Why You Can Trust CNET G-Tech G-DRIVE hard drive - 500 GB review: G-Tech G-DRIVE hard drive - 500 GB
G-Tech G-DRIVE hard drive - 500 GB
Apple users tend to gobble up internal hard-drive space quickly with large video files, audio tracks, and snapshot images, and using an external hard drive usually requires them to reformat it for use with a Mac. G-Tech relieves users of that extra step and readies its G-Drive Mobile hard drive with HFS+ (OS X's storage specification) with journaling for true plug-and-play Applehead use. Media hounds can easily pair the 500GB drive with an Apple system using USB 2.0 or FireWire 800 for rapid data transfers, and the G-Drive's $150 price tag makes it an excellent value for budget-minded shoppers. We recommend this device to anyone shopping for an easy way to get more storage space for an Apple machine.
G-Tech G-DRIVE hard drive - 500 GB
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Design and features
The drive has two FireWire 800 ports and is available in either pearlescent black or white. The glossy exterior reminds us of the back of the Apple iPhone 3GS, but anyone will appreciate its sleek, subtle design. The drive is heavier than others in its class at just under 9 ounces, but we actually appreciate a sturdier heft in contrast to the flimsy LaCie Rugged eSATA drive.
USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 are your two options for connecting the drive to a host computer, and you actually get two FireWire ports on top of the device. G-Technology also provides a third FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 convertor cable if you have a MacBook with an older FireWire port. Finally, six rubberized feet on the bottom of the device prevent it from falling off a desktop or tower.
The G-Drive Mobile is BUS-powered, meaning it draws all the power it needs from the connection to your computer; there's no need for an external power supply.
Once the G-Drive Mobile establishes a handshake with your computer, you can drag and drop files directly from the Finder onto the drive. The process should be straightforward for techies, but beginners might find themselves wishing for the Lacie Starck Mobile Drive's setup assistant that offers instructions on how to reformat, backup files, and partition the drive. The LaCie drive also comes loaded with a copy of the Genie Backup Assistant tool that uses folder-based backups and incremental restoration points to keep your data safe. On the other hand, the G-Drive Mobile only offers the drive itself with no extra functionality built in, but keep in mind that the LaCie carries a more expensive cost per gigabyte without FireWire 800 compatibility.
Cost per gigabyte
The 500GB G-Drive Mobile retails for $150, which works out to 30 cents per gigabyte, a full 15 cents cheaper than the Iomega eGo Portable Mac Edition, a similar external drive with 500GB and the same FireWire and USB connections. Although USB-only drives like the Samsung S2 cost a fraction of the price at 19 cents per gigabyte, the performance chart below shows that the speed gains of FireWire 800 over USB 2.0 are worth the extra cost if you frequently transfer large amounts of data.
Performance
As always, we performed a simple data transfer test and compared the G-Drive Mobile with four other external drives in a similar price range. According to the chart below, the G-Tech championed all four competitive drives by an impressive margin in the USB 2.0 throughput test; the Iomega eGo Portable Mac Edition jumps ahead of the G-Drive in a straight FireWire to FireWire speed competition. Still, a simple numbers comparison shows that the differences between the two are so minor that you won't likely notice the difference unless you're constantly transferring files of 10GB or greater
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
 | FireWire 800 read | | FireWire 800 write | | USB read | | USB write |
Service and support
We always prefer three years to ensure the physical integrity of a portable device made to withstand the abuse of daily transport, so we're happy to see that G-Tech backs its G-Drives with a generous three-year warranty. It covers parts and labor with tech support available over the phone, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. The company Web site also offers a list of frequently asked questions, product manuals, and an online community forum to chat with other G-Drive Mobile users.