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Adding to its range of Store 'n' Go mobile storage devices, Verbatim has recently released two new 1 inch HD drive products with either 4GB or 8GB capacity.  This review is based on the 4GB model which comes with a white travel wallet and permanently attached USB lead.

When launching a product, such as this USB HD drive, into an already competitive marketplace, you do need to make sure that your offering stands out from the competition.  Verbatim has ensured that this device is not lacking in this respects although everything did not work as expected.

Combining a white fascia with concave sides and a centrally positioned circular area, that glows blue to indicate power is being received and flickers when disk activity is detected, with a highly polished silver coloured casing enclosing the actual mini hard drive, this Store 'n' Go product is certainly stylish in appearance and could well attract some envious glances.  However appearance is not everything and Verbatim include some pre-loaded software that is referred to as a Mobile Launchpad.

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This software, developed by Ceedo, creates an environment that allows users to take their applications and data with them as they move from system to system.  Work can be carried out on various host machines with all data being stored exclusively on the portable device.  The Ceedo operating environment can be automatically loaded when the host system detects the Verbatim device which then acts as an extension of the host while retaining full control of the application data.

The Ceedo interface bears a strong resemblance to the Windows XP Start Menu.  A pane on the right contains general options while specific application can be accessed from a program option with regularly used titles having their own quick access listing on the left.  Numerous Ceedo-aware applications are available for downloading often on a trial basis before any payment is required.  In some cases the application can be free of charge.

Unfortunately I encountered a number of problems with the Ceedo software.  On the first machine the Ceedo Mobile Launchpad ran but application software either failed to run or only offered extremely limited functionality.  Even simple actions such as accessing My Documents or My Pictures failed to be implemented.  Switching to a second machine resulted in the Ceedo software refusing to even load.  It was not until I moved on to my laptop that I was able to make productive use of the software.  All systems were running Windows XP with a minimum of 512MB of RAM.  To say the least I was decidedly under-whelmed by the Ceedo experience.

Ignoring the Ceedo software, you can use this device to store various multimedia files, documents and software.  Using my standard check of copying 212MB of data, consisting of 40 files spread over three folders, took 85 seconds when writing to the Verbatim device.  This works out at a write speed of 2.5MB per second.  Taking the same data in the opposite direction tool just 48 seconds for a read speed of 4.4MB per second.

The Verbatim Store 'n' Go HG drive has its own permanently attached USB lead which conveniently slots into a channel running around the edge of the device.  The unit measure 3 x 2.25 inches and weighs 1.8 oz.  It is compatible with Windows 98SE (driver required) or later while the Mobile Launchpad requires Windows XP.  While I have no complaints about the hardware, the software is another matter entirely.  The 4GB version of this product has been priced at £99.99.

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