The new SSD uses a SandForce controller and supports the SATA 6Gb/s port. OWC also claims to use the highest quality components it can get hands on with tier 1, grade A NAND and that shows with the claimed read and write speeds of the SSD. OWC claims that the little SSD can deliver 556MB/s reads and 523MB/s writes.

The SSDs will work with PC or Mac computers. The SSD is also offered in other capacities as well if you need something larger than 60GB. Also available are 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB storage drives. The drives use ECC and SandForce RAISE technology inside for data protection and reliability.
You can buy the SSDs right now.

iMac upgrade purveyor OWC has posted up a blog that talks about the new iMac computers and how much more restricted upgrades are on these machines than the older version of the iMac. Apparently, HDD upgrades were easy with older version on the iMac, even if the fans did sometimes spin out of control and annoy users after upgrading. Since late 2009, you could upgrade the HDD inside your iMac with another drive of the same brand, and things were fine since the special thermal sensor cables would still work with the same brand of storage drive according to OWC.

The problem with the new iMac line that launched recently is that Apple has vacated the standard realm of cabling and gone from the normal 4-pin power cable coming to SATA drives and moved to a 7-pin cable. The reason for the cable changes is apparently to regulate the temperature inside the machine using the larger cable in conjunction with custom Apple firmware on the HDD. OWC reports that removing the new iMac HDD from the machine will cause the fans to spin at full speed and the replacement of the HDD with anything not Apple original will result in the iMac failing the Apple Hardware Test. This all means that upgrades to the internal main 3.5-inch HDD inside the new iMac won’t happen, at least for now. Do you think this is Apple’s way of forcing people to buy its hardware or is this simply how Apple is dealing with heat management?

[via OWC]

The huge flash drive falls at the top end of a new range of upgrades for the MacBook Air – offering 180GB, 240GB or 360GB – and is also apparently faster, too, with its 275MB/s transfer rate offering up to a 68-percent boost over the regular SSD Apple uses. Of course, you pay handsomely for the privilege: the 180GB drive kicks things off at $479.99, but the 480GB drive is a huge $1,579.99, almost as much as a top-spec 13-inch MacBook Air itself.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen an aftermarket MacBook Air drive offered, with PhotoFast announcing a 256GB upgrade kit shortly after the ultraportable was made official. However, the company reportedly froze its retail plans in order to keep Apple happy. No word on whether OWC will feel the same pressure with its Mercury Aura Pro Express.

Press Release:

OWC Announces Mercury Aura Pro Express 480GB As Industry’s Largest Capacity High Performance Solid State Drive For 2010 Apple MacBook Air

First and only SSD upgrades for 11.1″ and 13.3″ models starting at $479.99 now available in four models – 180GB, 240GB, 360GB, and 480GB – with up to nearly 4X greater capacity over factory options

Uses award-winning SandForce technologies and Tier 1/Grade A NAND to deliver up to 68% faster real-world performance and up to 3.5X faster 4K random reads/writes than factory options

May 5, 2011 Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, today announced its OWC Mercury Aura™ Pro Express Solid State Drive is now shipping in an industry largest 480GB capacity for all 2010 Apple® MacBook® Air models. First announced at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show this past January, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express line now offers up to 4X greater capacity and up to 68% faster real-world performance than factory available options. This new 480GB model introduction continues OWC’s position as the only aftermarket SSD manufacturer for the 2010 MacBook Air and the most comprehensive U.S. manufacturer of industry leading SandForce® processor based SSDs available today with OWC Mercury Pro brand SSD models available for nearly every Mac and PC produced over the past decade.

Four Models Starting At $479.99 MSRP
The OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express is available immediately for same day order fulfillment in four capacities compatible with all 11.1″ and 13.3″ 2010 MacBook Air models:

• 180GB Mercury Aura Pro Express with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $479.99
• 240GB Mercury Aura Pro Express with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $579.99
• 360GB Mercury Aura Pro Express with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $1179.99
• 480GB Mercury Aura Pro Express with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $1579.99
For more information on the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express line, including reseller inquires, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Aura_Pro_Express

More Speed, Capacity, and Options Than Factory SSD
The OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express offers owners of and those interested in the 2010 MacBook Air models a SSD upgrade path that delivers higher performance, functionality, and reliability. With peak data rates of 275MB/s, the Mercury Aura Pro Express was benchmark test proven by The Storage Review to offer up to 68% higher speed than factory installed SSDs. The OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express is available in four sizes -180GB, 240GB, 360GB, 480GB – for more upgrade choices and nearly 4X higher data storage/backup capacity than factory SSD options when compared to 11.1″ model factory options up to only 128GB and 13″ model factory options up to 256GB.

Doesn’t Slow Down With Use Like Ordinary SSDs
Ordinary SSDs offer fast read/write performance during first initial uses, but then experience significant write speed degradation over repeated usage. Independent simulation tests conducted by leading drive performance experts like MacPerformanceGuide confirm OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD’s ultra-efficient Block Management & Wear Leveling technologies are able to eliminate virtually any reduction in data transfer speeds over heavy long term usage of the drive and without dependency on less than effective OS TRIM management.

Up To 100X Greater Data Protection
Utilizing SandForce DuraClass™ technology, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express is able to provide up to 100X higher data protection than provided by ordinary SSDs as well as leading enterprise class hard disk drives. By combining the highest level of Error Correction Code (ECC) and SandForce RAISE™ (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) technology along with 7% over provisioning, the Mercury Aura Pro Express provides RAID like data protection and reliability without loss of transfer speed due to parity.

