AppleInsider Staff
Popular bring-your-own-drive external storage company Drobo announced an update its flagship 4-bay unit Wednesday, making it faster and easier for Mac users to back up to the device using Time Machine.
Using a special configuration setting, users of the third-generation Drobo can now dedicate a customizable percentage of their overall storage pool to Time Machine. That is a significant step up from Drobo's previous solution which required owners to manually partition their Drobo using OS X's Disk Utility.
Time Machine backups will also take less time to complete as the new Drobo sports speedier USB 3.0 I/O.
Additionally, Drobo has taken steps to enhance its data protection scheme. The unit now features a built-in battery that will continue to drive the write caches in the event of a power failure, and the array can be rebuilt four times faster than the previous-generation Drobo should a disk stop working.
The new 4-bay Drobo is available now for preorder directly from Drobo for $349. Owners of first- or second-generation Drobo units can receive a $50 discount if they purchase a third-generation Drobo before June 9.
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21 Comments
My QNAP NAS does't cost much more and has had the ability to allocate space to TimeMachine through its web interface for years. The battery backup is kind of nice but I have mine plugged in to a UPS as I would expect most people would so that really is not a benefit that I see. I'm sure it is a good product as I hear of lots of people using the Drobo but just be sure to weigh your options.
Ugliest thing I ever saw. Think I will buy 4. I can't wait to spray paint it yellow and green for Oregon Ducks.
Oh?!
Do I hear plethora'l thoughts coming my way in a intellectually orchestrated and punctually designed metaphorical retort?
Oregon Ducks are a good team. Okay lets hear it.
[quote name="tylerk36" url="/t/173267/drobo-adds-enhanced-support-for-apples-time-machine-in-new-storage-system#post_2501953"]Ugliest thing I ever saw.[/quote] For a cube it's not unattractive, but does that really matter when it's designed to neither be seen nor heard?
[quote name="tylerk36" url="/t/173267/drobo-adds-enhanced-support-for-apples-time-machine-in-new-storage-system#post_2501953"]Ugliest thing I ever saw. Think I will buy 4. I can't wait to spray paint it yellow and green for Oregon Ducks. Oh?! Do I hear plethora'l thoughts coming my way in a intellectually orchestrated and punctually designed metaphorical retort? Oregon Ducks are a good team. Okay lets hear it. [/quote] Don't forget to slap a Nike swoosh to it as well.
As an owner of the painfully slow 1st and 2nd gen units, I'm delighted to hear this news. Finally have a reasonable option to retire my old units and enjoy some speed with my big(ish) data stores. Well done on giving a little credit to early supporters of the company.