As the name suggests, the Iomega Red eGo is one of the brightest products on review this month. Its curvy casing, in shiny chrome and deep powder red, carries overtones of fast cars with just a hint of the boudoir. It’s a drive that demands to be put on display.
However, beneath the glitz it’s an unremarkable drive, with its test scores placing it among this month’s slower drives. Not only that, it’s uninspiring in terms of features as well. There are no bells or whistles such as programmable buttons or multicoloured disk access lights. In fact, not only is the access indicator single-colour, it’s hidden away at the back of the unit, so you can’t even see it in normal use. Not exactly a design triumph.
Given its rather rudimentary feature set, it’s a shock to discover that the eGo costs more than all of its portable competitors. It is a portable 250GB unit, of course, so a certain price premium is to be expected. But Freecom’s cheaper 250GB drive offers features like integrated USB plug, ruggedness and a lower price per gigabyte to up the value stakes. The eGo, conversely, works out as one of the worst deals here in terms of pure storage, costing more per gigabyte than all but the LaCie.
Of course, you don’t buy a drive like this purely for the storage. It is a thing of beauty, and if price isn’t a factor it’s tempting to overlook its shortcomings and just enjoy its looks. However, once the glamour wears thin, you’ll be left with a drive that’s slower than the Toshiba and the Maxtor, and less well equipped.
This Review appeared in the May, 2008 issue of PC & Tech Authority Magazine
Source: Copyright © PC Pro, Dennis Publishing