Earns Industry Expert Praise & Accolades
Out of a field of more than 230 exhibitors and thousands of exhibited products at this past January’s Macworld 2011 conference, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD was named one of 10 Macworld Expo 2011 “Best of Show” products by Macworld magazine as well as earning “Best Mac Hardware” honors by MacLife magazine.

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The company has announced a new 16GB RAM kit that will fit the latest notebooks out of Cupertino. The catch (and it is a big, fat, hairy, glaring catch) is that the RAM update costs $1,599.99. Yeah, nearly $1600, that is no typo. You could buy yourself a second notebook for that price.

The RAM is DDR3 SO-DIMM and the 16GB kit is with a pair of 8GB modules. The data rate is DDR3-1333 and the latencies on the RAM are CAS 9-9-9-24. OWC notes that the RAM meets Apple/Intel specifications. At that price, the kit should be delivered by a unicorn wrapped in rainbows.

OWC has unveiled new internal HDD and SSD upgrades for the 2011 MacBook Pro machines. The company has a 1TB HDD kit that will fit into the 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch models. The 1TB kit sells for $137.99. You can also opt for a 750GB kit that sells for $124.99. OWC notes that the 750GB factory upgrade sells for $150. For an extra $25, I would just go with the factory upgrade myself.

The upside to using the OWC solution for your MacBook is that the kit comes with an external enclosure that allows you to use the HDD that ships with the notebook for an external storage device. If you really want all the performance you can get, you can opt for a SSD upgrade form OWC. You can get SSDs up to 480GB and the price for the SSD upgrade kits starts at $114.99.

There’s no ethernet – this isn’t a NAS – but you do get a choice of FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0 and eSATA. We’re a bit disappointed not to see USB 3.0 in there, but then again OWC do generally have a soft spot for Apple machines and we’re yet to see a Cupertino computer with a USB 3.0 port.

RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and Span setups are supported, and OWC promise two million MTBF with their 12TB model. The Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 kicks off from $299.99, as long as you don’t mind supplying your own drives, but of course the 12TB version is a hefty $1,279.99.

Press Release:

OWC ANNOUNCES MERCURY ELITE-AL PRO QX2
MASSIVE 12TB ENTERPRISE RAID STORAGE DRIVE

Highly Reliable 2 Million MTBF for Critical 24/7 Applications
Plug & Play Desktop-Sized Hardware RAID Storage/Backup Drive
5 Year Warranty Protection for Macs & PCs

February 22, 2011, Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, announced today the OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 hardware RAID storage drive with massive 12TB of storage/backup in a desktop-sized brushed aluminum enclosure. Featuring four 3TB high performance hard drives in four hot swappable drive bays, the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 12TB RAID storage drive offers the flexibility of a “Quad Interface” of FireWire® 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA; four selectable Hardware RAID settings of 0, 1, 5, 10; and 300MB/s data transfer rates for high speed, Plug & Play storage and redundancy for Macs and PCs.

Built for Demanding Performance-Intensive Applications

The OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 is built for demanding performance-intensive applications, such as:
· Cloud storage
Massive Scale Out (MSO)
Data warehousing & mining
Disk-to-disk backup & archiving
RAID arrays
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Audio/Video/HD-video editing.
Digital photography/graphics.
Professional music.
Redundant backup.

2 Million MTBF for Enterprise-Class High Reliability

Designed for 24/7 enterprise-class capacity-optimized applications, the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 offers two million MTBF, nearly double the MTBF of consumer class drives, for unsurpassed reliability for critical enterprise applications. Pre-configured in Hardware RAID 5 mode to provide data redundancy for uninterrupted access and protection against data loss, the drive can also be automatically configured to use the other hardware RAID settings: 0, 1, or 10, as well as a Span (NRAID). Selecting and visually confirming the RAID setting is performed by a recessed selector switch safely located behind the lockable front panel.

Comprehensive “Burn-in” Testing Ensures Highest Reliability – Includes Five Year Warranty

Unlike most other brands that are shipped with little or no testing, the OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 12TB as well as the full Qx2 line undergoes a multi-hour “burn in” performance certification procedure to ensure that the unit is operating properly and ready for demanding use. With this unmatched commitment to quality, OWC backs the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 with an industry leading five year warranty.

OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 12TB desktop hardware RAID Features:
Four 3TB high performance hard drives for 12TB capacity.
Four separate interfaces: FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB, & eSATA.
Four selectable hardware RAID settings: 0, 1, 5, 10.
Fast 300MB/s data transfer rates.
Two million MTFP for high reliability.
Extensively pre-tested for demanding use.
Front panel LEDs offer quick, at-a-glance system status.
All connection cables are included.
Removable Key Lock for extra security.
Five year warranty.

Pricing & Availability and Additional Drive Capacity Models

The 12TB OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 is available immediately, priced at $2,219.99. It includes cables for eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB 2.0/1.1, power cord, two keys for front panel lock, Backup and Utility software CD: Intech® SpeedTools Utilities™ OEM, Prosoft Engineering® Data Backup, NovaStor NovaBACKUP®, Carbon Copy Cloner©, and Freeware/Shareware/Public domain software pre-installed. For more information on the OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 12TB, see: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/RAID/Desktop/

In addition, the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 is also available with various drive capacity options from 0TB (no drive included) to 12TB, starting from $479.99 see http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/RAID/Desktop/ for more info.

