Like the Buffalo hard drive I bought in Japan to replace one that died, Buffalo’s Shinobi Portable HD is actually Samsung inside, but in this case, the same kind used in the MacBook Air, so it’s incredibly slim and totally pocketable—the “world’s thinnest external hard drive”—about the size of a biz card holder. The convenience makes for a low bytes to dollars ratio, though, at $120 for 30GB and $170 for 60GB. Still, I love the design.
BUFFALO TECHNOLOGY UNVEILS THE WORLD’S THINNEST EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE The Super-Flat MiniStation Shinobi is Designed for High Performance Data Storage while Fitting into Your Shirt Pocket AUSTIN, TX – September 22, 2008 – Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking, storage and memory solutions today unveiled the super-slim MiniStation Shinobi. At a mere 5mm (.2 inches) thick and weighing in at just 2oz, the robust MiniStation Shinobi is a lightweight in size but a heavyweight when it comes to features. Designed for the active professional, Buffalo’s new ultra-portable drive includes easy-to-use backup and sync software, mobile applications such as Firefox and Thunderbird for on-the-go email and web browsing as well as Buffalo’s SecureLockMobile software to prevent unauthorized access in the event the drive is lost or stolen. Featuring a unique, self-contained cable management system, the sleek, new MiniStation Shinobi offers users the ability to backup and take their favorite music, videos, photos or mission critical files in an ultra-slim drive that can withstand the trials and tribulations of the road. “Innovative, easy-to-use products with quality features is what Buffalo is known for,” said Ken Higgins, vice president of sales at Buffalo Technology. “With the new MiniStation Shinobi, we are continuing to push the envelope with more compact, design conscious storage solutions that will not only meet, but exceed the ever evolving needs of our customers.” The MiniStation Shinobi is Mac and PC compatible and is the perfect grab-and-go storage solution, whether it’s for doing a presentation overseas or a casual lunch meeting down the street. Buffalo’s unique TurboUSB technology enhances data transfer rates of up to 20% faster than other standard drives and ships with Memeo’s AutoBackup and Auto Sync software allowing consumers to securely and automatically manage and backup their digital assets in real-time. Pricing and Availability The MiniStation Shinobi is backed by a limited one-year warranty that includes toll-free 24/7 technical support and will be available in October at estimated street prices of $119.99 for the 30GB (HD-PT30U2) and $169.99 for the 60GB (HD-PT60U2).
