Portable SSD Has USB, eSATA Connections

This cool flash drive features a USB and eSATA connector.

Is it a USB flash drive or its it a miniature, portable SSD? That's the question with Verbatim's new eSATA/USB combo SSD based on the device's appearance. Closely resembling SanDisk's Cruiser flash drives, Verbatim's SSD measures just over 3-inches long and less than an inch wide. There's also a sliding mechanism for storing and extracting both the eSATA and USB connectors (one at each end).

According to the specs, the Combo SSD delivers read speeds of up to 60 MB/sec. and write speeds of up to 25 MB/sec. in eSATA mode. When plugged in as a USB 2.0 device, the drive provides read speeds up to 26 MB/sec. and write speeds up to 15 MB/sec. The drive offers 32 GB of space, and is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. the drive even provides software to encrypt the stored data.

"The completely portable, built-in EasyLock software simultaneously encrypts documents as they are transferred to the Combo SSD drive," the company said in a press release. "EasyLock software guarantees 256-bit AES software encryption and minimizes the risk of data loss and theft. For older eSATA ports that do not carry current, there is a separate Y-cable included that creates a functioning eSATA port from the USB (power) and eSATA (data)."

Verbatim said that it's eSATA/USB Combo SSD is now available at "specialist" retail outlets.