Maxtor yesterday announced two external FireWire hard drives at a price per megabyte that is among the lowest around for name brand FireWire drives. The 40GB model has a list price of US$280; the 80GB drive, US$400. These prices are an order of magnitude cheaper than similar capacity FireWire drives from other major manufacturers, though Maxtor's specs, including a 5400rpm rotation speed, suggest the drives may be somewhat slower than the best available from the competition as well.
Maxtor 1394 External Storage drive
Still, at that price, the Maxtor 1394 External Storage drives become an enticing way to back up data or store reams of photos or digital video. Both drives are expected to ship in the US this month to major computer retailers. Maxtor's web site includes a press release and data sheet on the new drives.
