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Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables
- Price: $159.99
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
- B&H # BUHDPATU3
- Mfr# HD-PA500TU3
Product Highlights
- 500GB Capacity, SATA II, 3.0Gbps
- USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt Interface
- USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt Cables Included
- Time Machine Compatible
- Speed: 5Gbps/USB 3.0, 10Gbps/Thunderbolt
- Mac and PC Compatible
- Daisy Chain up to 6 Thunderbolt Devices
- Sleek Aluminum Casing
- Bus-Powered, No Additional Power Supply
The 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables by Buffalo Technology gives you the three S's that all data managers and curators need - storage, style, and speed. This 500GB drive now features both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connectors for the ultimate in fast transfers - if you're a PC users engaging the USB 3.0 port, you'll see transfers at 12x the speed of USB 2.0, roughly 5Gbps. If you're a Mac user, using the Thunderbolt port, you'll see twice that - transfer speed approaching 10Gbps. Yikes.
Housed in a sleek aluminum body, this portable speed demon can easily be placed in a bag or carrying case and moved from workspace to workspace. There's no additional power supply to carry because the unit is bus-powered - it runs from power supplied to the connector from the host computer.
Although the MiniStation drives are formatted out of the box as HSF+ for Mac users, a simple reformat makes the drives PC accessible in either FAT32 or NTFS partitions. It's also Time Machine compatible, so you can get a complete Mac data backup immediately. You can also daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices together, so using the MiniStation as one of the drop points in a server chain is possible (please note that because there is only one Thunderbolt port on this unit, it must be placed at the end of the chain).
You can even forget about the added expense and time of tracking down cables - this unit comes with both a USB 3.0 cable and a Thunderbolt cable, which separately can cost over $60. You can start transferring, storing, and securing data as soon as you open the box.
- Unparalleled Speed
- MiniStation Thunderbolt features the revolutionary Thunderbolt technology, raising the bar on how you transfer, store and transport data. Delivering speeds up to an amazing 10 Gbps, it is the fastest interface available, 2X faster than USB 3.0, ideal for creative professionals and multimedia enthusiasts. Additionally, you can daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices to maximize use of a single port.
- USB Compatibility
- Coupled with the lightning-fast Thunderbolt technology is a USB 3.0 port for universal connectivity. Simply plug it into any available USB port on your computer and instantly add capacity or store files to take on the road. Plug and play usability means there are no drivers to install and MiniStation Thunderbolt is pre-formatted for Mac computers but can easily be reformatted for use with PCs.
- Time Machine Backup
- MiniStation Thunderbolt is pre-formatted for use with Mac and is compatible with Time Machine for complete data backup. Schedule backups and automatically protect your important files with plug and play connectivity.
- Compact and Convenient
- Housed in a sleek aluminum body, MiniStation Thunderbolt is a stylish storage companion for your laptop while on the go and at home. Designed for mobility, it offers bus-powered portable storage for your data and for your on-the-go lifestyle. It works with Mac and PC so you can access your files from whichever computer you are on, even while away from home.
- All Cables Included
- MiniStation Thunderbolt is a complete portable Thunderbolt storage solution, supplied with all necessary cables and components. Simply plug it in to any available Thunderbolt or USB port on your Mac or PC computer and instantly add capacity or securely store files to take on the road.
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 500GB |
| Interface |
USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 Thunderbolt (MiniStation Thunderbolt does not have a Thunderbolt pass-through port so it must be the last device on a daisy-chain). |
| Drive Speed | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Buffer | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Average Seek Time | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Sustained Data Transfer Rate |
Max. 5 Gbps / USB 3.0 Max. 480 Mbps / USB 2.0 Max. 10 Gbps / Thunderbolt |
| System Requirements |
Thunderbolt Mac OS X 10.6 or later (models with Intel Processor) USB 2.0 Mac OS X 10.5 or later (models with Intel Processor) Windows XP (32-bit) Windows Vista (64-bit or 32-bit) Windows 7 (64-bit or 32-bit) USB 3.0 Windows XP (32-bit) Windows Vista (64-bit or 32-bit) Windows 7 (64-bit or 32-bit) Internal hard drive is pre-formatted as HSF+ but can be reformatted as FAT32 or NTFS for use with Windows OS |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Mounting | Desktop |
| Power Requirements | DC 5V (Bus powered) |
| Environmental Requirements |
Operating: 41 - 95°F / 5 - 35°C 20 - 80% (no condensation) |
| Power Consumption |
Max 10 W (Thunderbolt Mode) Max 4.5 W (USB 3.0 Mode) |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 3.17 x 5.12 x 0.91" / 8.05 x 13 x 2.31cm |
| Weight | 9.28 oz / 0.26 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 4 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Attractive (4)
- Compact (4)
- Easy to set up (4)
- Easy to use (4)
- Portable (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Back-up (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual user (3)
- Computer Platform:
- Mac (4)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 4 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-4
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Quiet
- Super fast
Cons
Best Uses
- Backup
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Here is the problem I had. I bought the last model of the iMac with no firewire and USB2 but the first with a Thunderbolt port. I backup my iMac faithfully for many years using SuperDuper because I end up with a bootable drive. This is great when traveling to someone with a compatible Apple. I can sort of have my Mac without carrying it.
