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Drobo (second generation) Video Transcript
[ Music ] ^M00:00:02
>> Hi, everyone. This is Dong Ngo for CNET.com. And I have with me today the all new second generation Drobo. For those of you who don't know what Drobo is, this is the world's first and for now is still the only storage device that protect your data automatically and intelligently with a minimum user input. All you have to do is install the hard drives, which is as easy as inserting a CD into a CD-ROM drive. The Drobo protect your data with a proprietary technology that guarantees the integrity of your data, as long as no more than one hard drive needs to be replaced at a time. The device can also predict when you should replace a hard drive before the drive itself actually fails. The first Drobo came out about a year ago and CNET gave it the Editors' Choice Award. Now, this is the second generation of the same device. At a glance, there's not much difference. The new Drobo has the same shape and design as the first-generation Drobo. This still has 4 drive bays. Each can take an SATA hard drive of any capacity. Down here it has a storage gauge that indicates how much storage space has been used. The look inside, the new Drobo comes with some major improvements. First and foremost, in addition to the USB 2.0 connection, it now also comes with FireWire connections. The device works with both FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, but comes only with FireWire 800 cable. This is a welcome addition that makes the Drobo even more Mac-friendly and works much better with bandwidth intensive application, such as Final Cut Pro, Photoshop or AutoCAD. Secondly, the new Drobo comes with a faster processor that allows for higher throughput speed. The faster processor also makes the rebuilt time shorter in case you need to replace a hard drive. And lastly, the new Drobo has a better ventilation system that helps it work cooler and more quietly. Still it does make some minor noise with a big fan on the back spinning constantly. Other than that, the new Drobo functions exactly the same as the original Drobo and still, it's not cheap. It also comes in 2-terabyte and 4-terabyte versions that cost $900 and $1300 respectively. Once again, my name is Dong Ngo and this has been the First Look at the Drobo second generation. ^M00:02:12 [ Music ]
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Drobo (Second generation) Review
The good: Protects your data automatically; easily expandable with SATA hard drives of any size; features both USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 interfaces; faster processor than the original Drobo; works with DroboShare.
The bad: Subpar throughput on Windows XP; no eSATA; Ethernet can be added but costs $200; no bundled backup software; takes a long time to start; FireWire 800 doesn't work well with 64-bit Windows Vista; short one-year warranty; terrible phone tech support; relatively expensive.
The bottom line: The second-generation Drobo adds a FireWire 800 connection, but the original USB-only on the now discounted Drobo might be the best bet for Windows users until better FireWire 800 drivers arrive. The device remains the most automated and easy-to-use redundant backup product we've seen.
Drobo (Second generation) Specs
Manufacturer: Drobo
Part number: DRO-4DD10
Drobo (Second generation) Prices
Online stores
| Store | Certified rating | Inventory | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $1,010.42 |
 | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $1,010.42 |
| Amazon.com | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $1,010.42 |
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