Ultra-Portable, Affordable: Verbatim Acclaim 6.30.2010

Verbatim is a leading name for media and storage. Check out this review of the Acclaim series portable hard drives. These are probably the most affordable, portable, lightweight, smallest hard drives for under $70. The Acclaim is the latest hard drive to join the ultra-small portable storage market.

An ever changing world is growing more and more favor for small mobile electronics that can fit into your pocket. Ten years ago this was unheard of. Today, we are reviewing the 320GB Verbatim Acclaim, one of the smallest lightweight portable hard drives available. It weighs nearly .30lbs, that's just over a quarter of a pound! Consumers will appreciate the small size and weight because it's not at all bulky.

USB Advantage
The Acclaim is an eye opener because it draws power from the USB (universal serial bus) on your computer. This means that there is no need to plug the portable hard drive into the wall (like competitors). It's always good to go with fewer cables because that means less mess. Any USB enabled netbook or computer will definitely be able to power the Acclaim. USB2.0 interfaces are the standard today. At speeds of up to 480mbps, this USB2.0 certified portable hard drive quickly stores your files using high speed transfer technology. Acclaim series portable drives use the USB mini to USB cables (a single cable is included in the retail package - so you have all you need to get started out of the box). USB is plug and play so you're up and ready to go in seconds.

The Acclaim Performs
First impressions were excellent on Windows XP and Windows 7. The Acclaim comes with software preinstalled. Installation takes a matter of seconds. In fact, it took about 6 seconds for the Acclaim to be recognized and installed by Windows. This is an extremely quiet noise free drive that even has an activity indicator light (LED) showing you it is operating. Nero BackItUp is included for free. This is powerful software that will allow you to backup files, folders, and even your entire hard drive. After transferring files of multiple sizes back-forth, the drive remained cool in temperature. A 7 year limited warranty comes with all retail models.

Have You Backed Up Your Data?
Most consumers store important documents, family pictures, and a lifetime of work on their computer's hard drive. Little do they realize, a hard drive can fail at any time and their access to it is limited by the operating system (which can accidentally delete files as well). If a problem occurs on the computer, they could lose all their files! It's vital to regularly backup your data frequently to ensure you have a backup copy of it just in case the original is damaged or lost. The best practice is to backup data often and to save it in two locations. That means saving your data at home and maybe off site. Having a portable hard drive is an excellent solution to this problem as it can save you lots of trouble. Since portable hard drives are easy to carry around - you can take them or store them anywhere. The Acclaim is an excellent example that is very affordable. You can even backup your entire hard drive to portable storage giving you a complete copy of your computer.

Technical Specifications
Verbatim Acclaim series available in 320, 500, or 640GB sizes, USB2.0 480mbs interface, 14mm x 75mm x 12mm dimensions at 4.9oz weight, powered by USB directly. The design comes in three glossy finished colors: piano-black, fire-engine red, and electric blue. Included in retail box: Nero BackItUp/Burn Essentials, eMusic trial, a 7 year limited warranty, owners guide, and a USB to USB mini cable.

Overall Rating
The Verbatim Acclaim is one of the most affordable, smallest, portable hard drives available priced to give you a real bang for your buck. They are very easy to use and come with excellent free software providing consumers with great functionality. It is a must have for every personal computer owner that cares about their files, data, and backup needs. Installation is fast, it's ultra-portable, has a low price, has many uses, and it's an excellent small investment for any home or business user.


top


top