Iomega has brought the "drop-shock technology" increasingly finding a place in notebook hard disk drives to its line of compact external HDDs, the company said yesterday.

The new Micro Mini Hard Drive line comprises a pair of drives, one offering 4GB of storage, the other 8GB. Both connect to a host Windows, Linux or Mac system, using a built-in fold-away USB 2.0 cable through which the drives are also powered.

The drives weigh less than 50g, Iomega said, and measure 7 x 5 x 1.4cm, so they take up less space on your desk than a credit card does. They contain a 4200rpm HDD with 2MB of cache RAM. Iomega bundles back-up tools for both Mac and Windows.

Iomega didn't detail the drives' "drop-shock technology", but claimed it does offer protection from "drops and bumps", though that may be as much down to the alloy casing and its "sleek, durable design".

The 4GB and 8GB Micro Mini Hard Drive are available now to US buyers for $130 and $170, respectively. In the UK, the prices are £87 and £115 - European buyers may also choose a 6GB model, retailing for around £100. ®

Related stories

Iomega says no to EMC (10 March 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/03/10/iomega_rejects_emc_bid/
Iomega blesses second-generation Rev drive (19 July 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/19/iomega_doubles_rev_capacity/
Western Digital ships 500GB desktop hard drive (27 January 2006)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/01/27/wd_500gb_hdd/
LaCie unpacks stacking 'Lego' HDDs (24 November 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/24/lacie_lego_hdd/
Hitachi touts micro HDDs' 'bling' factor (2 September 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/02/hitachi_bling_hdds/
Cornice readies 4GB 1in HDD (19 July 2005)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/07/19/cornice_4gb_hdd/
Toshiba brings forward 4GB 0.85in HDD debut (24 March 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/24/toshiba_4gb_0-85in_hdd/
Iomega unveils 400GB, Firewire 800 drive (21 December 2004)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/21/iomega_400gb_fw800/