| | |  | Computer Accessories | Home » » Iomega 33744 UltraMax Pro Hard Drive - eSata/USB 2.0, 1.5TB, 2HD x 750GB | | | | | | | Description: | | UltraMax Pro Desktop Hard Drive eSata 3GBits/USB 2.0 1.5TB - Iomega s UltraMax Pro Desktop Hard Drive eSATA 3 Gbits/USB 2.0 1.5TB offers a eSATA interface with the latest SATA 3Gb/s technology for ultra high data transfer rates upto 6 times faster than USB 2.0! (eSATA card sold separately) It is a high-performance storage solution with (2) hot swappable SATA II hard drives and hardware RAID features that s ideal for professional-quality video applications or small office environments. Plus award winning EMC Retrospect Express software is included to protect your important files. | | | Features: | |
• External 1.5TB hard drive with eSATA and USB 2.0 connections
• Fastest possible data transfer with eSATA offering up to 3Gbps throughput; USB 2.0 offers 480 Mbps
• Built-in RAID options include RAID 0 for performance and RAID 1 for security
• 1-year limited warranty
• Device measures 6.4 x 6.1 x 7.9 inches (WxHxD)
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 3.94 inches | | Product Width:
| 4.33 inches | | Product Height:
| 4.72 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.0 pounds | | Package Length:
| 10.2 inches | | Package Width:
| 9.2 inches | | Package Height:
| 8.4 inches | | Package Weight:
| 8.35 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 3 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 3 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 found the following review helpful:
 Iomega UltraMax For Mac Users, Leopard, and Time MachineNov 06, 2007
By John Manzione
So, a whopping 1.5TB external hard drive that looks like Apple Mac Pro desktop computers, with an eSATA connection that will supposedly give you the fastest throughput you can get (supposedly 6 times faster than USB 2). eSATA has a theoretical throughput of 3GBPS versus FW800's 800MBPS, which means it should be about 3.5 times faster than FW800. It ain't, but it sure isn't slow either. If you've added an eSATA connection to your computer through a PCIs card or on the logic board (as in the 8-core Mac Pro), then you're obviously looking for speed. eSATA is the way to go for speed for file transfers, but it is much too early to know how well it will hold up, or how long this device will hold up down the road. Here is my specific review of this particular device;
First, a bit of a disclosure. I've used Iomega products for many years, beginning with their ancient Zip and Jaz disks and drives. I've had pretty good luck with Iomega products, much better than Maxtor One-Touch products anyway. So, when I heard that Iomega was getting back into the Mac market with a big push I decided to give them a try. I was looking for a device with enough storage that using OS X 10.5's Time Machine would be a "turn it on and forget about it" proposition. That meant large enough, stable enough, fast enough, and long lasting.
My UltraMax arrived in a condition that said it must have been knocked around a lot during transit. The enclosure itself was coming apart at the seams. Buckily when I pushed it back together it snapped back into place and has stayed that way. That said, it didn't give a good first impression when I opened the box and saw the aluminum case coming apart.
Iomega does include everything you need, regardless of how you decide to hook it up to your computer. Includes USB cable or eSATA cable, plus power brick (it does NOT come with an eSATA PCI card). You get a CD of "tools" , Retrospect Express and manuals. (Retrospect Express is not a big deal and unless you absolutely HAVE TO, don't use it on a Mac).
Okay, enough.... here's where this product disappointed.
Iomega is marketing this drive as a real Mac companion, going so far as to build an enclosure that looks like the Apple Mac Pro desktop. Anyone would think the device would be plug and play... its not. I am basing this review on the premise that you'll be using OS X Leopard (10.5), which is what I am using. Plugging the device into my eSATA port (8-core Mac Pro and OWC's eSATA 2-port adapter plugged into my logic board), the drive did not mount.
Launching Disk Utility I saw that the drive was there and needed to be formatted. Yet, Iomega indicates that it already is formatted for the Mac. Its supposed to be pre-formatted at FAT32, which it might be, who knows, but Leopard users will not see the drive unless they format it again, as GUID, which takes a few extra steps with Disk Utility. Once you get it formatted properly it does show up fine.