Plex is a free media player app that allows you to use either an Apple remote or an iOS device running the free controller software to record live TV and manage a library of downloaded and ripped content. In fact, with OWC’s setup you can apparently easily rip DVDs to the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 RAID enclosure.

Availability is pegged for the end of January, with OWC planning to announce pricing at the same time. Options will range from 4TB – up to 2,045hrs of DVD-quality footage – to 12TB – 6,145hrs – and OWC will also offer Blu-ray too.

Press Release:

OWC Unveils Industry’s First Plug And Play Three Screen Home Theater Media Center Solution For 2010 Mac mini At Macworld Expo 2011

Pre-configures 2010 Mac mini as home entertainment media server with first three screen (PC, TV, mobile) interface that simplifies and improves how content is viewed and managed across multiple devices

Options include enough capacity to hold up to 6,145 hours of DVD quality movies with Mercury Pro Qx2 RAID storage solutions up to 12TB – – and the ability to make copies of purchased CD/DVD/Blu-ray media with OWC’s Slim portable bus-powered drive

Complete bundled solution includes RAM upgrade to 4GB, HDMI A/V cables, Elgato EyeTV tuner or DVR recorder, and Apple Remote

January 27, 2011 San Francisco, CA — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, announced today its new OWC Media Center Solution for the 2010 Mac mini to address the growing need of consumers wanting to search, navigate, consume, store/backup, and sync digital content from multiple content sources and devices with one easy to use solution. The OWC Media Center Solution includes installing the Plex digital media management platform onto a customer’s 2010 Mac mini, upgrading the mini with 4GB of OWC RAM, and bundling all the necessary hardware – including an OWC Mercury Pro™ Qx2 storage solution, OWC Slim portable CD/DVD/Blu-ray disc burner, Elgato EyeTV Hybrid tuner or HD DVR, and Apple Remote – to deliver a complete and hassle-free Plug and Play Mac mini based home theatre/entertainment solution. OWC will be demonstrating the new OWC Media Center Solution and other first-to-market products, like the OWC Mercury Aura Pro SSDs for MacBook Air models, in booth #513 at the Macworld Expo, which begins today in San Francisco, California.

Access And Manage Content Anywhere With Any iOS Device
At the heart of the OWC Media Center Solution is Plex, the first open three screen (PC, TV, mobile) media platform designed to simplify and improve the way people view and manage personal, commercial and streaming content sources across a variety of connected devices. With Plex installed, Mac mini owners can watch videos, access their music library, and control their Plex media manager at home with the included Apple Remote or while mobile with any iOS Device with the Plex iOS application installed.

Plug And Play Media Organization And Storage
The OWC Media Center Solution offers pre-configured Plug and Play organization and high performance storage of all your digital media, whether from local drives, network shares, optical media, and/or the Internet in one, easy to use application without having to install any additional third party plug-ins or programs. Because it requires virtually no hardware, networking, or home theater knowledge, the OWC Media Center Solution ensures even the most novice Mac mini user will able to access their favorite TV programs, movies, photos, and more with the intuitive, yet visually striking interface that compliments the home theatre experience.

Streams Free Media For Greater Viewing Options
Obtaining new content from free online sources with the OWC Media Center Solution is easy too. With the Plex App Store, a built-in library of free third-party plug ins, users can expand their media viewing choices by streaming content from websites like Apple Trailers, Hulu™, Joost™, Netflix®, Pitchfork™, Vimeo®, and YouTube™.

Backup And Save Content
With the included OWC Mercury Pro Qx2 storage solution, users can save up to 12TB of content – enough space for up to 6,145 hours of DVD quality movies – backed up by the safety of RAID 5. And with the optional OWC Slim portable, bus-powered CD/DVD/Blu-ray optical drive and the included MakeMKV application, users can make backups of purchased DVD and Blu-ray media and convert the files for use on any iOS and Android based device.

Watch And Record TV In High Def
Watching and recording TV with a Mac mini has never been easier than it is with Elgato EyeTV products. The OWC Media Center Solution offers a choice of either an EyeTV Hybrid to watch and record cable and broadcast TV channels broadcast in standard definition and unencrypted HD; or an EyeTV HD DVR for capturing up to 1080i HD from a cable or satellite receiver with component video connections. Once a program is recorded, it can be exported to the OWC Mercury Pro Qx2 for permanent storage and later viewing.

Live Product Demos Presented At Macworld Expo
The OWC Media Center Solution for 2010 Mac mini will be demonstrated live at the Macworld Expo in OWC’s booth #513. Pricing and ordering information for the custom configured bundle for 2010 Mac mini, which will include a 48 business hours or less installation turnaround, various shipping options, and OWC’s renowned warranty coverage; will be announced by the end of January. For additional OWC Media Center Solution details and answers to commonly asked set-up and usage questions, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/turnkey/Mac_Mini_Media_Center/AV

For more information on the OWC catalog of over 2,900 performance upgrades and accessories, or for reseller inquires, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/.

“By creating a comprehensive, yet option rich bundle and configuration service, we eliminated all the hassle of incorporating a 2010 Mac mini into a home theatre system,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. “This is the ideal solution for managing and viewing personal and public content whether it be a single user or an entire family with multiple devices.”

