LaCie has announced updates to both its d2 and
Rugged storage models, adding USB-C to the Rugged model and Thunderbolt 3 to
the LaCie d2. With these updates, users can use the same drives LaCie has
previously announced with the latest laptop models, such as the new MacBook
Pro. These drives are offered with storage options ranging up to a 5TB hard
drive or a 1TB SSD for the Rugged and up to 10TB for the d2.
The LaCie d2 and Rugged models aren’t themselves
new, rather just the addition of USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to these models, enabling
faster and more convenient data transfers. According to LaCie, the Rugged model
is gaining USB-C but also retaining its USB 3.0 functionality, giving the best
of both worlds. The company also says there’s an integrated Thunderbolt cable
that is compatible with the first and second-generation Thunderbolt.
This model features a Seagate BarraCuda drive. The
1TB SSD option in particular boasts speeds up to 510MB/s, which is said to be
30-percent faster than the previous generation. Overall, you could transfer
100GB in something like three minutes, a very fast speed compared to many
storage solutions.
The LaCie d2 with Thunderbolt 3, meanwhile, also has
USB 3.0. This model features a 7200 rpm Seagate BarraCuda hard drive and
transfer speeds up to 240MB/s, which is said to be a 10-percent uptick over the
last generation. These drives will launch around the global in the first
quarter of this year starting at $249.99 USD for the Rugged and starting at US$ 429.99 for the LaCie d2.
