Hard Drives and SSDs



Gear Diary’s Best of Mobile World Congress 2019

Mobile World Congress has just wrapped up, and wow — it was a doozy. So many new devices were announced, and there was never a dull moment. We were in Barcelona for the event, and it was tough knowing that we could only pick 10 for our ‘best of’, but here they are — Gear Diary’s Best of Mobile World Congress 2019!




iStorage dishAshur2 Offers Solid Secure Data Storage at Home or on the Go

Data has become a modern-day currency of sorts, and in some cases is valued more than money itself. This type of data must be protected but it has not always been easy (or economical) to do so for the individual. The new diskAshur2 portable solid-state drives from iStorage can provide this security easily and affordably.


SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD Review

If you need a large capacity portable SSD, and you prefer one that is small, tough as nails, and fast, then you should check out the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD. With read speeds up to 550MB/S, rugged IP55 water and dust-resistance, shock and vibration resistance, capacities up to 2TB, and its small size, it’s great for on-the-go students and professionals.


Naztech Frees Up iOS Memory with Xtra Drive mini

With the size of videos and photos nowadays, we may all have a time where the provided memory just is not enough. Naztech is addressing this issue with the Xtra Drive mini ($59.99). The device allows you to instantly save and transfer files using your iOS device’s Lightning Connector and up to 256GB Micro USB card. 


SanDisk iXpand Base Review: Auto Backups While Your iPhone Charges

I can’t tell you how many photos I’ve lost over the years because they weren’t properly backed up. Granted, many of those losses occurred before cloud storage was available, but cloud storage isn’t perfect. The SanDisk iXpand Base backs up all of my iPhone’s photos and contacts to an SD card while my phone charges overnight with no monthly fees.


The Western Digital My Passport SSD: Tiny Yet Fast and Substantial Storage

If you need to carry a high-capacity external drive with you when you travel or go to work, you’ll likely be interested in making that memory device as small as possible. Take a look at the Western Digital My Passport SSD; it’s 1 Terabyte, rated for 515MB/s, and it measures just 3.6″ long by 1.8″ wide by 0.4″ thick.





SanDisk Extreme 500 480GB Portable SSD Review: Small, Quiet, Durable, and Fast!

If you haven’t purchased a portable Solid State Drive (SSD), then you might not know what you’re missing. When comparing an SSD to a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), you’ll find that SSDs are faster in every way, quieter, cooler-running, more durable (no moving parts to break), they have a smaller form factor, and bonus — they don’t require defragmenting.


LaCie Porsche Design USB-C Mobile Drive: Ready for Your MacBook

If you have a new MacBook, you’re probably still sorting out which gear will work with the USB Type-C port on your laptop. Ready and able to meet your backup needs is the LaCie Porsche Design USB-C Mobile Drive; available in 1TB, 2TB or 4TB, this beautiful USB 3.0 hard drive is a more than capable Time Machine backup drive.



SanDisk Blows My Mind with Two New 256GB MicroSD Cards

If you thought that SanDisk cramming 200GB into a microSD was a fab magician’s act, then you’ll be thrilled to hear that they have gone one step further! SanDisk is unveiling two new 256GB microSD memory cards! Today, SanDisk has “introduced a new suite of 256 gigabyte (GB) microSD™ cards, which includes the new 256GB SanDisk Extreme® microSDXC™ UHS-I card – the fastest microSD card in its class. The new suite of cards also includes 256GB SanDisk Ultra® microSDXC UHS-I card, Premium Edition, the first 256GB card optimized for mainstream consumers.” Whether you use a microSD card for media, files,…




The SanDisk 200GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card: A Tiny Marvel

One of the things I’ve never liked about iPhones and iPads has been Apple’s refusal to add a memory card slot. No removable battery? Fine. A closed ecosystem with curated apps? Fine. No ability to expand my phone or tablet’s memory without paying exorbitant upgrade prices? Not so fine. That’s where Android and Windows devices have a definite advantage.