Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 250 GB 3.5" USB 2.0/FireWire 400 External Hard Drive

List Price: $109.99 Discount Price: $89.99

Features:

• 250 GB external hard drive connects to your computer via USB cable or FireWire 400
• Simple Maxtor user interface for drive management, security, and backup scheduling
• Two levels of security against unauthorized use - Maxtor DrivePass¿ and data encryption
• Sync data between 2 or more computers on the same operating system
• Drive and power management utilities; 5-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews:

Nice unit [Posted on 2007-12-16]
This is an attractive, easy-to-use drive. I've had mine for a couple of months and it works fine; my needs are very straightforward. The software bundled with it backs up "My Documents" (Windows) either on a user-defined schedule or immediately by pushing the front bar. The first time it backs up everything and it took about 10 min for my files. After that, it just backs up new and changed files. The software saves several (10?) levels of changes for a file. Other files can be copied to the Maxtor by drag-and-drop just like an additional drive. I noticed that some of my programs back up files to a non-"My Documents" folder, so I changed the directory for backups or else I drag-and-drop the files manually into a directory.

It's easy to use, it's reliable, backing up is no longer a once in a while chore for me. I'm very pleased with it and have recommended it to friends and family.

Drive is fine, software is horrible [Posted on 2007-12-26]
The Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus claims on the box that is is "perfect for when you need to ... [h]ave a simple and reliable automated backup solution". Sadly, this description is not accurate. Although the drive itself is simple to setup as a portable USB hard drive, the design of the backup software actually prevents you from being able to backup your important data.

The included software deliberately prevents you from being able to backup important application data. Many sets of application data like mail, address books, bookmarks, and some program settings are stored in "hidden" folders. The software included with the Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus software actively prevents you from being able to select these folders to backup data.

The box says "your choice to backup what you want when you want it". This is not the reality for the program.

Seagate Maxtor One Touch 4 Plus [Posted on 2008-02-09]
I purchased this drive in preparation for backing up key files and photos.

The plan was to back up these files prior to re-formatting my PC's drive and re-installing Windows XP.

The installation instructions seemed straight forward, and the built in software on the Maxtor One Touch 4 drive is pretty much automatic, walking you through the formatting routine. Soon had my files stream merrily along to their new home on the Maxtor One Touch Plus. You could watch the files transfer on your monitor.

Once I received the message that told me that all was well, I disconnected the Maxtor One Touch 4 and began to flush my PC.

After re-formatting my C: drive, and re-installing Windows and my applications, I re-installed the Maxtor One Touch 4.

Eeekk! Partition not found.

Maxtor support was un-able to help. They speculated that something went wrong when the drive was formatted by the internal software, but beyond that, they couldn't do much. They offered to provide document recovery services at an additional cost to me, but beyond that, I was out of luck.

I proceeded to reformat the Maxtor One Touch 4 using my PC and the partition was successful. My files and data, though, are history.

Where I screwed up was by not double checking the Maxtor One Touch 4 to see if the file transfer was sucessful. It was a big mistake to believe the message provided by the Maxtor's built in software.

"Trust......but verify" - Ronald Reagan

lousy [Posted on 2008-06-09]
BEWARE. Bought for emergency backup. Made one backup and then the Maxtor drive failed. Intermittent re-starts, but never sustained. Ditto whenever attached to any other computer. Tech support (of course) says problem must be with our originating drive, not theirs, won't replace.

Maxtor One-Touch [Posted on 2008-07-14]
So far a great product. All facets work well.Plug and play, set up quickly. Highly recommended!

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