Final Thoughts:
The Apollo Expert D300 is a worthy addition to Imation's Apollo family of external hard drives. Their new flagship drive is well constructed and features a brushed silver case as well as a removable stand. While some may find the industrial design to be a bit boring, the drive should look right at home next to most Macs and PCs. When it came time to perform, the Apollo Expert D300 did not disappoint. Thanks to its USB 3.0 interface, the drive was able to read at speeds as high as 133 MB/s and write at 98 MB/s. The Apollo Expert D300 is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0. However, it's much slower when operating in this mode.
Aside from the two year warranty, my only real complaint is the software included with the Apollo Expert D300. While ArcSoft TotalMedia Backup does a pretty good job of backing up the data on your computer, it doesn't support security features like encryption. The special 60-day trial of Norton Online Backup also includes only 5GB of online storage, which won't get you far if you have a lot of data. Thankfully, Imation has cut a deal with Symantec so that you can purchase an annual subscription with 25GB of storage for $29.99 instead of the $49.99 it normally costs.
The Apollo Expert D300 should be hitting store shelves shortly after you read this. The drive is available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities with suggested retail prices ranging from $109.99 up to $219.99.
Highs:
- Available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities
- Includes backup software for Mac and PC
- Fast transfer rates with USB 3.0
- Removable stand
Lows:
- Backup software does not support encryption
- Only a 2 year warranty
