Go to Windows 7 Insider GuideMaxtor Black Armor (160GB)
Manufacturer: Seagate Technology Part number: STM901603BAA1E1RK
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The impenetrable Maxtor Black Armor is the Fort Knox of external hard drives, but the added security comes at a hefty price tag. This device might appeal to those who need the most protection possible, but the competition offers more space for less money.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/03/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Maxtor Black Armor (160GB) price range: $108.10
- Reviewed by: Justin Yu
- Edited by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 06/18/2008
- Updated on:01/27/2009
- Released on: 06/16/2008
The good: Hardware encrypted storage protection, convenient host and traveler modes.
The bad: Expensive; sluggish transfer speeds; lacks FireWire; boring design.
The bottom line: The impenetrable Maxtor Black Armor is the Fort Knox of external hard drives, but the added security comes at a hefty price tag. This device might appeal to those who need the most protection possible, but the competition offers more space for less money.
Editors' note: The final rating of this review has been updated to reflect a discrepancy in calculation. None of the individual scores have changed.
We're not surprised to see the Maxtor Black Armor emerge in a time when so much confidential data is transported by external hard drives. The 160GB Black Armor drive ($150) is a portable storage device with built-in Advanced Encryption Standard hardware-based encryption to prevent digital theft. Unfortunately, this added security comes at a significantly higher cost per gigabyte. Unless you need an external storage device with the highest level of data protection, we recommend looking to a more wallet-friendly drive.
| Drive type | External Hard Drive |
| Connector options | USB 2.0 |
| Available capacities | 160GB |
| Capacity of test unit | 160GB |
| Drive size | 2.5-inch |
| Drive speed | 5400rpm |
| Cache | 8MB |
| Dimensions (LWH) | 0.67x3.32x5.17 inches |
| OSes supported | Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, Business or Microsoft Windows XP Home, Professional, Media Center Edition |
| Software included | Maxtor Manager software |
Design and features
The Black Armor drive isn't going to win any design contests; it's just a 5.17 inch by 3.32 inch black rectangle with a few silver accents and a small reflective strip on the front. The top of the drive has a single exposed USB 2.0 port for connecting to your computer, but, sadly, there's no FireWire.
It might not be the flashiest drive out there, but the Black Armor is all about internal security. Once you set a password, all your data is secured by Maxtor's government grade 128-bit encryption certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The encryption itself is built directly into the hardware, as opposed to other external hard drives that use software to protect data.
Once you set a username, password, and password hint and answer, the Black Armor is completely locked down and ready to use. We recommend writing down your username and password and storing it in a safe place. If you forget either one, your data becomes inaccessible and you'll be forced to reformat the drive and subsequently lose it all. In our tests, we were allowed three tries before the drive wouldn't let us access it. We had to disconnect and reconnect the USB cable to get back into the login screen. In addition, the drive operates in two modes: host and traveler, where the host computer is the only PC with permission to completely erase the drive. Traveler mode protects the data and prevents others from formatting your device.
Performance
The Maxtor didn't fare well in our speed comparison tests, trudging in dead last and a full 10 megabits behind the third slowest drive in both write and read tests. We typically don't see much disparity between read performance between USB 2.0 hard drives, but the Maxtor trailed the rest of our test subjects at a sluggish 139.2 megabits per second. Overall, the Maxtor Black Armor is one of the slowest compact external hard drives we've seen in awhile.
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Cost per gigabyte
The Maxtor Black Armor costs $150 for a scanty 160GB, and at $0.81 per gigabyte, the price for the extra security definitely isn't cheap. We recently tested the Western Digital My Passport Studio, an external hard drive without built-in encryption that costs $30 more than the Black Armor but offers double the capacity at 320GB.
Service and support
Maxtor backs the Black Armor hard drive with a five-year limited warranty with return to manufacture service for repairs and exchanges. Troubleshooting tips, a knowledge base, and a comprehensive list of FAQs are available on the Maxtor Web site, Maxtor Solutions.
User reviews
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Best drive out there if encryption is what you need
by gordonrd on November 2, 2009
Pros: Hardware based encryption. Although the drive is slower than comparable non-encrypted drives, it's faster than software encryption.
Cons: Speed. Some instability in connecting under Windows 7. No case provided.
Summary: This is a compact, efficient drive for use with WinXP or Vista for those needing seamless, highly secure encryption. Seems not as stable on my machines upgraded to Windows 7. ...
Summary: This is a compact, efficient drive for use with WinXP or Vista for those needing seamless, highly secure encryption. Seems not as stable on my machines upgraded to Windows 7. If encryption is not a major need, there is no need to purchase this drive since faster unencrpyted drives will better serve you..
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Small, secure, stylish. 4.5 stars because no Firewire
by k_lister on May 17, 2009
Pros: Exceptionally easy to use and very secure. Beautiful, simple design as well as doing the job it is designed to do. Transport data securely whilst you are on the move.
Cons: Nothing that I would call a real "Con". I suppose a Firewire connection would have been a useful addition for large transfers, however USB2 does the job well enough. Not a low cost product but you get what you pay for.
Summary: The Black Armor drive does exactly what it says on the box. It is an excellent high-end encrypted portable hard drive. The previous review slates the product because of its ...
