Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB, the Storage Solution for PCs and Macs

Technology is ever-evolving, and as programs and games reach double digit gigabyte numbers one increasing problem is that of space. With my day-job as a graphic and web designer I have over a terrabyte worth of graphics, footage, templates, mockups, and programs that I’d amassed over the years. Between my gaming rig, laptop, and ASUS Transformer, a simple Dropbox account was just not gonna cut it. Enter the Seagate GoFlex, the industry standard in external hard drives, and an industry first, being a pioneer in the 4TB scene. Now we all know size matters right, but compatibility also plays a big role, which is where the Seagate GoFlex for 4TB Mac comes into play.

You see, the storage mediums between PC‘s and Macs are a bit different, and most hard drives work with either one or the other (you can remedy this by formatting the drive, but really, who’d want to format a sizable HDD every time they wanted to use it on a different platform?). The Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac works interchangeably with both Windows and Mac operating systems, bridging the great storage divide.

Enclosure

It appears earlier versions of the GoFlex Desk were housed in a glossy casing (read: fingerprint magnet). Much to my relief, the Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac is encased in a sleek, almost rubbery housing. It maintains the trademark Seagate logo on the metal plate that runs down the middle of the device, giving the overall unit a nice accent that fits with most computer setups, if looks is something you’re concerned about. I certainly have to make another remark about the soft touch finish on the GoFlex Desk, because a lot of companies choose the glossy route and I think Seagate made an excellent move by using this finish, thus making the device less susceptible to fingerprints.

The device also has a nifty LED functionality, one for when it is powered and 4 to indicate its storage capacity realtime, so when it’s 25% full or less the first LED light will be on, when it’s 25%-50% full the second LED light will be on, and so forth. Those familiar with Seagate’s external hard drives will already be used to this, those who aren’t need not fear as the lights are really dim and non-intrusive.

The Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac also has a FireWire 800 port in the back, alongside a USB 2.0 port, and a second USB 2.0 port and the power slot on the side.

Usage

I’ve been using the Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac for almost a month now and besides the initial setup (which I will get to) I’ve had absolutely no problems with it. It is plug-and-play compatible for Windows OS’s and works with Mac PC’s out of the box as well. One nifty thing for Mac users is the fact that it is also compatible with the Time Machine backup utility, and it is upgradable to the Thunderbolt interface for the Mac (USB 3.0 for PC’s).

Seagate says this device is “the perfect solution for primarily Mac computer users who still regularly utilize a PC,” and I would have to agree. Having a x64-bit system I had a hassle getting my PC to recognize the external HDD. For some reason it was showing up in my device manager, but it never showed up in My Computer. After countless driver installs and troubleshooting I decided to go ahead and format the drive, which got it working but meant that I’d have to reformat it if I wanted to get it to work with my mac. This pretty much ended the cross-platform functionality for me, as I already had almost a TB of stuff on the drive that I didn’t want to lose. This problem seemed to be prevalent only in x64 bit PC’s though. The plus side to this is I could now hook up the external to my router and have a hub of files and folders for my home network.

One of my favorite things about the Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac is its smart sleeping function. After a length of time where it’s not being used, it goes to sleep, making it consume less power, and reducing the risk of it becoming corrupted in the event of sudden power loss. The only drawback to this is the 2-3 second delay when you try to access it again and the disk resumes spinning.

The HDD is also very quiet, another perk, and fits in even the smallest of desk spaces. In fact, with my limited desk real estate I have it sitting on top of my monitor’s stand, hidden by the profile of my AOC 27″ screen.

Overall

The Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac is a solid external hard drive that comes in 3 flavors (2TB, 3TB, and 4TB).  Aside from my setup issues it’s been an awesome experience, and with the USB 3.0 connection I’m able to transfer files at lightning fast speeds. We definitely recommend the Seagate GoFlex Desk 4TB for Mac to anyone looking for ample storage, even if they don’t need the cross-functionality between a Mac and a PC.