LaCie (http://www.lacie.com) says its latest Rugged hard drive features faster speeds, a tougher design, and an integrated interface cable. It’s purportedly tougher than ever before with improved shock, dust and water resistance. Plus, the integrated Thunderbolt cable stows away when you’re not using it.
The Rugged is MIL-compliant, which means that data is protected even during accidental drops of up to 6.6 feet. During transit, users can attach the removable cover to provide IP 54-level protection against dust and water.
The SSD version goes a step further with resilience against vibration and shock. Both versions are tough enough to be shipped for reliable delivery to clients or partners, according to LaCie. Included software protects files from prying eyes with AES 256-bit encryption.
The LaCie Rugged, design by Neil Poulton, will be broadly available mid-June through LaCie resellers in 1TB (US$219.99) and 2TB ($299.99) capacities. The 250GB SSD ($299.99) and 500GB SSD ($499.99) capacities will be broadly available early in July.