Maxtor introduces sleek, trusted storage to go

Designed with the mobile professional in mind, the slim, elegant and portable solution is the latest addition to the award-winning Maxtor OneTouch product family. Weighing in at approximately seven ounces, it is the first mobile storage solution in the industry that comes fully loaded with the latest software innovations to protect and manage digital content, including automated backup, data encryption, data synchronization and System Rollback to restore applications and operating system while keeping digital files current.

"This is great news for consumers in the MEA region in an increasingly mobile world, whereby we have experienced an increase in demand for a 'real' portable digital storage device and the launch of the OT III, Mini Edition, delivers on this. Digital entertainment and data have become absolutely integral to our everyday lives, for people and businesses. At Maxtor, we strive to bring innovative solutions to market that make it simple to expand, share, protect and carry your digital life with you where ever you go,"

said Rajeev Mukul, GM, Maxtor MEA.

"There's been mounting interest from our global network of retailers and distributors to provide a strong portable offering," said Stacey Lund, vice president of marketing, Maxtor Branded Products Group. "Our latest innovation lets people easily take their digital content with them so they can access it whenever and wherever they need it. It also makes it easy for people to back up and synchronize business data and files, or to share and enjoy photos, music and video while away from home or office. It safely and simply unleashes digital content from the desktop."

An increasing number of executives, small business owners, students and creative professionals are going mobile. A recent IDC research study* predicts that the global mobile worker population will grow by more than 200 million users between 2004 and 2009. According to IDC's analysis, there will be more than 850 million mobile workers during 2009, representing more than one-quarter of the global workforce. The United States, the country with the most mobile-enabled workers in 2004, is expected to reach over 70 percent penetration by the end of the forecast period.

"With the fast rise of mobile computing, our retailers are eager to supply the market with sleek and trusted storage for people on the go," added Lund. "The Maxtor OneTouch III, Mini Edition provides a high level of security for mobile users, along with some innovative software features that make it easier to manage and protect files."

To make it simple to share and update data and files between home and office, the Maxtor OneTouch III, Mini Edition includes Sync™, a software feature that automatically synchronizes files between two or more computer systems on the same operating platform. Another innovation now standard across Maxtor's third-generation external storage family is a System Rollback feature that reverts a PC's applications and operating system to a healthier point in time, while preserving current data.

The feature helps combat spyware or adware that can slow a system to a crawl, or even bring it to a halt. Like all Maxtor OneTouch storage and backup solutions, the smallest member of the family includes automated backup software to ensure valuable files and content are backed up on a set schedule or with the touch of a button, a pioneering feature that Maxtor introduced to the marketplace in 2002.

The sleek, portable system, finished in Titanium metallic paint, is equipped with black rubber side panels molded to fit above the housing on all sides, providing non-skid "feet" as well as added vibration protection. Because of its rugged industrial design and compact size, the system can be stowed and transported easily in a purse, backpack or briefcase.

For added data security, which is a particular concern for on-the-go business users, the Maxtor OneTouch III, Mini Edition drive includes two levels of security: software encryption to safeguard its contents if the drive is ever lost or stolen, and Maxtor DriveLock®, embedded firmware that further restricts data access should it fall into the wrong hands. The firmware is designed to deny access without the correct password even if the internal hard drive is removed from the casing and attached to another computer.

The Maxtor OneTouch III, Mini Edition comes in a 60GB or 100GB capacity and easily connects to a Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP computer via a USB 2.0 port. Available at all EMEA retailers and distributors mid-May.