ADS Tech is using next week’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2003 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada to introduce new combination FireWire/USB 2.0 products aimed at professionals looking for digital video capture and storage options.
The new Dual Link Drive Kit converts hard disk, CD or DVD drives into external FireWire or USB 2.0-based desktop storage systems. The kit includes two FireWire ports and one USB 2.0 ports, along with a front bezel that pops out if you need to use it with optical drives. It’s externally powered using a 5 and 12 volt power supply, and includes a rear lighted toggle switch for power and hard drive activity light. Micro-slot protection offers security, and it’s compatible with Anchor Pad and Kensington locks. The Dual Link Drive Kit is compatible with Mac OS 9.x and Mac OS X and includes INTECH Software’s SpeedTools Utilities. It will ship this month for US$99.
The Dual Link PCI Card — also available for Macs and Windows PCs — adds three USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire ports. It’s shipping now and carries an estimated street price of $99. And laptop users can opt for the Dual Link Cardbus, which sports two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire port. It also ships with an estimated street price of $99.