At a Glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Integrated fingerprint reader and FireWire
- Very rugged cast-aluminum case
Cons
- Fingerprint reader has limited functionality
- Large, heavy case isn’t very portable
Our Verdict
This solid, relatively inexpensive drive is one of the few that’s suitable for both Mac and PC users.
The LaCie d2 Safe ($350 for 1TB) was third among eight encrypted portable drives that we recently looked at.
This hefty drive features a fingerprint reader and can connect to your computer over FireWire 400 and 800 in addition to USB 2.0. I found LaCie’s software setup more time-consuming than some others, but it has an obvious benefit: LaCie’s built-in fingerprint software allows you to plug the drive into either a Mac OS system or a Windows box and to work in the encrypted partition. The drive also features the sturdiest housing I’ve seen, plus a Kensington lock port so you can secure it to a desk.