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LaCie 2big Triple
Despite a buggy short-cut feature, LaCie's new 2-disk RAID offers a safe and sexy storage solution.
Only a company like LaCie could turn the most mundane of product categories-a backup RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) storage device-into something that's not only practical, but borderline sexy and fun to use. Think I'm kidding? Check out LaCie's new 2big Triple, a beautifully crafted 2-disk RAID that will look good on your desktop while providing you with a safe and easy way to back up your photos.
Designed by Neil Poulton, a Scottish-born industrial stylist who's behind the tastefully contoured look of several of LaCie's products, the 2big Triple is made of attractive brushed silver metal that serves as a heat sink to cool the device naturally. Even when the RAID was working hard copying over my files-which it does through a choice of two Firewire 800, one Firewire 400, or one USB 2.0 ports-I was pleasantly surprised that it was just lukewarm to the touch. The 2big Triple also has a built-in thermoregulated fan that generally stays pretty quiet. (Though for some reason it ran slightly louder when I hooked it up to my MacBook via USB 2.0 versus Firewire.)
Weighing 5.73 pounds, the 2big Triple has a rock-solid overall build but doesn't look or feel obtrusive and is easy to reposition on your desk. A metal footplate below the RAID keeps it in place though there's also a rack-mounted option if you want to stack it in a more discreet location.
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