BIOS: Technology Means Business

Vosonic's X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 is an external 40GB hard disk drive that can be used to backup data stored on a memory card or a computer. It's got built-in MP3 functionality too (albeit rather poor), so you playback MP3 audio files that are stored on either its hard disk or a memory card. Targeted at digital photographers, the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 is a cost-effective way to store and backup lots of high-resolution images safely. Simply insert a memory card into the device and then press 'Copy' - all of your files are then transferred to the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 so you can format your memory card and start afresh. It also acts as a regular removable hard disk when connected to your computer, allowing you to drag-and-drop files as you would with any other hard disk. In addition, it can be used as a USB 2.0 memory card reader for all of the most popular card formats. Its LCD monitor is hard to read though, and there's no backlight, but you can replace its regular 2.5in. laptop hard disk whenever you want to.

Pros: Uses standard 2.5in. hard disks; battery powered
Cons: No backlight; MP3 audio files only; confusing menu system

The X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 is a battery-operated portable storage device that can be used to transfer up to 40GB of data or MP3 tracks to its built-in hard disk. Similar to the company's X'S-Drive II VP2060, the X'S-Drive Pro VP300 lets you transfer images, audio and data from a computer or memory card to its internal 2.5in. hard disk. There's also an integrated LCD which displays file information, transfer progress and battery level.

The device is targeted at those who need to carry or backup large files, such as digital photographers, and can be used with all types of popular memory cards, including CompactFlash (Microdrives supported), SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard. However, an adapter is needed for xD-Picture Cards. It connects to your computer using USB 2.0 (cable supplied), but there's no FireWire connector for faster data transfers.

First impressions of the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 aren't particularly good because it's relatively bulky (136x86x37mm, 329g) and its two-tone grey enclosure is plain and nondescript. There's also a plastic flap on the top side of the unit (protects headphone and USB ports) that keeps flipping open. The flap is also tricky to set back in place once you've opened it, so you'll probably resign to letting it flap around. One good thing about the design is that you can swap the built-in 40GB Hitachi hard disk with any 2.5in. (9.5mm height) IDE laptop hard disk, should you want to increase the storage capacity or carry more than one hard disk around with you.

The six memory cards supported are inserted into the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 using one of the three dedicated slots on the right-hand side of the unit (looking from the front). Unfortunately, there's no memory card cover, so you'll have to keep taking a card out when travelling for fear of damaging or loosing it. It's also worth noting that you can only access one memory card at a time, which is a real shame because backing up large volumes of data can soon become a time-consuming chore.

When you connect the device to your Windows computer it shows up as four removable devices: three card slots and a hard disk. Before you can use the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 for the first time, you need to connect it to your computer and format its hard disk (FAT 12/16/32) using the supplied FDisk AP software. Of course, you may not need to do this if you use a hard disk from a laptop. You can then drag-and-drop files to and from the hard disk, as well as from any inserted memory cards.

For managing your data on the move, files can be copied from a memory card by pressing the dedicated 'Copy' button on the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300. You can also copy and delete files individually to and from a memory card and the hard disk using the device's single file copy feature. The non-backlit 2.5in. monochrome LCD provides basic information such as the names of files being transferred and the transfer progress status. It's also used to show the power level of the device's non-removable Lithium-Ion (720mA) battery. The actual transfer time will vary greatly depending on the speed of the flash memory card being copied. For instance, original Memory Stick cards are very slow compared to the new Memory Stick Pro models.

There's no image preview option, which will be disappointing to digital photographers. The user interface is also terribly confusing, thanks primarily to the large amount of data presented on-screen and the small font size. The lack of a backlit also makes using the device almost impossible in poorly-lit environments. In addition, the rechargeable battery provides just two hours of operation, which is equally disappointing to those who intend to use the X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 as a digital audio player.

Furthermore, it only supports MP3 tracks, so you can rule out transferring WMA, WAV, ASF or Ogg Vorbis tracks, and there's no built-in FM tuner or digital voice recorder. You can also forget about repeat or shuffle functions. You do, however, get a padded carrying case, AC power supply, USB cable, 3.5mm stereo earbud headphones, and a printed manual.

Links:
X'S-Drive Pro VP 300 Web site