Summary: The Black Armor drive does exactly what it says on the box. It is an excellent high-end encrypted portable hard drive. The previous review slates the product because of its encryption capabilities for what he calls ?abnormal activities?. That?s like complaining about a Porsche car because it accelerates too quickly. If you class carrying confidential customer data and financial information as ?abnormal? then perhaps you are probably not the sort of person that even knows what an encrypted drive is for. However, if you are a businessman that wants a very secure, very stylish and discrete drive to keep your client?s and indeed your own business data secure whilst you are on the road, this is an excellent product.
I?m not entirely sure how robust the drive is but I can say I have caught my foot on my laptop cable and sent my laptop and the drive crashing to a hard wood floor. The laptop was fine being a Toughbook but more impressively the drive was fine too. I have forgotten to disconnect it more than once and just pulled it out of the USB port and it has been very forgiving with no problems at all evident.
160GB isn?t exactly huge and you can but much larger drives and then of course encrypt the drive in software for a lot less money. You can even get some reasonable free software. However, 160GB is more than enough to carry the entire contents of my laptop but if, god forbid, I do lose or have my laptop bag stolen, at least I won?t have to worry about compromising my data. Having to buy a new laptop is a pain, having to explain to clients that you have compromised their business by not taking proper care of their information would be a whole different problem.
I?ve used all sorts of encryption software and they are NEVER as straight forward and as easy to use as they say. You either have to faff around for hours installing them and waiting for them to encrypt your drive, or they have pain in the butt user interfaces when you come to access the data, or in many cases, both. The Black Armor uses government grade hardware encryption certified by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) to be the best commercially available data security for portable storage. If you are serious about protecting your data, what else do you need to know? Exactly how important do you think it will be that you bought a 500GB hard drive for half the cost if you have to visit a client and explain that you?ve lost a drive and their data is on it?
When it comes to simplicity of use, the Black Armor is as easy as it gets. The drive comes with the management software on it. You simply enter the code into the software from the side of your drive, generate a password, and that?s it. When you need to access the drive, you just enter the password and you are in. When you disconnect the drive, it?s locked. How much more simple could it be? You don?t even have to remember to lock it. When you disconnect it from your laptop, it?s locked.
The news is riddled with horror stories of agencies and businesses that have lost critical, confidential, data and had it found and accessed by a member of the public. There simply is NO excuse. Anyone can be unlucky enough to lose something or have it stolen. But only a complete idiot didn?t take steps to ensure that it is a simple financial loss and not something far, far worse. I can only say to them that it?s time they grew up and took proper care of their information. Ladies and gentlemen, there can be no excuse. Lock it or lose it. And before anyone asks, no I don?t work for Maxtor, Seagate or any other company involved in mobile or portable data. I am simply a consultant that takes my responsibilities seriously. -
Horrible drive!
by Grafixx01 on April 7, 2009
Pros: None, unless you actually need the encryption portion to protect your data but unless you're using the drive for 'abonormal' activities, it's pointless to have the encryption.
Cons: The encryption. It allows the drive to ONLY work if you are plugging it into a computer which has a working OS on it. I've called Seagate and they say you can't remove the software at all.
Summary: It's a horrible drive. Like I've said, unless you're using the drive to store financial data or something of that nature, what is the point? You can'...
Summary: It's a horrible drive. Like I've said, unless you're using the drive to store financial data or something of that nature, what is the point? You can't take the encryption software off, like all other drives that have software on them from the manufacturer. I called Seagate and they even admit this to you, so why bother?
0 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Seagate Technology
- Part number: STM901603BAA1E1RK
- Bottom Line: The impenetrable Maxtor Black Armor is the Fort Knox of external hard drives, but the added security comes at a hefty price tag. This device might appeal to those who need the most protection possible, but the competition offers more space for less money.
General
- Device Type Hard drive - External hard drive
- Width 3.32 in
- Depth 0.67 in
- Height 5.17 in
- Weight 7.2 oz
- Enclosure Color Black
- Localization English / United States
Hard Drive
- Form Factor 2.5"
- Capacity 160 GB
- Interface Type Hi-Speed USB
- Buffer Size 480 MB
- Features Seagate Secure
Performance
- Interface Transfer Rate 480 Mbps
- Data Transfer Rate Details Hi-Speed USB
- Spindle Speed 5400 rpm
Storage Controller
- Type None
Storage Controller (2nd)
- Type None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces 1 x Hi-Speed USB
- Compatible Bays None
- Compatible Slots x None
Power
- External Hard Drive Power Source USB bus
- Power device type None
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Carrying case
- Cables Included 1 x USB cable
- Package Type Retail
Software / System Requirements
- Software type Drivers & Utilities
- Min Operating system Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
- System Requirements Details Windows XP/Vista - Pentium III - RAM 256 MB
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & support type 5 years warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 5 years
Product series
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Manufacturer: Seagate Technology
Specs: 160 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5", 480 MB, 5400 rpm
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Manufacturer: Seagate Technology
Specs: 320 GB, Hi-Speed USB, 2.5", 480 MB, 5400 rpm
Manufacturer info
- Seagate Technology
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Seagate Technology products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.seagate.com/
- Address:
920 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066 - Phone: 1-405-324-4700
- Fax: 1-405-324-4702
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