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A complete backup and restore procedure is the best protection against data loss and the two foremost methods available are tape or hard disk systems. Historically, tape has been the preferred method used because tape cartridges were inherently cheaper than disk drives. A secondary reason was that tape cartridges were portable and could be stored away from the computer system and since the disk drive was internal to the PC, it could not be removed and/or stored easily or conveniently.

Times have changed and today's system/drive designers have significantly reduced the cost of disk drives making them more competitive with tape systems. Even more important is the fact that tape is slow and sequential making it difficult to find files quickly. Disk drives on the other hand, offer direct random access, significant time saving (time = money), and read/write efficiency that translates into increased productivity and lower operating costs.

DataZONE's DataBook is a product that offers the end user the ability to take advantage of a drive-based backup system. The DataBook is a universal, portable storage device designed for today's mobile user. It is unbelievably rugged – capable of surviving a fall of 30-inches onto a hard surface. It is small, compact, and lightweight making it easy to take anywhere. DataBook is offered in capacities ranging from 5GB to 30GB ensuring that capacity is not an issue. And last, but not least, DataBook is universal and can be attached to any computer via multiple industry standard AT/IDE interfaces including PCMCIA, USB, FireWire, and Parallel Port.

A major drawback of tape drives however is that they are not designed to interface with notebooks. It is important to observe from the Loss Statistics Chart that although the number of notebooks on the worldwide market is only 10% of the total personal computer population, the annual dollar losses are ten times higher than desktop PC losses. This result stems from the fact that portable notebooks are more exposed and more sensitive to accidents and theft. These statistics should emphasize the need for backup for notebooks especially where the notebook is the only PC in use. Tape backup systems are designed only for desktop PCs, thus leaving this important market segment unprotected.

DataZONE products are designed to be a universal storage device, which means that they can be used on both desktop and notebook personal computers. For example, DataBook can be used on a desktop system either with DataBay (a device bay that easily installs in a vacant 5 ¼-inch bay) or to a USB port. The same DataBook can then be removed and attached to a notebook with a PCMCIA, USB, or FireWire interface cable depending on the configuration of the customer's system.

If the fear of damage or theft is a major concern, the logical alternative is to take only a DataBook with a PCMCIA cable on the trip and borrow or rent any type of notebook at the destination. With a simple insertion of the PCMCIA card into the notebook slot, instantaneous access to the DataBook file will be established. The DataBook using the PCMCIA cable does not require power supply or device driver.

Portability is the newest concept in today's computer world. Everyone is busy and constantly on the move and they want to take as much data as possible with them. The growth of notebook computers and 'Palm type' products bare witness to this phenomenon. And the end is not is sight. As convenient and sophisticated as these products are there remains a flaw in some designs that have the potential of causing major problems: Fragility. Statistics provided by cellular phone and PDA manufacturers demonstrate that practically 100% of all portable products are dropped within the first 6-months of purchase. Cellular phones and PDAs are built to survive the pitfalls facing the mobile user (portable = rugged). These products can survive a 30-inch fall (5,000g shock specification), however notebook computers and external storage devices are not as well protected and are easily damaged.

It could be said that a damaged notebook could easily be replaced; however the same cannot be said of the data that could be lost and which may be irreplaceable. One form of protection against data loss is the DataBook. With its high capacity ranges, superior ruggedness, self-contained design, pre-installed backup / encryption software and multiple interfaces, DataBook is a fast, convenient backup solution available for notebook PCs. ...DataZone profile