The OWC Media Center Solution Includes:

OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro Qx2 storage solution in choice of 4TB, 8TB, and 12TB models pre-set with folders linked to Plex Media Server.
Optional OWC Slim portable, bus-powered CD/DVD/Blu-ray optical drive
HDMI audio and video connection cables
Apple remote control
Quick Start guide
Choice of:
o Elgato EyeTV Hybrid TV tuner stick for watching and recording cable and broadcast TV channels broadcast in standard definition and unencrypted HD.
o Elgato EyeTV HD digital video recorder (DVR) for connecting directly to a cable or satellite receiver to capture premium programming in full HD.

The upgrade to the SSD may not be a bad idea for those who are wanting to hang onto their 2008-2009 MacBook Air models. The company says that the new drives will be able to offer up 275MB/sec. That’s about three times faster than what the factory installed SSD.

The company is also proud to say that the Mercury Aura Pro SSD is the first SandForce SSD for that generation of MacBook Air. They come in sizes starting at 60GB, 120GB, 240GB, and finally 480GB. You can purchase them right now, costing $199.99, $299.99, $579.99, and for an unannounced price in order of mention. Check out the full press release below for more information.

Press Release

OWC ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY’S FIRST SANDFORCE PROCESSOR SOLID STATE DRIVE (SSD) FOR 2008-2009 MACBOOK AIR AT CES

Mercury Aura Pro MBA Delivers up to 275MB/s data rates for up to 41X Faster Performance than Factory Hard Drive, over 3X Faster Performance than Factory SSD, and up to 20% Faster Speed than 2010 MacBook Air Factory SSD

January 5, 2011, Las Vegas, NV — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, announced today its new Mercury Aura™ Pro MBA Solid State Drive (SSD) line, the first high performance SandForce® processor based SSD available for all 2008-2009 Apple MacBook Air models. Announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, this new product introduction establishes OWC as the most comprehensive U.S. manufacturer of industry leading SandForce processor based SSDs, with OWC Mercury Pro brand SSD models available for nearly every Mac and PC produced over the past decade. OWC will be demonstrating the new Mercury Aura Pro MBA and other first-to-market OWC Mercury Pro SSDs at CES Booth #3935, LVCC, North Hall.

Available In Four Models: 60GB, 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB with 4X Higher Capacity than Factory SSD

With data rates of up to 275MB/s, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA offers owners of 2008-2009 MacBook Air models up to 41X faster performance than the original factory hard drive, over 3X faster performance than the factory installed SSD, and 20% faster than even the latest 2010 MacBook Air models. Plus, with four models to choose from: 60GB, 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA provides up to 4X the storage capacity compared to the factory optional 128GB SSD and nearly 2X more storage capacity than the largest SSD offered in 2010 MacBook Air models.

OWC Ultra-Efficient “Block Management & Wear Leveling” Technologies Keep Drives Fast –

Won’t Slow Down With Use Like Ordinary SSDs

Ordinary SSDs offer fast read/write performance during initial use, but then experience significant write speed degradation over repeated usage. Independent simulation tests by leading drive performance experts (see: http://macperformanceguide.com/SSD-RealWorld.html) confirm that OWC Mercury Pro brand SSDs ultra-efficient “Block Management & Wear Leveling” technologies eliminate virtually any reduction in data transfer speeds over heavy long term usage, without the dependency on less effective OS TRIM management.

Higher RAID-Like Data Protection – Up To 100X

The OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA also utilizes SandForce DuraClass™ technology, which provides up to 100X higher data protection than ordinary SSDs and leading enterprise class hard disk drives. By combining the highest level of Error Correction Code (ECC) and SandForce RAISE™ (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) technology along with 7% over provisioning, the Mercury Aura Pro MBA provides RAID-like data protection and reliability without the loss of transfer speed due to parity.

Shootout Proves it: OWC Offers “Better than New” Performance

Based on OWC’s popular Mercury Extreme SSD “shootout” video series, OWC has created new videos demonstrating how much faster an OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA equipped 2008-2009 MacBook Air 1.83GHz model is versus much faster processor based machines, including a 2010 MacBook Pro i7. To view the side-by-side comparison videos, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/Aura_SSD.

“One of OWC’s core missions is to help consumers maximize their technology investment,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, OWC. “By offering faster performance and higher capacity than provided by 2010 models, the Mercury Aura Pro MBA SSD enables 2008-2009 MacBook Air owners to experience better than new performance at a significantly lower cost than a new machine.”

Four Models Starting At $199.99

The new OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA is available immediately in four models compatible with all 13.3″ 2008-2009 MacBook Air models:

· 60GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $199.99
· 120GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $299.99
· 240GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $579.99
· 480GB Mercury Aura Pro MBA with 7% over provisioning & three year warranty – $TBA

For more information on the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA line, including reseller inquires, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/Aura_Pro_MBA. For more information on the complete OWC Mercury Pro SSD line, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/

OWC Mercury Pro at CES: Unveiling More Industry-First SSD Model Lines for Most Comprehensive SSD Line For Macs And PCs

In addition to the Mercury Aura Pro MBA line of first SSDs available on the market for 2008-2009 MacBook Air computers, OWC is also unveiling other industry-first Mercury Pro SSD model lines at the CES show:

• OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express – the first SSD available for all 2010 Apple MacBook Air models.

• OWC Mercury Aura Pro 1.8″ – the first and fastest SandForce processor based SSD available for netbooks, subnotebook, and other computers that utilize an internal 1.8″ sized SATA drive.

• OWC Mercury Extreme™ Pro Legacy Edition – the first and fastest SandForce® processor based IDE/ATA SSD available for pre-Intel® PowerPC® based Macs, PCs, and other desktop/tower computers.

