PCs also benefit from Turbo USB 2.0, a software driver that improves transfer speeds. Our own tests confirmed the impressive claims of a 30 per cent speed increase, but only after a restart.

Not a cleverly designed connector
Nb. the right-hand port is Firewire not USB

An application called NTI Shadow is provided for Mac and PC backups. It provides quite an easy configuration walkthrough, with a comprehensive range of synchronising and scheduling features, and isn’t fussy about which drive it copies to either.

The ToughDrive Sport performs speedily as a storage device. It doesn’t get hot and merely expels a muted gasp to remind you it’s there. While it costs about 20 per cent more than rugged rivals from LaCie and Iomega, the real issue is the USB connector. Its fixed, angled shape really gets in the way of other peripheral connectors, so a bit of forward planning may be necessary, or even a USB extension cable in some instances, which rather defeats this compact concept.

But we like the wraparound cable

During testing, a PC laptop had to be stacked up on a book to use the rear, vertically aligned, USB port because the ToughDrive Sport’s L-shaped connector was pointing downwards when inserted. A MacBook Pro encountered similar difficulties, with this interface crowding adjacent USB connectors. Design getting in the way of practicality? You bet.

Verdict

As part of the Freecom’s Mobile range, the ToughDrive Sport has a number of shortcomings that throw into question its ability to function as a go-anywhere device. Sure, you can drop it, play Frisbee with it and even let it loose on a teenager, but when it comes to plugging it into things, then, it falls short. The Mac USB 1.1 issues will only affect a few, but possibly in a catastrophic way. More to the point, just about any computer that has a populated array of USB ports is going to find this bulky, stupidly inflexible connector will need to be accommodated somehow, rather than simply plugged in and forgotten about. It’s a tough drive all right, but sports a failure of form over function. ®

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