Buffalo DriveStation Combo4

A large but sleek external hard disk with a decent 500GB capacity, the DriveStation Combo4 has a soft metal finish and a mirrored front to stand out from the bland crowd. An access light glows gently through the sheen, and the only slightly disappointing touch is the basic functional stand. The name comes from its multiple connectors: USB, eSATA, FireWire 400 and even high-speed FireWire 800 to please Mac owners. Transfer rates via USB were average with small files, but slower than we expected with larger files; eSATA was a big improvement, so we'd recommend using that to get the most from the Buffalo. Overall, it's a versatile drive if you like to use a variety of connections, but many will prefer to spend less for a drive with fewer ports.

Author: David Bayon