Aluratek Tornado Plus (160GB)

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CNET editors' rating: 2.0 stars Mediocre
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Product summary

The good: Swappable plug-and-play design.

The bad 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.

Specifications: Compatibility: PC, Mac; Connector type: 4 pin USB Type A; Hard drive size: 160 GB; See full specs

Price range: $104.79 - $131.99

See all products in the Aluratek Tornado Plus series

CNET editors' review

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

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.

See more CNET content tagged:: enclosure,; Maxtor,; RFID,; external hard drive,; key

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