Sep 10, 2014

LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 2 Features All-New Design and Industry-Leading Speeds with SSD Upgrade

Today LaCie, the premium brand from Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX), announced the latest evolution of its popular d2 desktop storage line. Trusted by creative professionals for a decade, the latest LaCie™ d2 features a new all–aluminum unibody enclosure, dual Thunderbolt™ 2, and USB 3.0. Plus, as an industry first, LaCie designed the d2 Thunderbolt 2 to be upgradable to the fastest SSD on the market, which boosts speeds up to 1150 MB/s. Bringing together exceptional speeds and smart industrial design, the new LaCie d2 builds on its reputation for high performance and reliability.

SPEED AND VERSATILITY FOR PROS

The new LaCie d2 combines the latest interfaces and a Seagate 6 TB 7200 RPM professional hard disk, resulting in speeds of up to 220 MB/s*. This speed makes it possible to significantly reduce backup and transfer times as well as store and browse a massive RAW Adobe® Lightroom® library with zero lag. High performance plus industry–best capacity makes the LaCie d2 an ideal solution for storing large files and archiving projects. The dual Thunderbolt 2 ports let the user daisy chain up to six devices to a single Thunderbolt port on a computer. Plus, since Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.0 are backward compatible, the user always gets the best speeds that their computer allows.

"My images are my lifeline and delivering projects to my clients promptly is paramount," said photographer Seth Resnick. "When it comes to speed and integrity, the new LaCie d2 is a game changer. The SSD upgrade provides the speed boost I need to instantly review and edit my latest shoot in Lightroom, while the 6TB volume is convenient for storing my projects. The d2 brings the best of both worlds together in a single solution that optimizes my workflow."

UPGRADABLE TO EXTERNAL HYBRID STORAGE

To multiply speeds by a factor of five, users can install the LaCie d2 SSD Upgrade (sold separately). The upgrade increases speeds up to 1150 MB/s*** and adds 128 GB of PCIe SSD storage. This speed exceeds the performance of even the internal SSD on a late–model PC or Mac™ computer. Simply remove the LaCie d2's rear panel and install the upgrade^. Two separate drives mount on the computer — one for the SSD and one for the hard disk. Use the SSD for bandwidth–intensive tasks, such as fast file transfers, audio mixing, video editing, or OS booting, and the hard disk for file archiving. No other solution offers this level of performance and capacity in such a compact footprint.

INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND FEATURES

When recreating the industrial design of the d2, LaCie focused on reliability and usability for professionals. The seamless all–aluminum unibody enclosure is forged from a single sheet of aluminum, providing uncommon rigidity for long–term durability. The enclosure also draws heat away from the hard disk, allowing fan–free cooling. The integrated base extends the surface area, providing even more space for heat dissipation. A cushioning base and vibration–absorbing hard disk mounts combine to dramatically reduce vibration. Plus, an integrated cable lock prevents accidental disconnection of interface or power cables. The results of these features are a long lifespan for components and ultra–quiet operation.

PACKED WITH VALUE FOR PROS

Thanks to a bundled professional backup software suite and compatibility with Time Machine™ and Windows Backup, the LaCie d2 includes everything needed for secure backup. This product also includes LaCie Private–Public software, which prevents unauthorized access by password–protecting volumes with AES 256–bit encryption.

See the LaCie d2 video: http://youtu.be/K7mc73SbHl4

AVAILABILITY

The LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 2, design by Neil Poulton, will be available this month through Apple® and LaCie in 3 TB ($299.00), 4 TB ($399.00) and 6 TB ($499.00) capacities. The 128 GB LaCie d2 SSD Upgrade ($299.00) will be available in October. The LaCie d2 will also be offered in a USB 3.0–only version in 3 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB capacities, available in October.

WARRANTY

The LaCie d2 features a three–year limited warranty that includes comprehensive, complimentary web–based resources, expert in–house technical support, and worldwide repair and/or replacement coverage. It is possible to upgrade this service with warranty extensions, fast product replacement and even data recovery services. Learn more at www.lacie.com/warranties.

ABOUT LACIE

LaCie, the premium brand from Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX), designs world–class external storage products for Apple, Linux and PC users. LaCie differentiates itself with sleek design and unmatched technical performance. Find out more at www.lacie.com.

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* These transfer rates were achieved using AJA System Test when connected to a Mac computer via the Thunderbolt 2 interface. Actual data rates may vary depending on operating environment and other factors, such as chosen interface and disk capacity.
** To achieve full interface bandwidth, connect the product to either a USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt 2 port on a computer or device.
*** These transfer rates can be achieved by installing the LaCie d2 SSD Upgrade on a LaCie d2 Thunderbolt 2. The LaCie d2 SSD Upgrade is not compatible with the LaCie d2 USB 3.0.
^ Installing the LaCie d2 SSD Upgrade removes USB functionality.

© 2014 Seagate Technology LLC. All rights reserved. LaCie and the LaCie logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC or of its affiliated companies. Thunderbolt is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. When referring to hard drive capacity, one terabyte, or TB, equals one thousand billion bytes. Your computer's operating system may use a different standard of measurement and report a lower capacity. In addition, some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions and will not be available for data storage. The export or re–export of hardware or software containing encryption may be regulated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (for more information, visit www.bis.doc.gov). Seagate reserves the right to change, without notice, product offerings or specifications.

Press Contact:

Kristin Macrostie
kristin.j.macrostie@seagate.com