Apr 06, 2014

LaCie Revolutionizes Dual-Bay RAID Storage

Today LaCie, the premium brand from Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX), debuted at the 2014 NAB Show its latest 2big with a host of features including Thunderbolt™ 2 technology, hardware RAID and a new industrial design. Speeds of up to 420MB/s* along with two 6TB 7200RPM hard disks from Seagate make the new LaCie™ 2big the fastest, highest capacity dual-bay external storage solution on the market. Plus, its all-new industrial design sets a new standard for versatility and reliability.

THUNDERBOLT 2 SPEED

The LaCie 2big features speeds of up to 420MB/s thanks to Thunderbolt 2, a hardware RAID controller and 7200RPM disks. With these speeds, videographers can edit multiple 2K uncompressed 10-bit streams or play back compressed 4K video. Digital photographers can browse massive RAW photo libraries with zero lag. And audio pros using software like Avid® Pro Tools® will notice much smoother audio mixing.

"The LaCie 2big is a crucial part of improving my photography workflow," said photographer Seth Resnick. "The significant increase in Thunderbolt speed allows me to reduce the time it takes to import and edit images. As the size of my data increases, speed becomes more and more of a necessity – and not an option. The LaCie 2big’s speed and reliability make it an ideal storage solution for creative professionals."

HARDWARE RAID

The LaCie 2big’s range of RAID modes gives users the flexibility to tailor the product to their needs. RAID 0** maximizes speed and capacity, while RAID 1 provides data protection if one disk fails. With hot-swappable disks, users can simply replace a disk – from the front – with zero data loss and no work interruption. The LaCie 2big even features JBOD, so users can see and work with each disk independently.

INNOVATIVE DESIGN

When reengineering the 2big’s industrial design from the ground up, LaCie, along with industrial designer Neil Poulton, focused on usability for professionals. Accessing disks from the front makes it faster and easier to remove and replace them. And front-facing disk status LEDs let busy professional easily keep track of disk health and RAID build status. The redesigned cooling system effectively diverts heat from components, ensuring long-term reliability. The ultra-quiet Noctua NF-A6x25 FLX thermoregulated fan keeps the product cool, while producing nearly no noise. Additionally, integrated cable locks prevent accidental disconnection of the interface and power cables without compromising the look and design of the product.

"I designed the new LaCie 2big as pure desktop architecture – a deceptively simple aesthetic to house the highest tech on the market," said award-winning industrial designer Neil Poulton. "Like a marble Carlo Scarpa staircase, the details are precise and honed. The new LaCie 2big is a Bauhaus building for your desk. On rubber treads."

VERSATILITY FOR PRO ENVIRONMENTS

With USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 2 interfaces, the LaCie 2big gets the best possible speeds on any late-model PC or Mac®. USB 3.0 backward compatibility means that users can connect the LaCie 2big to any standard computer***. With support for exFAT and hardware RAID, users can seamlessly connect the product to both PC and Mac computers while maintaining the RAID configuration.

Thunderbolt 2 continues to support daisy chaining up to six devices to a computer via a single cable (included in the box). This means that professionals can daisy chain up to five LaCie 2bigs plus a 4K display to a computer, bringing capacity, speed and convenience to the desktop. Thunderbolt 2 is also backward compatible and uses the same cables and connectors as first-generation Thunderbolt*** devices and computers.

Watch the 2big video: http://youtu.be/GonZHbnFE0E

AVAILABILITY

The LaCie 2big, featuring Thunderbolt 2, will be available this quarter in 6, 8 or 12TB capacities through the LaCie online store and LaCie resellers. Pricing will be announced when the product is available for purchase. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.

WARRANTY

The LaCie 2big is protected by a three-year limited warranty. The warranty includes complimentary web-based resources, expert in-house technical support and worldwide repair and/or replacement coverage. Warranty extension and Advance Care Option can also be purchased. For details, visit 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 13" MacBook Pro® with a 2.8GHz Intel® Core™ i7 processor and 8GB RAM. Actual data rates may vary depending on operating environment and other factors, such as RAID mode, RAID configuration, and disk capacity.
** Hot swapping will result in data loss in a RAID 0 array.
*** To achieve full interface bandwidth, connect the product to either a USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt 2 port on a computer or device.

©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 and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks 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