Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 3, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Sonnet Technologies, a provider of storage, upgrade and accessory solutions for Apple Macintosh, Windows and Unix systems, has introduced a new version of its Fusion F2 RAID system. The portable storage solution is now available with a total capacity of 1 TB.
The system offers fast and secure data transfer at up to 134 MB/s. For mobile use without an external power supply, the Fusion F2 draws power from the computer’s FireWire port. The compact system consists of two hard drives positioned side by side in a robust aluminium enclosure.
This makes the Fusion F2 barely larger than two CD cases stacked on top of each other. Data is transferred through two eSATA ports. A card such as the Sonnet Tempo SATA ExpressCard/34 provides connectivity to the MacBook Pro and other notebooks.
“Reliability, performance and the unique form factor made the first version of the Fusion F2, with 640 MB of storage capacity, a success. The Fusion F2 has already accompanied many location shoots, especially in film and television,” said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. “With more storage, the 1 TB version of the Fusion F2 once again opens up exciting new applications.”
Powerful, compact and particularly reliable, the Fusion F2 offers an alternative to portable FireWire and USB hard drives. While two eSATA interfaces provide uncompromisingly fast data transfer, the FireWire port supplies power, ensuring independence and mobility.
Because only one FireWire connection on the computer is occupied, mobile capture systems such as AJA’s ioHD can be used at the same time. Valuable location footage can be protected using the Fusion F2’s mirrored RAID 1 mode.
Even in this configuration, performance is sufficient to store an Apple ProRes HQ HD stream from an AJA ioHD. As a secure storage medium, the Fusion F2 is also an excellent choice for mobile data transfer from modern solid-state media such as Panasonic P2 and Sony SxS cards. This flexibility allows raw material to be reviewed directly on set or while travelling to the next shoot.
Both 2.5-inch hard drives in the Fusion F2 are mounted separately with shock absorption, protecting the storage media during transport and preventing storage errors caused by vibration during operation. The side-by-side arrangement allows the enclosure to act as a heat sink, eliminating disruptive, power-hungry fans.
Like all Sonnet products, the Fusion F2 comes with multi-year support.
From July 2008, the 1 TB Fusion F2 (FUS-F21000M5) will be available at a recommended retail price of €769 including VAT. The 640 MB F2 (FUS-F2-640M5) remains available at a recommended retail price of €550 including VAT. The Tempo SATA ExpressCard/34 adapter (TSATAII-E342P) has a recommended retail price of €75 including VAT.