• OWC Mercury Legacy™ Pro – the first and fastest SandForce processor based IDE/ATA SSD available for pre-Intel PowerPC based Mac notebooks, PCs, and other notebook/laptop computers.

If you are in a corporate setting where you need something that can be rack mounted OWC has you covered there as well with a new backup RAID storage solution called the OWC Mercury Rack Pro. The device can be stacked with more than one in a rack and each of the units is a 1U size. They can be used for all sorts of things like archiving video, audio, or data in operation centers.

I don’t generally associate rack mount storage with the same interfaces that desktop storage uses, but these new offerings use eSATA for port multiplication on one model and another offering has four interfaces with FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. They each support four 3.5″ SATA HDDs and can have up to 12TB of storage. The quad interface version supports RAID levels of 0/1/5/10 and SPAN with the eSATA port-multiplier version being RAID ready. The eSATA multiplier version is $649.99 and the multi-interface version is $529.99.

The company has added a new version to all three different OTG Pro class of drives. The new 1TB solution spins at 5400 rpm and can be had in four versions right now. The four versions include the triple interface unit with FireWire 400/800 and USB 2.0, the FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 combo interface version, and the USB 2.0 only version.

OWC also offers a USB 3.0 only version of the drives. The Triple interface 1TB solution is $179.99, the combo interface is $159.99, and USB 2.0 only is $144.99 and the USB 3.0 only is $159.99. A 750GB capacity with 7200RPM speed is also available.

Back in June I talked a bit about a new offering for MacBooks from OWC that removed the optical drive fort computers and added in a special bracket for a second storage drive called the Data Doubler. OWC is back with a new addition to the Data Doubler line that will let the users of certain Mac mini and iMac desktops get more storage capacity in their machines.

The new kit comes with all the hardware that is needed to add a second HDD or SSD to the mini and it will also fit into some iMac models as well. The bracket replaces the optical drive on both machines just as the original device last summer did. It will fit into early 2009 mini and mid-2009 mini models and will work with 20-inch mid-2009 iMac, 21.5-inch and 27-inch late 2009 iMacs, and mid-2010 iMac models. The kit and hardware sells for $79.99. The Data Doubler can be installed by the user in the mini, but OWC says pro needs to install the device in the iMac.

Only available for the 27-inch iMac (not the 21.5-inch version), the eSATA fit basically involves OWC carving out a slot in the lower edge of your new all-in-one and screwing in a port.  It’s worth noting that it’s not compatible with Port-Multiplication (PM) eSATA drives, however.

Still, if you can live with the compromises the OWC eSATA upgrade is $169 assuming you’re willing to foot the bill to ship your iMac to them (or alternatively drop it off yourself).  Shipping is $30+ depending on speed, and OWC will also happily boost your hard-drive capacity or RAM while it’s with them – for a price, of course.

[via CrunchGear]

The Multi-Mount is a hardware solution that adds internal storage capability. You can use the mount to install a pair of 2.5-inch SSDs inside an optical drive bay or use it to store a 3.5-inch HDD inside an optical drive bay.

The Multi-Mount is made from aircraft grade aluminum and has an open-air design to allow cooling air to reach the drives. Each drive mounted to the Multi-Mount has rubber isolation feet to reduce noise and vibration. The Multi-Mount will work with Mac or Windows machines and there are several mount styles to suit different storage needs. Prices range from $17.99 to $39.99 depending on the mount style chosen.

OWC has announced a new 1TB On-The-Go Pro external HDD that features both the FireWire 800/400 connection options and USB 2.0 connectivity. Before the 1TB version landed, the most storage you could get in the compact triple interface external device was 640GB.

Connectivity speed for the external drive with USB 2.0 is up to 100MB/s and the drive is bus powered. The triple interface 1TB drive is $269.99 and a FireWire 400/USB 2.0 version sells for $269.99 with a USB 2.0 only version going for $229.99. All versions are available right now.

Being able to power the drive with the USB port means you need no AC outlet when you want to copy files to or from the external hard drive. The 1TB HDD inside the storage solution is from Western Digital. The drive measures 3.5″ x 5.5″ x 1″ making it very portable.

With 1TB of storage, you can hold up to a million JPEG images on the drive, 500 DVD movies, 76 hours of digital video, or 350K songs. That is tons of storage and will make for a great backup drive. The Mercury On-the-Go Pro 1TB drive works for both Mac and PC systems and will sell for $359 with a triple interface down to $299.99 for USB only. The drive is available now to pre-order and will ship on October 15.

Fanless, the external drive measures 3.5 x 5.5 x 1.0 inches and weighs 2.5lbs.  OWC bundle a backup and drive-cloning utility CD, but they also suggest that mobile users might find making the On-The-Go Pro their boot drive shortens start-up times.

The cheapest On-The-Go Pro drive makes do with USB 2.0 connectivity and costs $189.99; if you want to add FireWire 400, that climbs to $219.99.  The top-spec version, with both FireWire interfaces and USB 2.0, is $239.99.  All three are supplied with the relevant cables and a carry case.