I first bought a USB3 HD that barely could do the back up and not used as a bootable drive being too slow even on the same iMac.
All I need is 500GB so B&H had this 500GB with Thunderbolt was eager to get it. The back up is incredibly fast. Must faster than the old FIrewire. Booting from it is a pleasure. This drive has a light in front but today looks are more important than function. The light is hidden below the edge of the drive to look sleek. Thus making this light almost useless. To still benefit from the light I use the drive on the edge, not flat on the desk so I can see the light. Thankfully this drive came with full cabling but of short length. Just the amount of cable needed and no tangle of more garbage cables. I really love this hard drive. It is quiet, stays cool.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Additional Storage
- Backup
- File Transfer
- Photo Storage
- Video
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Using this drive with Final Cut Pro X on a MacBook Air as a media storage drive and "scratch disk" using the included Thunderbolt cable. Experiencing excellent results so far. Based purchase on CNET review
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- High Capacity
- Portable
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Additional Storage
- Backup
- File Transfer
- Photo Storage
- Video
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Plug n Play with my Macs. Thuderbolt is significantly fater than USB 2.0. Comes with the cables you need and reccommended case fits all well. Was not sure about the tunderbolt being worth the money but it transferred 400GB of data in a third of the time. Unit is solid aluminum with a white cap on top, strong.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- High Capacity
- Portable
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Works as it should. Small efficient and looks cool.
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Displaying reviews 1-4
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 4 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Attractive (4)
- Compact (4)
- Easy to set up (4)
- Easy to use (4)
- Portable (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Back-up (3)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual user (3)
- Computer Platform:
- Mac (4)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 4 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-4
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Quiet
- Super fast
Cons
Best Uses
- Backup
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Here is the problem I had. I bought the last model of the iMac with no firewire and USB2 but the first with a Thunderbolt port. I backup my iMac faithfully for many years using SuperDuper because I end up with a bootable drive. This is great when traveling to someone with a compatible Apple. I can sort of have my Mac without carrying it.
I first bought a USB3 HD that barely could do the back up and not used as a bootable drive being too slow even on the same iMac.
All I need is 500GB so B&H had this 500GB with Thunderbolt was eager to get it. The back up is incredibly fast. Must faster than the old FIrewire. Booting from it is a pleasure. This drive has a light in front but today looks are more important than function. The light is hidden below the edge of the drive to look sleek. Thus making this light almost useless. To still benefit from the light I use the drive on the edge, not flat on the desk so I can see the light. Thankfully this drive came with full cabling but of short length. Just the amount of cable needed and no tangle of more garbage cables. I really love this hard drive. It is quiet, stays cool.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Additional Storage
- Backup
- File Transfer
- Photo Storage
- Video
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Using this drive with Final Cut Pro X on a MacBook Air as a media storage drive and "scratch disk" using the included Thunderbolt cable. Experiencing excellent results so far. Based purchase on CNET review
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- High Capacity
- Portable
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
- Additional Storage
- Backup
- File Transfer
- Photo Storage
- Video
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Plug n Play with my Macs. Thuderbolt is significantly fater than USB 2.0. Comes with the cables you need and reccommended case fits all well. Was not sure about the tunderbolt being worth the money but it transferred 400GB of data in a third of the time. Unit is solid aluminum with a white cap on top, strong.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Attractive Design
- Compact
- Easy To Set Up
- Easy to use
- High Capacity
- Portable
- Quiet
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Buffalo 500GB MiniStation Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 Portable Drive with Cables:
Works as it should. Small efficient and looks cool.
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Displaying reviews 1-4
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