FirewireDirect.com is shipping its StingRay 800, a new desktop hard drive featuring a dual USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 interface and a 3.5-inch drive mechanism.
FireWire 800 — the faster implementation of FireWire that transfers data at up to 800Mbps — was first introduced to Mac users with this past January’s introduction of the 17-inch PowerBook. USB 2.0 will be coming to the Mac for the first time this August with the release of the Power Mac G5.
The StingRay 800 is available in capacities up to 320GB, according to FirewireDirect.com. Most users will see sustained reads of over 50MB/s and writes of over 40MB/s using the StingRay 800, according to the company. The 320GB model is available with a 5400RPM mechanism. The other models — 80 – 250GB in capacity — operate at 7200RPM instead. The drive sports Oxford Semiconductor’s Oxford 922 chip set.
The StingRay 800 includes both Mac and Windows software, and is available in smaller configurations than the 320GB model — all the way down to a 0GB model that you can put your own drive mechanism in. The drive features a built-in fan and power supply.
Prices range from US$139 to $540 depending on the configuration. Visit the Web site for details on configurations and more.