Press Release:

OWC ANNOUNCES MERCURY ON-THE-GO PRO LARGEST CAPACITY/FASTEST BUS POWERED PORTABLE STORAGE SOLUTION ON MARKET

Bring 500GB of Data on the Road
Bus Powered – No AC Adapter Needed
Holds 250 DVD Movies, 500,000 Photos, or 175,000 MP3 Songs
Lightweight & Fast 7200RPM Drive with FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0 Interfaces

May 27, 2009, Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading PC and Mac technology company, announced today the OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro™, the largest capacity, fastest bus powered portable storage solution on the market. The Mercury On-The-Go Pro is a high-performance, 500GB 7200RPM pocket-sized portable storage solution for Mac or PC users featuring FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and/or USB 2.0 interfaces for data transfer speeds up to 100MB/s. With its 500GB of storage capacity, the Mercury On-The-Go Pro can hold up to 500,000 JPEG photos, 250 DVD movies, 38 hours of digital video, or 175,000 MP3 songs.

The Mercury On-The-Go Pro 500GB 7200RPM line features three models, including a “Triple Interface” model for FireWire 800/400 and USB 2.0; a “Combo Interface” model for FireWire 400 and USB 2.0; and a USB 2.0 model priced starting at $189.99.

Pocket-Sized & Bus Powered – Ideal For The Mobile Office

Designed for the active “On-The-Go” computer user that needs the largest and fastest portable storage solution available on the market, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro is compact at 3.5″x 5.5″x 1″ in size — small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, yet big enough to offer 500GB of capacity. Stylishly engineered in a sleek, acrylic enclosure, the Mercury On-The-Go Pro is bus-powered, so it doesn’t require an AC adapter, which makes it ideal for presentations, multimedia, law enforcement, surveyors, and other “mobile office” uses. Additionally, notebook users with internal 5400RPM drives will find that using the OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro as a start-up disk offers faster system boot-up and overall system performance.

Works With Macs, PCs, and Digital Devices

Featuring a variety of FireWire and USB 2.0 interfaces, the Plug-and-Play ready Mercury On-The-Go Pro can be used with Macs and PCs for additional storage capacity, transporting large files between multiple computers and real-time A/V editing. The drive can also be used with storage capable digital cameras and camcorders with FireWire and/or USB data ports for quick, convenient backups of images and video while on the road.

“Since we launched the first Mercury On-The-Go Pro in 2001, this pocket-sized powerhouse has established numerous industry innovations in portable storage,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO, Other World Computing. “As the first 500GB 7200RPM portable drive on the market, the Mercury On-The-Go Pro continues to deliver best in class portable performance and convenience.”

OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro 500GB 7200RPM Pricing:

• OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro “Triple Interface” FireWire 800/400 + USB 2.0: $239.99

Features Oxford 934 chipset, two FireWire 800 ports, USB 2.0 Mini-B port, FireWire 800/FireWire 800 to 400 and USB 2.0 connecting cables, carrying case, $200 retail value disk utility bundle, and a three year warranty.

• OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro “Combo Interface” FireWire 400 + USB 2.0: $219.99

Features Oxford 934 chipset, FireWire 400 port, USB 2.0 Mini-B port, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 connecting cables, carrying case, $200 retail value disk utility bundle, and a three year warranty.

• OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro USB 2.0: $189.99

Features JMicron 20339 chipset, USB 2.0 Mini-B port, USB 2.0 Mini-B connecting cable, carrying case, $200 retail value disk utility bundle, and a three year warranty.

The three new OWC Mercury On-The-Go Pro 500GB 7200RPM models are available immediately from Other World Computing at www.macsales.com. They are compatible with Apple OS 8.6 to 9.2.2, OS X 10.0.x, and 10.2.8 or later; and Windows 98SE or later operating systems and come ready for Plug and Play ease of use with all supported interface connecting cables, carrying case, $200 retail value disk utility software bundle, and an industry leading three year complete solution warranty.

In addition to the new 500GB 7200RPM Mercury On-The-Go Pro drives, OWC also offers a full line of 5400RPM Mercury On-The-Go Pro models with FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and/or USB 2.0 interfaces in capacities of 80GB-500GB, priced starting at $72.99; and 7200RPM models in capacities of 250GB and 320GB priced starting at $89.99.

For more information on the Mercury On-The-Go Pro, visit:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go

Mercury On-The-Go Pro Specs:

• Fully suitable for Audio/Video applications.

• Oxford or JMicron bridge chipset.

• 2.5″ Serial ATA (SATA) 500GB 7200RPM hard drive.

• 16MB hard drive data cache.

• Data transfer speeds up to 100MB/s.

• Cool blue activity LED.

• Super quiet fanless operation.

• Compact size: 3.5″(W) x 5.5″(D) x 1″(H).

• Lightweight: 11 ounces empty case, 2.5 lbs with drive.

• Clear, shock resistant polycarbonate acrylic case.

• Industry leading warranty: Three years complete solution.

• Carrying case.

• All interface connection cables.

• Mac and PC compatible.

• Includes $200 retail value disk utility software bundle: Carbon Copy Cloner, ProSoft Engineering® Data Backup 3, NovaStor NovaBACKUP®, and Intech® SpeedTools Utilities™.

You don’t need an AC adapter for this enclosure. Instead, it’s powered by bus and works with both Mac and Windows system, making for high compatibility. It comes with a USB cable and a carrying sleeve for your convenience.

It’s pretty easy to install this enclosure as well. All you have to do is remove two Phillips screws to separate the case halves and then you connect the hard drive to the Express bridgeboard. Reconnect the case and you’re good to go. You can get the Express USB 2.0 from OWC now for $19.99 in white, black and silver color options.

