Storage peripheral maker WiebeTech LLC is now shipping 180GB and 200GB models of its Super DesktopGB FireWire external hard disk drives. The new drives use ATA-6 support to manage the huge capacity, and that has also provoked WiebeTech founder and president James Wiebe to publish a white paper discussing ATA-6.
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WiebeTech’s new 180GB and 200GB drives also include improved PowerBridge bus powering circuitry, to improve compatibility with the FireWire ports of more Macs and PCs. If you’ve already purchased a Super DesktopGB drive, you can upgrade your existing system with a US$79.95 kit that includes a new bridgeboard with ATA-6 support, new firmware and improved PowerBridge circuitry.
WiebeTech President James Wiebe said that the new PowerBridge circuitry supports bus power from more Macs, including the 17-inch iMac. The new, large capacity drives operate at 7200RPM and come bundled with MediaFour’s MacDrive 5 software. MacDrive 5 enables users to transfer formatted files between Macs and PCs.
Wiebe’s white paper is entitled “Utilizing High Capacity ATA-6 (>137GB) Drives in FireWire Enclosures.” The paper explains how the Oxford Semiconductor OXFW911 Bridge has evolved to provide support for higher-capacity mechanisms.
Pricing on Super DesktopGB drives ranges from $159.95 for the do-it-yourself “user configurable” model to $599.95 for the 200GB model.