Freecom USB Memory 120GB review

Freecom’s simply titled USB Memory is the first portable USB hard disk we’ve seen in some time that uses a 1.8in hard disk.

This external hard drive is the same size as the one used in Apple’s iPod classic, rather than the usual 2?in disk found in most laptops. It’s roughly the width and depth of a credit card, thanks to its thin rubber casing. However, it doesn’t feel as sturdy as we would have liked.

Previous 1.8in disks we’ve seen have had a spindle speed of 3,600rpm or 4,200rpm, resulting in poor file transfer speeds. The USB Memory has a 5,400rpm spindle speed, though, so it was only a little slower than 2?in 5,400rpm USB disks such as Iomega’s eGo. Unfortunately, backup software is not included.

At 67p per gigabyte, Freecom’s USB Memory 120GB is very expensive compared to Iomega’s similarly priced eGo, which has four times the storage. Most people will be better off with the eGo, but if you really need lots of pocket-sized storage, this is better value than a 128GB USB flash drive, which can easily cost twice as much.