The Basics:
As mentioned, anti-static bags are found on every component included in the box, and is another chance for Seagate to be a bit whimsical. As shown in the below left image, each bag is sealed with a bright yellow sticker that reads "hello". Well hello to you, too. Inside the bags you have the FreeAgent Pro, as well as all the accessories shown below. There is a USB cable, a Firewire cable, a module to convert the stock USB/eSATA connections to dual Firewire connections, and a power adaptor. What you will not find is an eSATA cable, which was a bit disappointing to me. At this point I must have dozens of USB cables, a handful of Firewire cables, but just one eSATA cable (already in use), so including one would have been quite welcome. While my stock pile of various cables may be atypical, having just one eSATA cable may actually be more than the typical end user might have.
 
The image below gives us the first look at the 750GB FreeAgent Pro provided for review. The appearance is unlike most external hard drive enclosures on the market, and that is definitely a good thing. While it looks a bit like a sleek cable modem to me, that is a welcome change from the typical device that might look more like a cinder block. The bulk of the body is constructed of two pieces of aluminum with a brushed blackish/brownish finish that are separated by a band of translucent plastic. In use this band glows bright yellow, and we will take a look at that soon.
The enclosure seems well made, as it is heavier than many external enclosures I have used, and the various pieces seem to fit together very well. This definitely had some serious attention paid to it from the engineering and design sides of things. For those who like to be able to upgrade drives inside their enclosures, this may not be the best choice for you. While I am sure you could muscle your way inside, there are no exposed screws or clips to indicate an easy way into the sleek exterior for an upgrade or repair.
The base is constructed of plastic, and the plastic on the top of the base is just slightly translucent. If you get a really close look, you can see inside, although there isn't much to see. On the very bottom of the device are a few ventilation slots (although there are none on top to allow air to circulate very well), and there is the removable USB/eSATA module. By loosening the brass screw seen in the below right image, the translucent piece it goes through can be popped right out. This allows you to remove the stock USB/eSATA connections and replace them with the optional dual Firewire connections.
 
While it would have been most convenient to have all the connections present on one panel, this design does allow for fairly convenient upgrades or change outs. You can buy a version of the FreeAgent Pro with just the USB/eSATA connections, and if you want Firewire somewhere down the road you do not need to replace your whole enclosure. That said, the difference in price between the USB/eSATA version and the USB/eSATA/Firewire version of the 750GB FreeAgent Pro is less than $20, so if you think you might need it down the road, I'd recommend getting it now and avoid any hassle later.
One feature I thought was missing, just turns out to be a bit peculiar. There is the standard symbol for a power switch embossed into the translucent plastic of the FreeAgent Pro's base. It doesn't look like a switch, as there are no moving pieces, but looking through the plastic shows some sort of sensor / circuity right behind it. I pressed it a few times and thought it was just for show since it did nothing. Then, I placed my finger on it for a couple seconds and the drive turned off. Turning it back on seems to be less effective, as I generally have to push on the button several times in order for anything to happen. While the switch does work (eventually), a traditional switch or button would be simpler, more intuitive, and less temperamental.
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