, said: “Seagate has a tradition of designing products that break into new storage frontiers to meet customer requirements and the 3TB GoFlex Desk external drive is no exception – delivering the highest-capacity storage solution available today.”

The 3TB GoFlex Desk external drive with USB 2.0 adapter retails for $499.