Conclusion:

The 1TB Seagate FreeAgent Go performs respectably, with transfer rates you might expect from your typical USB hard drive. In some tests it outperformed the other drives on hand, while in others it lagged a bit behind. The slight differences in benchmark performance might not really matter though, because during the real world file transfer testing there was never more than a one or two second difference between drives.



Other positives include the fact that Seagate provides a software package with useful utilities for encryption, data back-up, and data syncing. And while the FreeAgent Go isn't as quiet as a solid state drive, it is just about silent.

One small issue I have with the 1TB FreeAgent Go is that there is no carrying case or sleeve included in the packaging. There is one available that with the two docking station options, but it would be nice if a simple sleeve was included with the drive. While I like the form factor of the Seagate drive, the Buffalo MiniStation Metro hard drive I recently reviewed integrates the USB cable into the enclosure, ensuring you always have it with you. This is a great feature, and one that I would like to see other manufacturers integrate with their products.

Combine the Seagate FreeAgent Go drive with the optional docking station (plus carrying case) for around $20, and you can make connecting the hard drive to your main machine extremely easy. If you are interested in sharing the data from your FreeAgent Go over the Internet as easily as possible, Seagate also offers the DockStar which allows you to share your data using the PogoPlug service.

The 1TB Seagate FreeAgent Go USB hard drive can be purchased from many retailers, including Newegg.com, starting at just under $200 (US). While the price is high compared to other 1TB external hard drives, almost all of the other options will be larger, heavier, and perhaps require an external power source. The main competition would be a Western Digital Passport, which is also available as a 2.5" 1TB drive. The price on the Passport is also just under $200, but one key difference is that Seagate offers a 5-year warranty, while Western Digital offers a 3-year warranty.

This drive has pretty much everything you can ask for... a great design, high capacity, easy portability, doesn't require external power, and of course there is Seagate's 5 year warranty. With everything that the FreeAgent Go 1TB USB hard drive has going for it, I have to give it the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" award!



Pros:

» Decent transfer rate
» USB powered
» Quiet
» Auto-backup, sync, and encryption capable
» 5 year warranty
» Carrying case and docking station available

Cons:

» No carrying case included
» USB cable integrated into the housing would be nice

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