Just yesterday, OWC announced a Quad-interface Blu-ray toaster, and today Mac accessories specialist has equipped similar technology on its Voyager Q docking drive. They have dished out nine new hard drive docking bundles, offering both Quad interface – eSATA, USB, Firewire 400/800 — and USB/eSATA models, available in a docking bare unit or bundled with storage drives from 500GB to 2TB capacities. Like the iStarUSA’s xAGE 902 we reviewed early this month, it’s also compatible with 2.5-inch form factor laptop drives.

All models are currently available from macsales online store. A bare docking unit will set you back $98, slightly higher than the iStar with similar features; while the 2TB version, presumably bundles with the newly announced WD green caviar, will cost you $380.

February 26, 2009, Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com , a leading Mac and PC technology company, announced today nine new OWC Voyager Hard Drive Docking Bundles that come complete with the NewerTech Voyager hard drive dock; a high performance, SATA hard drive with options including the most energy efficient operation and/or highest capacity drives available on the market up to 2.0TB; and a $200 retail value disk utility software bundle consisting of Intech SpeedTools/Prosoft Data Backup 3/NovaStor NovaBackup. Priced starting at $109.99, the Voyager Hard Drive Docking Bundles feature either the NewerTech Voyager Q, the only “Quad Interface” FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, & eSATA hard drive docking station on the market or the NewerTech Voyager S2 USB 2.0/eSATA interface model, for Plug & Play compatibility with both Windows and Macintosh systems.

The OWC Voyager Bundle is a Plug and Play easy to use external hard drive solution that works with both Macs and PCs straight from the box. Simply insert the included 3.5″ SATA I/II hard drive (up to 2.0TB) into the NewerTech Voyager compact docking base and select the fastest interface supported by the connected computer to backup and store data; archive multiple smaller drives onto the OWC Voyager hard drive; or even create a bootable clone of the primary hard drive. Because there isn’t anything to install or configure, Voyager saves users the time and inconvenience of installing a hard drive into a computer or an external hard drive enclosure, which may have limited interface choices and slower speeds.

Voyager Docking Station Makes Swapping Hard Drives as Convenient as USB Memory Keys

With the combination of a high performance 3.5″ SATA I/II hard drive along with a NewerTech Voyager docking station, consumers can enjoy the same type of convenience as a flash memory or USB key, but with the much greater storage capacity offered by a hard drive. Plus, with its custom, stylish design, weighted base and drive eject lever, the NewerTech Voyager makes inserting, using, and removing the included hard drive a safe and effortless procedure.

Drive Options with Most Energy Efficiency & Highest Capacity Available On Market

Voyager Bundles feature hard drives that deliver best-in-class performance, boasting options with the largest capacity hard drives and best energy efficiency on the market. Voyager 1.0TB Bundles feature the Hitachi Deskstar 3.5″ hard drive that delivers the best energy efficiency on the market, with up to 43% less idle power consumption over previous generation 1.0TB hard drives. Users with massive storage needs can select the Voyager Bundles that feature the 2.0TB Western Digital Caviar Green hard drive, the largest capacity, eco-friendly single 3.5″ hard drive available on the market.

Real-World Applications for OWC Voyager Bundle:

Photographers/Videographers: Keep photos and videos archived and organized by using a separate drive for each volume of work.

Small Business: Backup important files at the end of day and keep the drive either off-site or in a fire-proof safe. Keep multiple drive backups from any specific date.

Computer Technicians: Easily backup client data to separate disks before working on the computer without the need to utilize a hard drive enclosure.

Home Users: Save pictures, financial records, scanned legal documents (such as birth certificates), and other personal documents. Backup data to a separate drive and keep the drive in a safe or safe deposit box.

All Users: Have the piece of mind of a complete backup plan. The included software creates a bootable clone of the primary hard drive at regular intervals, so if the computer or power goes down, productivity doesn’t go down with it. Boot to another computer and keep on working.

Nine OWC Voyager Hard Drive Docking Bundles available priced starting at $109.99:

Voyager S2 “Dual Interface” (USB 2.0 & eSATA) Bundle Models:

OWC Voyager S2 500GB Bundle with Dual Interface: 500GB Hitachi Deskstar hard drive, NewerTech Voyager S2 SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Dual Interface for eSATA and USB 2.0. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $109.99.

OWC Voyager S2 1.0TB Bundle with Dual Interface: 1.0TB Hitachi Deskstar hard drive, NewerTech Voyager S2 SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Dual Interface for eSATA and USB 2.0. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $137.99.

OWC Voyager S2 1.5TB Bundle with Dual Interface: 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda hard drive, NewerTech Voyager S2 SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Dual Interface for eSATA and USB 2.0. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $189.99.

OWC Voyager S2 2.0TB Bundle with Dual Interface: 2.0TB Western Digital Caviar Green hard drive, NewerTech Voyager S2 SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Dual Interface for eSATA and USB 2.0. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $339.99.

Voyager Q “Quad Interface” (FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0 & eSATA) Bundle Models:

OWC Voyager Q 500GB Bundle with Quad Interface: 500GB Hitachi Deskstar hard drive, NewerTech Voyager Q SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Quad Interface for FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $149.99.

OWC Voyager Q 750GB Bundle with Quad Interface: 750GB Hitachi Deskstar hard drive, NewerTech Voyager Q SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Quad Interface for FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $169.99.

OWC Voyager Q 1.0TB Bundle with Quad Interface: 1.0TB Hitachi Deskstar hard drive, NewerTech Voyager Q SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Quad Interface for FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $184.99.

