Seagate GoFlex Satellite Review

Ever find yourself needing more storage on your mobile devices? Do you regret getting the smaller capacity iPad or Android smartphone/tablet just to save a little money? Do you travel and want to take your media library with you on the go? If you find yourself answering yes to any of these questions, then Seagate may just have a solution in the latest addition to their GoFlex family.

Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite is a hybrid wireless / storage device that claims to bring rich feature and functionality in an impressively small form factor, but is it really the Ying to your mobile device’s Yang? Let’s find out!

Before we get to the hands on, let’s take a quick peek at the manufacturer’s specifications:

• 500GB of storage capacity
• Up to 5 hours of continuous streaming (1 user)
• Up to 25 hours standby
• Includes USB 3.0 connectivity for fast data transfers (fully compatible with USB 2.0)^*
  • Other available interfaces include Thunderbolt™ and FireWire® 800 (sold separately)
• Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi delivers reliable skip–free streaming
  • Range up to 150 feet
  • WPA security
• USM Connector or GoFlex USB 3.0/2.0 adapter; used to load media from PC or Mac® computer
• Power Button
  • Turns the device on to enable Wi-Fi connectivity.
• Internal Battery:
  • Lithium-ion (non-replaceable)
• Form Factor: 120mm H x 90mm W x 22mm D
• Wi-Fi LED
  • Solid green: Wi-Fi is on and ready to be connected to with an iPad or tablet
  • Blinking blue: your mobile device has connected to the GoFlex Satellite Wi-Fi network
• Power LED
  • Green: > 90% battery charge
  • Red: < 20% battery charge
  • Amber: Charging
• Product Dimensions
  • 4.72in L x 3.54in W x 0.87in D (120mm x 90mm x 22mm)
• Weight: 0.588lb (0.267kg)
• 3 – year limited warranty

Packaging:

Seagate has done a great job with the packaging, walking the line between simple and sufficient. Everything is tightly packed, but only takes a couple pieces of tape to get too. Included in the box:

• 1 x GoFlex Satellite™ mobile wireless storage device
• 1 x USB 3.0 USM adapter with detachable USB 3.0 cable
• 1 x Compact wall adapter with retractable pins
• 1 x Compact car charger
• 1 x USB to DC cable
• 1 x Quick start guide

Initial Impressions:

After opening the box, my initial thought was…”That’s it?”. I am not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it just didn’t feel like everything was there. However, once I started to remove all the contents, I quickly realized that not only did I have everything, but that Seagate managed to cover all the bases with accessories that were both compact and high quality. Given this is a mobile device, the accessories will likely be subjected to “travel” wear (i.e. loosely stored at the bottom of your backpack, briefcase, purse, carry-on, pocket, etc…), so it was important for Seagate to include high quality accessories that can stand-up to this wear. The GoFlex itself is fairly small and I would say travel friendly. With the initial impressions looking promising, let’s power up this bad boy and see how it works with several of the advertised devices!

  Previous Page         1. Overview2. Setup and Testing3. Conclusion4. View All         Next Page