LaCie intros the ultra-compact 2.5-inch Rikiki hard drive

[Matthew DeCarlo]

LaCie has introduced what it claims is the most compact 2.5-inch (portable) hard drive on the market. The "Rikiki" -- which means "tiny" in French -- features a sturdy brushed aluminum exterior, measures 4.3 x 2.9 x .5 inches and weighs only 5.57oz.

The ultra-compact drive makes use of the ubiquitous USB 2.0 interface and is compatible with both Macs and PCs. However, Windows users are able to use the "USB Boost software" which supposedly increases the transfer speed by up to 33%.

The Rikiki also ships with a two-year warranty and backup software, in case you don't already have a strategy in practice. Drives are currently available in 250GB, 500GB, and 640GB capacities at prices of $75, $110, and $150.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/37349-lacie-intros-the-ultra-compact-25-inch-rikiki-hard-drive.html

 

[Kibaruk]

How could software improve transfer speeds? O_o

 

[9Nails]

It probably increases the size of file chunks sent to the device which optimize the transfer.

Windows naturally assumes that you're USB device is legacy and can't fit a whole lot of data into a transfer. (Windows thinks that your transfer is a VW Beetle so it doesn't load up all the groceries in one trip - makes your file transfer go back for more data on several smaller trips.) What their software does is probably optimize those transfer windows so you get more data sent per trip. (It tells Windows that you have a 747 instead of a Beetle so it's ok to send more data per trip.)

Here's one way you can use software to improve USB transfer speeds: http://www.ehow.com/how_5105463_increase-transfer-speed-windows-vista.html

 

[compdata]

looks nice, although i would be just fine with something slightly larger with most space for slightly less money.

 

[Guest]

Rikiki... lol, those crazy french from France I'm French (Canadian) and didn't even knew what that "word" was.