Just slightly larger than a 3.5-inch internal hard drive, the LaCie Minimus is easily the most compact desktop external hard drive to date. Despite its small size, it runs fast and cool even during heavy loads. The sleek aluminum housing also helps the drive fit on any computer desk.
7.5
LaCie Minimus
The Good
The LaCie Minimus USB 3.0 is compact and performs decently. It can easily be made to work with either PCs or Macs.
The Bad
The Minimus doesn't include a USB 3.0 add-in card for computers that don't yet have this connection.
The Bottom Line
The LaCie Minimus is a good-looking and compact 3.5-inch external hard drive that would make a good addition to a desktop computer that already supports USB 3.0.
On the downside, the Minimus doesn't include a USB 3.0 add-in card for desktops that don't yet support USB 3.0. If your computer already has USB 3.0, at $130 for 1TB (or $195 for 2TB), the LaCie Minimus is a good bet. Otherwise, you should also check out the WD My Book 3.0 or the Seagate GoFlex Desk.
Design and features