Cru Toughtech Duo Qr Handheld Raid

CRU-DataPort asked if I'd like to take a look at its ( Figure A), and I accepted their offer. I have been working with the review units on my Windows desktop and on my Mac laptop, and the devices are such able performers that I wish I could keep them at the end of my review.

Cru Tough Tech Duo Qr Handheld Raids

Figure A ToughTech Duo QR Specifications. 6.3' wide x 3.5' deep x 1.4' tall. It's very small and portable. The ToughTech Duo QR includes two x 2.5' 750 GB 7200 RPM drives that are user accessible and replaceable.

Even better, removing and replacing the drives doesn't void the warranty. In addition, drive replacement doesn't require any tools ( Figure B). The device can operate in a mode whereby each disk is separate (2 x 750 GB disks), or it can run in RAID 0 (single 1.5 TB volume) or RAID 1 (single 750 GB volume). RAID 1 is the default. The RAID level is configurable from the unit's LCD display.

An LCD display that shows the current status of the device and allows some configuration options to take place. Connectivity options: eSATA, USB 2.0, FireWire 400/800 ( Figure C). The device comes with a two-year warranty. Figure B ToughTech Duo QR's drives are removable without tools.

Figure C Connectivity options are eSATA, USB 2.0, and FireWire 400/800. For the complete list of technical specifications, check the. Unique features. Aluminum housing: The housing is all aluminum, which makes the unit feel more rugged and substantial. For people who intend to use the device in a mobile way or that need to transport it between locations for remote backup storage, the ToughTech Duo QR appears to be robust enough that you wouldn't have to constantly worry about breaking it. Silent: There is no fan in the ToughTech Duo QR, so it doesn't make any noise.

Heat is dissipated by virtue of the unit's passive thermal design. In my testing, the units worked their magic silently by my computers and never got very warm. Connectivity On my Windows machine, I connected the ToughTech Duo QR to my computer with eSATA and powered it with the included DC power supply.

(CRU-DataPort includes a variety of power connectors, allowing the unit to be powered in the United States, Europe, and Australia. All of the cables you'll need are included, too.) Figure D gives you a look at everything that comes in the box. What comes in the ToughTech Duo QR's box On my Mac laptop, I opted for the FireWire connection, which had the added benefit that I didn't need to use the external power supply. The ToughTech Duo QR was powered simply by using the FireWire port; for mobile pros on the go, this is a great benefit. (Tip: You can daisy chain ToughTech Duo QR devices using the dual FireWire ports on each Duo.) Performance stats These performance stats aren't scientific — they are intended to give you an idea about how the ToughTech Duo QR performs. You can change the RAID level from the device. I changed the drive mode from the default of RAID 1 to RAID 0.

With no data on the disk, it took a couple of seconds while the system rebooted. From there, I decided to use the Mac-based to get a look at how the device performs. In Figures E, F, and G, you will see three performance benchmarks.

Figure E is a look at the internal system drive on my MacBook Pro. It's a solid state drive, so the numbers will look pretty good. Figure F shows the ToughTech Duo QR running in RAID 1 mode, while Figure G shows the ToughTech Duo QR running in RAID 0 mode. Figure H shows a that I had on hand. You see that the sequential performance for the ToughTech Duo QR is about twice that of the Seagate drive, but the random performance is roughly the same.

Figure E Performance stats for my Mac's SSD Figure F Performance stats for the ToughTech Duo QR under RAID 1 Figure G Performance stats for the ToughTech Duo QR under RAID 0 Figure H A comparison of the performance stats for the Seagate GoFlex USB 3.0 FreeAgent 2 TB External hard drive and the ToughTech Duo QR. The downsides.

The price. I researched pricing for my test units, and the best price I could find was.

At 750 GB in RAID 1 mode, the $600 pricetag is quite steep when you compare it to the, which is available from Best Buy for $200 and features two 1 GB drives. The My Book is much larger and less portable than the ToughTech Duo QR, and I'm not sure how fast the drives are in the My Book.

Also, the ToughTech Duo QR uses Fbreader alternatives for mac. 2.5' disks, which are more expensive than the 3.5' disks used in the My Book. Limited disk size expansion options. 2.5' disks don't yet come in the capacities the 3.5' units do. If you're looking at the ToughTech Duo QR because you need a device this small, this shouldn't be much of an issue. Performance. With random reads and writes, the ToughTech Duo QR doesn't perform much better than other drives that cost much less. However, for sequential performance, the ToughTech Duo QR performs much better than a single external drive.

Summary If you can make the leap to a higher cost, higher quality RAID-bearing device or you need a unit that is smaller and more portable than traditional external storage (and you need RAID storage) and doesn't require external power (with FireWire), the ToughTech Duo QR is an excellent addition to the mobile professional's desktop. In addition, it has applications for IT in the form of off-site backup.

I think CRU-DataPort may have a difficult time selling this device because many companies are looking for lower cost storage options. It's important to remember that with this device, you get what you pay for: a robust unit that is well built and includes everything you need (power connectors and cables) to get up and running. Related Topics.

World-famous photographers and musicians rely on the CRU® ToughTech® Duo QR enclosure for safe, secure backup of their images, recording sessions, and other important data. Its rugged portability makes the ToughTech Duo QR perfect for storing data on the set or on the stage-and then tossing it into a bag for travel back to the studio. The ToughTech Duo QR, made from strong aluminum, provides reliable and continuous data backup in either RAID 0 or RAID 1 mode, so you can have one large drive or two exact copies of your data made at once. Its rock solid construction protects your drives-and data-so that you won't have to worry about losing a shot or important file.

(Note that RAID by itself is not an adequate backup strategy.) When you need more storage space, it's easy to swap out the current drives and put new ones into the enclosure. You won't need any tools, either. The drives are lockable if you want to secure them inside.

The ToughTech Duo QR includes cables and adapters needed for fast connection options for your PC or Mac, including USB 2.0, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and eSATA. Use the Duo QR with FireWire for a portable solution: your Mac will 'bus power' the Duo QR so you can leave the AC adapter at home. Note: you can use the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter (sold by Apple) to connect the ToughTech Duo QR to a Thunderbolt port on a Mac computer. Want to know the condition of your drives inside the enclosure? Use the intuitive menu to display drive temperatures and the status of your RAID configuration. Features & Highlights.

Holds 2 copies of your data in the palm of your hand. Automatically backup your backup. Can be used with any capacity 2.5 inch hard drives. Great for offsite storage and data sharing. Used by pro photographers, videographers and musicians,Rugged aluminum construction Additional Information Manufacturer: CRU Brand: CRU Color: Silver Model: -0100 Part Number: -0100 Publisher: CRU Studio: CRU MPN: -0100 UPC: 41 EAN: 137 Item Weight: 3 pounds Item Size: 6.26 x 1.34 x 1.34 inches Package Weight: 3.13 pounds Package Size: 6.22 x 3.78 x 3.78 inches.