Lenovo Vault external hard drive beefs up data security
(Credit:
Lenovo)
It's difficult for external portable hard drives to stand out against the competition since they're judged mostly on cost per gigabyte, connectivity, and aesthetics. Lenovo jumps into the game by making a case for onboard security.
Its ThinkPad "Vault" USB Portable Secure Hard Drive is protected by the "128-bit advanced encryption security standard" and is actually built into the hardware, similar to the Maxtor Black Armor drive. The Lenovo ThinkPad hard drive also has a built-in USB 2.0, as well as a physical keypad built into the face of the chassis, allowing up to 10 users and one administrator to access the drive using unique keychains.
The drive isn't cheap, though, as the company's asking $179 for the 160GB drive and $219 for the 320GB model. Ninety cents per gigabyte is a tough pill to swallow, especially when you consider the Iomega eGo Helium external hard drive only costs 45 cents per gig. Both versions will be available later this month--would you pay double the price just for the peace of mind that your data is totally safe? Let us know in the comments section!
Justin Yu covers desktop computers, printers, and peripherals for CNET. When he's not scouring eBay for useless ephemera or eating hot dogs for breakfast, he spends his time making fun of Internet culture every morning on The 404 podcast. E-mail Justin. 
