Seagate's FreeAgent product line consists of three primary models of external hard drives, each with varying capacities and each targeted to specific usages. All are fully compatible with Windows 2000 Pro/XP (Home/Pro) machines; the Pro model can additionally be used by Mac OS X (the Pro software is PC only) and the Desktop model can be accessed in both read and write capacities from Mac OS X.

All the drives ship with attachment and power adapters/cables (as necessary) and include a five year limited warranty. The three initial entries in the product line are FreeAgent Pro, FreeAgent Desktop, and FreeAgent Go.

The FreeAgent Pro drives all include the ability to attach to the PC via either USB or eSATA connections. Each of the models can also be optionally purchased with an additional FireWire (400) module. The Pro drive line is targeted primarily to data synchronization uses; it is an external drive with included software (PC only) that additionally allows the user to automatically duplicate selected files/folders to the FreeAgent itself and to the vendor's online Internet drive service (each FreeAgent Pro user receives 500 GB of Internet drive space free for six months; subscription fees apply thereafter). New versions of content are automatically saved, and a rollback feature allows the user to revert their operating system, settings, and applications to a previous point-in-time--while user data files remain current. The FreeAgent Pro drive is offered in capacities of 320, 500, and 750 GB.

The FreeAgent Desktop model is used as a typical external drive; it ships with USB connectivity (2.0/1.1), and is PC/Mac compatible. The 7200 RPM drive comes preformatted as NTFS; Mac users will therefore need to reformat the drive before use. The Desktop Drive ships in capacities of 250, 320, and 500 GB.

Finally, the Ceedo powered FreeAgent Go drive is a USB-connected portable drive targeted to mobile users who use computers as guests. The FreeAgent Go allows for the storage and utilization of personal information and applications such as browser favorites, desktop settings, passwords, E-mail clients, etc. such that these applications and personal settings can be accessed from a guest computer (i.e., when plugged into a guest computer, the user will have access to their personalized apps and settings). The vendor states that over 100 free and pay-to-use applications are available for use on the drive. The personal data/applications does not remain on the guest computer after use; and encryption features (256 bit AES) allow for the protection of the information stored on the drives.

The FreeAgent Go drives operate only with Windows (Pro 2000/XP) PCs, and ship in capacities of 80, 120, and 160 GB. Also available is the 12 GB FreeAgent Go Small drive, with an attached flip-out USB connector (an extension cable is also included).

The FreeAgent product line replaces the vendor's existing Seagate Pushbutton external hard drive, the Seagate Portable External Hard Drive and the Seagate Pocket Hard Drive.

With the exception of the FreeAgent Go Small, the FreeAgent products are available now. Current street pricing ranges from about $100 (FreeAgent Go 80 GB) to about $390 (FreeAgent Pro 750 GB w/FireWire).

Contact Seagate for further information.