I needed a high capacity to all data on my laptop as well as my desktop. Since the internal hard disk drive capacities on my laptop and desktop combined were over 1.5TB, it made sense for me to buy an external drive with a capacity over that. I've used Seagate and WD in the past and have been pretty happy with their performance and post-purchase service. However, this time around, I wanted to try a new manufacturer and finalized ADATA after a bit of research on the internet. Box Contents These days, we all are so used to getting a lot of accessories bundled with our gadgets.
ADATA's DashDrive Durable HD710 is a rugged budget drive, offering 1 TB capacity. Connecting via USB 3.0, it provides decent transfer rates and data protection, making it a good option for anyone seeking a cheap yet robust portable hard disk.
The HD710A on the other hand comes with only one accessory; a USB connection cable!. HD710A 2.5' Hard Disk Drive.
Attached USB 3.0 cable. Quick Start Guide SpecificationsThe ADATA HD710A is not very different than the more easily available HD710. Specification wise, it is exactly the same as the latter, except for the capacity and compatibility with a Mac.
The HD710A is marketed as especially designed for Mac users as it is compatible with Time Machine out of the box. Here are the specifications as mentioned on the box:. USB 3.0.
5Gb/s max speed. Power supply - USB DC 5V. Weight 220 grams. 3 years warranty. Compatible with Mac, and Other Things to noteExternal HDD buyers would also be interested in some of the following specifications that are not available on the product:. 2.5' internal HDD on the inside.
5200rpm HDD. USB 2.0 Backward compatible. Blue LED indicator This portable hard disk drive is backward compatible with USB 2.0 and works well with, Windows XP and Windows Vista. Windows 8 and Windows 10 users are required to format the drive before first usage. Mac users can easily use this drive with OS X or later. Linux users are also advised to format this drive before first use.
I used a 1GB test file to check the Actual Read/Write speeds experienced using a USB 3.0 port on my laptop. Here are the results: Sequential Write speed: 112.7 MByte/sec Sequential Read speed: 122.6 MByte/sec Design & Build QualityI really like the overall build and design of this HDD. The body of this external HDD is made out of good quality plastic and is covered with silicone like coating that should protect it from bumps, bruises and water splashes. This HDD is certified to be waterproof and shockproof provided the flap covering the USB port is completely closed and sealed. Shock testI did a bit of testing and made it go through a bit of bumps here and there.
I obviously did not want to throw it down 30 feet and see if it was still alive but wanted to make it go through real life shocks. I can safely say that it took those shocks with ease and still worked like a charm. Also See: Water TestI did not submerge this into a pool of water to check its amphibious nature, however given its entire body is covered with a water resistant silicone layer, I can easily say that it will resist water splashes and an occasional submersion into a pool of water.
ConnectionThe ADATA HD710A comes pre-formatted and connecting it to a PC or a is a piece of cake. All you need to do is connect it to the computer using the attached USB 3.0 cable. The required drivers will automatically be installed and the device is ready to use. This 2TB HDD showed a usable capacity of 1.81TB and showed 'New Volume' as its name on the computer. USB CableThe USB cable that comes with this HDD is good quality and is roughly 13 inches in length.
On one side is the regular USB 3.0 port that goes in the computer and the other side has a Super Speed USB 3.0 port that goes in the HDD. You can easily attached this cable to the Hard Disk body when not in use thereby reducing the risk of losing it somewhere. Noise & VibrationWhether you connect it to the USB 2.0 port or the USB 3.0 port, this HDD is extremely quiet and has extremely low vibration levels. I would go to the extent of saying that vibrations are only felt when you are looking for them. Colour & CapacityThe ADATA HD710A comes in two capacity variants: 1TB and 2TB, and is only available in Grey/Silver colour that complements most Mac hardware. However the other version of the same HDD, the HD710 comes in various capacities and colour choices. A quick search on various e-commerce websites reveal capacities of 500 GB, 1TB and 2TB for the HD710 variant and colour choices of Blue, Yellow and Black.
SoftwareADATA has made available two free softwares, 'HDDtoGo' and 'OStoGO' on their website that would let you use this Hard Drive for various related usage. These softwares however, are only available for Windows currently. Other SuggestionsI have a collection of movies and songs and have stored them on this Hard Disk Drive. I also have a wireless router with a USB port at the rear.
If I connect this HDD with my router, all the contents of this HDD are then made available wirelessly to all the devices connected to the router. I was easily able to and songs on my laptop, mobile phone as well as without any data charges. An easy and cost effective way to share the content of a hard disk drive to all the devices on a network. PricingCurrently, here are the prices of both the variants as available online and offline: HD710A: 1TB = INR 6200 (available offline) 2TB = INR 7800 (available offline) HD710: 1TB = INR 4200-4600 (online and offline) 2TB = INR 8000 (online and offline) Positives.
Sturdy, Shockproof and Waterproof. Attachable USB cable.
Excellent transfer speeds. As good as no Noise & Vibration levels. Looks stylish Negatives. No Softwares for Mac even though this HDD is targeted towards Mac users. A little on the heavier side.