OWC Voyager Q 1.5TB Bundle with Quad Interface: 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda hard drive, NewerTech Voyager Q SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Quad Interface for FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $229.99.

OWC Voyager Q 2.0TB Bundle with Quad Interface: 2.0TB Western Digital Caviar Green hard drive, NewerTech Voyager Q SATA I/II hard drive docking station with Quad Interface for FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. Bundle includes all connecting cables and $200 value disk utility software. Priced at $379.99.

In fact the OWC burner can write to Blu-ray discs at 8x speeds, amounting to up to 2GB per minute.  DVD burn speeds, meanwhile, are up to 16x, while CDs can be toasted at up to 32x rates.  According to OWC it’s plug & play on both Macs and Windows machines, and works with “most” built-in and third-party disc authoring software.

Available now, the OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray/SuperDrive “Quad Interface” External Drive is priced at a not-inconsiderable $399.99, including all cables and two 25GB Blu-ray BD-R discs.  Alternatively $479.99 gets you the drive, the discs and cables, plus the full retail version of Roxio Toast 10 Titanium.

Press Release:

OWC ANNOUNCES FASTER MERCURY PRO 8X BLU-RAY DRIVES WITH FIREWIRE 800/400, USB2, ESATA“QUAD INTERFACE”

Only “Quad Interface” Blu-ray Drives on the Market
TWICE AS FAST as Previous Mercury Pro Blu-Ray Solutions

Write/Burn Blu-Ray up to 8X speed, DVDs up to 16X and CDs up to 32X speed

February 24, 2009, Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading Mac and PC technology company, announced today its newest OWC Mercury Pro™ Blu-ray/SuperDrive “Quad Interface” External Drive solutions featuring super-fast 8X Blu-ray write speeds of up to 2GB per minute. The Mercury Pro Blu-ray “Quad Interface” External Drives are the only Blu-ray burners on the market that provide the flexibility of a “Quad Interface” of FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, & eSATA interfaces for Plug & Play compatibility with both Windows and Macintosh systems.

Burn 50,000 JPEG Images, 17,500 MP3 Songs, or 25 DVD Movies on a Single Disc!

Available immediately priced starting at $399.99, the Mercury Pro Blu-ray External Drives are ideal for consumers with large amounts of High-Definition or other video, photos, music, and data files that they want to author, archive, or retrieve using a single disk. With twice the Blu-ray burn speed over earlier Mercury Pro models, the new Mercury Pro Blu-ray External Drives are capable of burning 50GB of data — equal to 50,000 JPEG images, 17,500 MP3 songs, 25 DVD quality movies, or just under four hours of High Definition video — onto a single disc as quickly as 30 minutes. Additionally, Mercury Pro Blu-ray drives read and/or write virtually all optical media, including DVD-RAM, DVD Dual-Layer R/RW, DVD R/RW, and CD-R/RW, as well as Blu-ray.

Pricing for OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray “Quad Interface” External Drive solutions:

OWC Mercury Pro “Quad Interface” External Drive (Model BDR-203X): $399.99. Writes and reads Blu-ray up to 8X, 16X DVD, and 32X CD Burn Speeds. Includes all connection cables and two 25GB BD-R discs.

OWC Mercury Pro “Quad Interface” External Drive (Model BDR-203XT) with Roxio software: $479.99. Writes and reads Blu-ray up to 8X, 16X DVD, and 32X CD Burn Speeds. Includes all connection cables, two 25GB BD-R discs, and full retail version of Roxio Toast 10 Titanium.

“With Blu-ray write speeds twice as fast as the previous OWC models, as well as the ability to read/write DVDs and CDs, these new OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray External Drive solutions give anyone with digital entertainment and general data files the ability to dramatically reduce the time and amount of media required to create general use and archive discs,” said Larry O’Connor, CEO, OWC.

The OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray “Quad Interface” External Drive solutions have been fully tested for compatibility with most Apple and Windows built-in and third party DVD/CD tools and players, including Apple iTunes, Apple Disc Burner, Apple iDVD 5, Apple DVD Studio Pro, EMC Retrospect Express, NTI DragonBurn, Roxio Toast, Roxio Easy Media Creator, and Nero Burning.

For more information on the OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray external drive solutions, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/optical-drives/

The new Unibody MacBooks and MacBook Pros can be outfitted with these kits in order to boost performance for 3D modeling, audio or video, image processing and more. The new RAM modules are available for the 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro released in late 2008 and will cost $65.99 for the 2GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade Module, $129.99 for the 4GB DDR3 Upgrade Kit, $699.99 for the 4GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade Module and $749.99 for the 6GB DDR3 Memory Upgrade Kit.

You will also be able to get “Santa Rosa” MacBook and MacBook Pro upgrades. They will be priced at $29.99 for the 2GB DDR2 Memory Upgrade Module, $59 for the 4GB DDR2 Upgrade Kit, $449.99 for the 4GB DDR2 Memory Upgrade Module, and $479.95 for the 6GB DDR2 Memory Upgrade Kit.

Compatible with both Macs and PCs, this Blu-ray drive will cost you $499. Primary features include the ability to both read and write Blu-ray discs. However, it can also read and write DVD, DVD-RAM and CD-R and CD-RW.

All of the connections make this device compatible across the board, with Mac users especially enjoying how it works with iDVD and the like. Even so, for an added $80, you can purchase Roxio Toast along with the drive for added convenience.

[via CrunchGear]