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Aluratek Tornado Plus (160GB)

Manufacturer: Aluratek, Inc. Part number: AHDURS250F160

$104.79 - $131.99 at 5 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
2.0 stars Mediocre
Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Aluratek Tornado external hard drive is a RFID-secured hard-drive enclosure that doesn't have the performance or the innovation to warrant its expensive price tag. We don't recommend the poorly designed Tornado since the competition offers more storage space and a higher level of security at less cost.
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Where to buy

store	customer rating	inventory	tax & shipping	price
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$110.43 Shop now as of 11/20/2008
The Right Technology. Right Away.	Rate this store See store profile			$131.99 Shop now as of 11/19/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$129.95 Shop now as of 11/20/2008
Alwayslowest.com	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$104.79 Shop now as of 11/19/2008
TheNerds.net	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$110.99 Shop now as of 11/20/2008

*Total price for the Aluratek Tornado Plus (160GB) are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

Aluratek Tornado Plus (160GB)

price range: $104.79 - $131.99

Reviewed by: Justin Yu
Edited by: Rich Brown
Reviewed on: 08/29/2008

The good: Swappable plug-and-play design.

The bad: High cost per gigabyte; slow transfer speeds; RFID-security key is easy to lose; flimsy external casing; no telephone support.

The bottom line: The Aluratek Tornado external hard drive is a RFID-secured hard-drive enclosure that doesn't have the performance or the innovation to warrant its expensive price tag. We don't recommend the poorly designed Tornado since the competition offers more storage space and a higher level of security at less cost.

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The Aluratek Tornado is an external hard-drive enclosure with a pre-installed drive that comes in a variety of capacities all the way up to 1 terabyte, but for our tests we're using a model with 160GB ($129) of space. The Tornado drive is also equipped with an RFID-security encryption that requires a swipe of a quarter-size key to access the data inside. Aluratek claims that transfer rates can reach up to 480 megabits per second, but our test data shows significantly slower results. Also, the enclosure itself is flimsy and doesn't feel like it can sustain any sort of abuse. And finally, the price tag isn't exactly appealing, either. If you need your data locked down and available on-the-go, your money will go further with the Maxtor Black Armor external hard drive.

Drive type	External USB Flash Hard Drive
Connector options	USB 2.0
Available capacities	160GB, 250GB, 320GB
Product Dimensions	2.5 inch version: 5.25 by 0.5 by 3.25 inches (LWH) - 49.99
	3.5 inch version: 8 in by 1.31 by 4.75 inches (LWH)
Capacity of test unit	160GB
OSes supported	* Windows 2000, XP and Vista
	* Mac OS 9+
Software included	Installation CD

Inside the box you'll find the drive, two RFID keys, a carrying case, and the accompanying documentation. The enclosure is compatible with any PATA/IDE hard drive up to 320GB, and installing a new 2.5-inch drive is fairly stress free--Aluratek makes it easy to remove the two screws on the top panel (mini screwdriver not included), connect the new drive, and place it back into the frame. Unfortunately, the enclosure is made of a light metal casing that feels flimsy. In fact, the build quality is so shoddy that the hard drive doesn't even fit flush into the shell, causing it to rattle around inside.

The drive is USB 2.0 compatible and it comes with a two-pronged USB cable in case you need extra power. In addition to the USB port, the top of the Tornado Plus also has an LED-status light and a DC-in port for older computers without the necessary powered USB bus. Aluratek doesn't include a power cord in the box, which leaves us confused as to why they would create the option for external power but choose not to include the necessary accessory to make it work.

The data stored on the Tornado Plus is protected by a security system that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to enable and disable access to the drive. The only way to unlock the information stored inside is with the key included in the package, as long as you remember to associate both keys (Aluratek includes two just in case) with the drive in the initial set up process. We like the idea of mobile data security, but the external key is just one more thing to get lost in the shuffle or increase an already cluttered keychain. We much prefer built-in hardware-based encryption that requires a password for access, even if it does mean one more password to memorize. Still, the Maxtor Black Armor external hard drive is a more practical alternative and serves its purpose well if you don't plan on swapping drives.

Cost per gigabyte
For $129, the 160GB Aluratek Tornado Plus isn't exactly a bargain at 81 cents per gigabyte, although it's still not as expensive as the Maxtor Black Armor. Still, the rest of the industry offers much better deals; the Toshiba hard drive we recently tested is the least expensive, but it also happens to be the slowest. The best compromise of speed and cost is the WD My Passport Studio that offers a 320GB drive for $185 (58 cents per GB) with chart-topping data transfers.

Model	Capacity	Est. street price	Cost per GB
Maxtor Black Armor	160GB	$150	94 cents
WD My Passport Studio	320GB	$185	58 cents
Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive	160GB	$100	63 cents
OWC Mercury On-The-Go	500GB	$350	70 cents
Toshiba USB 2.0 Portable External HDD	320GB	$180	56 cents
Aluratek Tornado Plus	160GB	$129	81 cents

Performance
The Aluratek Tornado Plus's read and write speeds aren't very impressive, either. The Tornado barely beat the Toshiba and pushes it into the second-to-slowest slot, but that's not saying much given that the Toshiba tested slower than any other drive we've seen. At a blisteringly slow 97.04 megabits per second, the Tornado is a full 41 megabits per second slower than the OWC Mercury On-The-Go.

Write/read speed (in megabits per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Read (Mb/s)

Write (Mb/s)

iomega eGo Leather

148.8

142.8

Maxtor BlackArmor

139.2

138.96

OWC Mercury On-The-Go

162.56

138.48

Aluratek Tornado Plus

160.4

97.04

320GB Toshiba External Hard Drive HDDR320E03X

157.52

Service and Support
Aluratek covers the Tornado Plus hard drive from product defects for one year from the date of purchase. The Aluratek Web site has additional information, including a knowledge base with a comprehensive FAQ list, a file library for manual and driver downloads, and a section that allows you to create a help ticket. Unfortunately, the site gives no mention of a number for telephone support.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Aluratek, Inc.
Part number: AHDURS250F160
Description: Aluratek's Tornado plus 2.5" RFID USB 2.0 external SATA hard drive provides the easiest way to expand your laptop's storage space. Lock and unlock the drive by RFID (radio frequency identification) key recognition. The compact design and included carrying case makes AHDURS250F perfect for mobile professionals. With Hi-Speed USB 2.0 at transfer rate of up to 480Mbps, you will able to transfer or backup your mp3's, digital photos, digital videos, multimedia and personal data files in no time.

General
Device Type Hard drive - External hard drive
Hard Drive
Form Factor 2.5"
Capacity 160 GB
Interface type Hi-Speed USB
Internal Drive Interface Type Serial ATA
Features RFID key recognition security
Performance
Storage Hard Drive / External Data Transfer Rate (For External Drive) 480 Mbps
Storage Controller
Storage controller interface type Hi-Speed USB
Controller interface type Serial ATA-150
Type Serial ATA - Hi-Speed USB
Storage Controller (2nd)
Type None

Expansion / Connectivity
Interfaces 1 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A
Miscellaneous
Included Hard Drive Accessories Carrying case, 2 x RFID keys
Cables Included 1 x USB cable - USB Type A to B
Miscellaneous compliant standards Plug and Play
Power
External Hard Drive Power Source USB bus
System Requirements
OS Required Microsoft Windows XP, Apple MacOS 9.0 or later, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Vista
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & support type 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year

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Product series

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