UltraMax 1.5TB is actually 2x750GB Drives set up in RAID 0 so that both drives read as one. It is indeed compatible with Time Machine (Leopard backup application) and so far the drive has held up well. Unfortunately time is the real test when evaluating hard drives. If you are looking for this kind of device you could do much worse. The price is more than fair. What bothers me most is found on Iomega's web site, not Amazon's... and its this little tidbit:
* Memory Cache - 8MB or higher
First, 8MB is not enough for a 750GB drive. Its just not. Second, 8MB or higher tells me that Iomega is using different drives in these enclosures, perhaps making the choice by price. I think a company as large as Iomega should be able to state, definitely, one way or other, what the drives MB cache is.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent choice AND price for a RAID 1 configurable driveDec 11, 2007
By Frank Perrotto
"frankperrotto.com"
I had a 500 GB Western Digital My Book crash nearly losing about 1,400 media files for an independent film. With Data Rescue II, I was able to salvage about 95% of what was missing and I immediately needed a much better yet still cost-effective drive solution that I felt comfortable with.
Enter the Iomega Ultramax Pro line, which can be configured in multiple ways: RAID 0, Jbod, RAID 1, or as two independent 750 GB drives. What particulary attracted me to this drive was the fact that I could configure it as a 750 GB RAID 1. This is exactly what I did and, as the other reviewer said, only time will tell with a hard drive, but I feel comfortable knowing that I have a back-up in a fire-proof safe and then two mirrored drives with my Ultramax Pro. Pulling the drives out on my unit revealed two 750 GB Seagate Barracuda's that are EASILY replaceable, once you understand the drive release mechanism, which brings us to the problem with this drive - lack of easily searchable documentation. On the drive release switch, I could find NOTHING in their online support.
This could be a serious problem for someone who isn't technically inclined, particularly if you're looking for help with configuring the drive array using the DIP switches. Apparently, the on/off rocker switch (THANK YOU, IOMEGA, FOR PROVIDING A SIMPLE SWITCH, UNLIKE WESTERN DIGITAL!) also acts as a drive array reset button as it has a little in and out 'give' to it. Nowhere in the documentation is this made clear. It simply says, when configuring for RAID 1 to hold down the drive reset button for 10 seconds after turning it on. Combine this with the conflicting information on the help site and you've got a great product with an angry customer who does not know how to operate it. Some of the online support documentation says you hit the reset switch before you turn it on, other times it says after. Also, make sure you know which DIP switch settings you're looking at in their online support - the ultramax and ultramax pro lines have OPPOSITE settings for the switches.
Once you put together all the information in a way that's understandable, (and I bookmarked everything in an iomega bookmark folder) the drive is really a pleasure to have on your desktop. I'd especially recommend it for anyone with important files that need constant backing up.
The fan IS noisy, but I think it's a minor inconvenience when compared to the price, the robust look and feel of the drive housing, and the host of available configurations. BUY IT!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 I've had 4 of these, two failed, two were damaged during shipment....May 20, 2009
By T. Couture
"blahblah"
First off, let me just point out that these drives have VERY POOR ventilation...the drives inside get so hot that you can barely even keep your hand on them for a fraction of a second, not a good sign of reliability and makes me think that drives will fail at any time due to overheating. The holes on the front of the case are basically a waste, and serve no purpose other than asthetics and there is only 1 tiny fan on the side but there are no ventilation holes for it, only on the back of the case. I decided to MOD the unit and drill holes into the case on the top and bottom to help airflow, it's helped a little but not enough.
Anyways, I first bought one of these at the end of 2007, worked okay for 7-8 months then started clicking over and over, data was still there when taking the drive out and plugging it into my motherboard directly. Got a replacement which was damaged during shipping due to Iomega's very poor packing, got another sent, same thing, damaged again due to poor packaging...so by then I had 3 units in my hands...Finally I got through to corporate and got them to send me a new boxed unit instead of a refurbished unit then ending up with 4 units at one point. Sent the 2 damaged units back to Iomega and decided to press my luck by keeping the original damaged unit because I was so angry with them. I decided to use the drives as backups. They haven't bothered me since (a year later) and shows how on top of things they are. Well, the new unit has worked for almost 9 months and is now showing signs of failure or it could be just one SEAGATE drive failing because I'm getting the same click/beep/click/beep/ect. again.
I've had enough dealing with Iomega that I'm not even going to bother contacting them this time, I'm going to just use this unit as a drive for junk/backup files and invest in something more reliable. I will NEVER purchase an Iomega product ever again and I urge anyone else not to either.
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