Data storage devices are becoming extremely inexpensive, and this trend is perhaps best illustrated by EDGE Tech's new line of DiskGO 2.5" Ultra Portable Hard Drives. These external hard drives are available in capacities from 20GB up to a generous 160GB, and they are small and light enough to carry almost anywhere.

We looked at the 40GB model, which sells for $80 direct from EDGE Tech. The slim brushed-aluminum drive is about the size and heft of a pocket calculator, so there's no questioning its portability. The DiskGO has a blue LED that flashes during data transfers, letting you keep an eye on its progress.

Installing this USB 2.0 drive couldn't be easier. We simply plugged it in and Windows XP recognized the drive. EDGE Tech includes drivers for Windows 98 SE users.

The DiskGO gets its power through the USB cable that also serves to transfer data. For those times when additional power is needed, a second cable is provided that plugs into a USB port on a PC and an AC adapter on the drive. However, EDGE Tech says that this is rarely necessary, and we were able to get enough power through the single cable with both our desktop and our portable computer.

Since it's USB 2.0, backups are fairly brisk, although it can take quite a while to fill the drive completely. Transfers are quickly performed by a simple drag-and-drop process. EDGE Tech also includes the Backup4all software application, which lets you schedule your backups and perform various processes. For example, you can choose to only back up files that have been recently changed. The Backup4all software is a handy tool to include with a large-capacity portable hard drive.

When you're ready to take your data on the road, the under-half-a-pound DiskGO fits snugly into a protective leather case that you can toss into a laptop bag or coat pocket. If you need a compact external hard drive that can hold massive amounts of data, the EDGE Tech 2.5" Ultra Portable Hard Drive is a well-designed and inexpensive data storage device.


Pros: Excellent price, great capacity, simple to use
Cons: May need additional power through second USB cable

Warranty
1 year