Shooting video is fast becoming one of my favorite pastimes. I love having my video camera ready to shoot at any given moment. It is necessary to remove video files from my camera on a regular basis in order to make room for new video files.

As time goes by my need for mega data storage is growing. That is not a problem since so many hard drives provide huge amounts of data storage. External hard drives are nice to have at home but it is also nice to have them outside the home and office. Editing the video is necessary and can be accomplished best when out of the camera itself.

Speaking of taking external hard drives outside and on the go it is important to have one that can withstand the rigors of outdoor life. Gadget bags are constantly filled with more than can really fit easily. Pressure, scratches, bumping and dropping can all be the dreaded things that can happen.

Lacie has a line of external hard drives that are designed to be rugged (much like an off-road vehicle) and that can withstand abuse that often bestows outdoor gear. It resists dust, it can be dropped without damage and it even has a rubber bumper that protects it even further. The original rubber bumper is bright orange but can be changed out for a green-ish, a blue-ish or a black bumper.

Data storage is a plenty at 500GB. Connection choices are abundant with USB 2.0 (universal to any PC or Mac) and both 400 (Mac users love this one) and 800 (fantastic speed for video) FireWire. No extra bulk is added to the gadget bag because the Lacie Rugged All-Terrain external hard drive is bus-powered. What is bus-powered? It is a wonderful thing – it means that the drive is powered by the laptop and not by a bulky AC adapter that would require an electrical outlet. If your computer has low powered USB ports there is an included power sharing cable which

The Lacie All-Terrain external hard drive can easily be held in one hand. It measures approximately 3.5” x 1” x 5.7”. The speed is 5400 RPM and weighs less the nine ounces. Not the tiniest external hard drive out there but for all it offers it is a good size.

I like the look – aluminum shell resists scratches and the bumpers make it look as rugged as it is. I like its ruggedness – it can be dropped (not operating) from 35” without damage. I like its versatility – FireWire and USB. I like that it is ready to go right out of the box. FireWire 400 and 800 cables, high-speed USB 2.0 (1.1 compatible) and USB sharing cables and quick install instructions are all included.