Hitachi LifeStudio Mobile Plus USB2

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 7 expert reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

1
Average:

2
Bad:

3

Pros:

Good performance, dock, USB key with Micro SD card reader, good backup software with online backup
Package, Auto sync USB key, 3D wall interface, dual backup, data transfer speed
Dockable USB key, Portable Hard Drive, Very easy to use, 3D Wall, Easy to access online content, Automatic backups, Automatic USB sync, Cloud storage option, Basic file support.

Cons:

Bulky with dock, software does not support network storage, no backup button, price
Slotting drive into dock not easy

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Last revision on March 13, 2012

Reviewers Liked

Good performance, dock, USB key with Micro SD card reader, good backup software with online backup
Package, Auto sync USB key, 3D wall interface, dual backup, data transfer speed
Dockable USB key, Portable Hard Drive, Very easy to use, 3D Wall, Easy to access online content, Automatic backups, Automatic USB sync, Cloud storage option, Basic file support
The LifeStudio Mobile Plus external hard drive ships with Hitachi's LifeStudio software that intelligently organizes digital content. The device comes with a separate thumb drive to store on-the-go data, and it offers decent throughput performance

Reviewers Didn't Like

Bulky with dock, software does not support network storage, no backup button, price
Slotting drive into dock not easy
No advanced options, Content player lacks features, Software must be installed
The LifeStudio Mobile Plus doesn't support USB 3.0 or FireWire. Its LifeStudio software display ads, and it doesn't support network storage or allow for excluding certain folders from its library. Out of the box, the drive can't handle files 4

Expert reviews and ratings

A novel design for this hard drive has it sitting up in a cradle, it can be removed if you wish, however this unit has a decent front end of software that offers more than just a hard drive and even then there is a little something...

By GadgetSpeak on August 01, 2011

Despite the attractive and versatile nature of LifeStudio, it's essentially a stripped-down media centre application that must be accessed through a computer via mouse and keys. Though it's reasonably priced considering what you get, the lack of...

By IT Reviews on May 20, 2011

Hitachi's Mobile LifeStudio has an interesting design, but we can't work out who would actually find it useful and...

By CNET Australia on December 07, 2010

The Hitachi LifeStudio Mobile Plus 500GB performs well for its class of portable USB hard drives. It is truly a lifestyle product going by its stylish looks, but still packs in a good set of features. The 500GB capacity makes it an excellent backup...

By TechTree on November 02, 2010

Since the drive is built with USB 2.0 technology it won't be winning any speed contests. But even large movie files transfer in under a minute. The installed applications consume a small amount of resources and can be run as one of many other open...

By Benchmark Reviews on September 23, 2010

The LifeStudio Mobile Plus is a good external storage solution that makes it easy to find what you need, when you need it, among your "digital mess." However, its lack of support for USB 3.0 and the limited functionality of the LifeStudio and Backup...

By cnet on July 20, 2010

A visit to a press event introduced me to a Hitachi product that attempted to combine style and an innovative approach to hardware and software....

By GadgetSpeak on April 07, 2011

What do you do if you need to back up your data, transport it, synchronize it between several locations, and access it online? Hitachi’s Life Studio Mobile Plus is a brave attempt at solving that dilemma, but it only really appeals to mainstream...

By Tom's Hardware UK on December 31, 2010

When it comes to portable hard-drives one doesn’t expect anything too exciting to come your way. They are more or less the same standard shape and size with a change here and there in the indication lights or the looks. However, the Hitachi...

By CIOL on November 01, 2010

bei der Software aus. Hitachi Backup bietet zwar keinen riesigen Funktionsumfang, verrichtet die Arbeit im Rahmen der gebotenen Optionen aber zuverlässig. Wünschenswert wäre allerdings eine Synchronisierung in beide Richtungen gewesen;...

By ComputerBase on October 23, 2010

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