Maxtor One Touch 4 Mini
The gigabyte is the modern day currency when considering storage capacity and even then three figures is often the norm rather than the exception. Take, for instance, the latest mini offering to join the Maxtor brand stable. This is the Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini that is available in 80GB, 120GB or 160GB versions with the latter being the subject of this review.
With capacities such as these it is obvious that the “mini” reference is more to do with the size of the device rather than its storage capacity. In this respect it will get no argument from me as it measures 125 x 15 x 82mm (H x D x W). With its weight of 167g, this external drive is eminently portable - it is just a pity that no carry pouch is included in the box to help in this respect. What is included, alongside the actual drive and mini manual, is a double-headed USB lead to provide power and data connectivity. This does mean that you will require two USB ports available on your computer.
Also included in the box is a SafetyDrill Recovery CD that can be used to help restore your computer to a working state following a system failure. This Recovery CD works in conjunction with the Maxtor Manager software that forms part of the OneTouch 4 Mini solution and is located on the device. This software needs to be installed as your first act after attaching the drive to your system. In fact this could be your second task as there is a recommendation mentioned in the manual to copy the software, located on the device, to your computer’s hard disk prior to installation.
