Drobo FS: Now with Ethernet awesomeness

Good news, storage fans. Data Robotics is about to bless us with the Drobo FS, a brand-new version of the iconic Drobo that now features -- drum roll, please -- a gigabit Ethernet interface. About time, eh?

The new product will increase the maximum theoretical speed of the data-storage robot to a honking 1,000Mbps -- up significantly from the 480Mbps on the original USB-connected Drobos. This, the company hopes, will open the device up to a whole host of new users who work with large files or for whom speed is crucial.

The Drobo FS will have capacity for five 3.5-inch hard drives, giving it a maximum storage capacity of 10TB and -- when individual drive capacities exceed 2TB -- beyond. Like previous Drobos, it'll support the same mind-boggling BeyondRAID storage technology, which protects against data loss in the event of up to two simultaneous drive failures. It also allows users to add storage on the fly, by simply slotting in additional hard drives.

The Drobo FS will be available in a range of configurations. Prices will start at £550 for the device only, but if you've got the cash, Data Robotics will provide one fully stocked with five 2TB hard drives for around £1,138 from the Drobo store. Watch out for a full review shortly.