Hardware

Computer | Storage

Long-term Field Test: 12.01.2015 to date


LaCie Porsche Design P'9223 Slim Drive 250 GB

External Solid Disc Drive 250 GB with Aluminium Casing

Purchasing

10.01.2015: Ordering a LaCie Porsche Design P'9223 Slim Drive with 250 GB at amazon.de for 229.99 EUR.
12.01.2015: Goods arrived. Initial operation.

Equipment

  • LaCie Porsche Design P'9223 Slim Drive 250 GB
  • USB 3.0 cable (USB 2.0-compatible)
  • Quick Install Guide
  • Complete Software Suite: LaCie Private-Public, Backup Assistant

Tech Specs

LaCie Porsche Design P'9223 Slim Drive

Capacity: 250 GB

Interface: USB 3.0 port (USB 2.0-compatible)
Interface Transfer Rate:
USB 3.0: up to 5 Gb/s
USB 2.0: up to 480 Mb/s

Size: 7.87 x 12.7 x 1.02 cm
Weight: 181.44 g

System Requirements:
Computer with a USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 port (for optimal performance, the drive must be connected to a USB 3.0 host port)

Latest version of Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows 7, Windows 8 / Mac OS® X 10.5 (Intel only), 10.6, 10.7, 10.8

Minimum free disk space: 600 MB recommended

Practice

19.07.2021: Even on the USB 2.1 port of my Windows notebook, this external SSD was pleasantly fast back then. Six and a half years later, I can finally enjoy the full speed.

I just copied two folders with archived website data from a WD Blue SATA SSD 4 TB (in an external aluminium case from UGREEN with USB-C 3.1) via the Thunderbolt port on the Anker PowerExpands Elite to the LaCie Porsche Design P'9223 Slim Drive 250 GB: around 5 GB in about 4 minutes.

I made two screen copies for measurement, the first about one minute after the copy start, because macOS always estimates the expected duration very cautiously (and extremely high) at the beginning and then settles down.

Bildschirmfoto: 4,92 GB von einer SSD zur anderen kopiert

Screenshot: 4.92 GB copied from one SSD to another

Bildschirmfoto: 4,92 GB von einer SSD zur anderen kopiert

Screenshot: 4.92 GB copied from one SSD to another

After that, I did another comparison test:
My two current websites in their local folders on the SSD of my MacBook Air are currently 983.3 MB in size together.
If I back up to a WD Blue SATA SSD 4 TB, it takes 16 seconds.
If I back up to the LaCie PD P'9223 Slim Drive, it takes 49 seconds.
A stark difference in direct comparison, but subjectively this SSD is not slow.

And there was something else I noticed in practice:
Even after long copying sessions, the housing of this SSD does not get hot.
The heat dissipation works very well.

Photos

coming soon …

Pros

  • cool design – word-for-word cause the aluminium case cools the heat harddisk effective
  • metal case – solid and perfect to deflect the waste heat from the drive
  • absolutely silent – only electronic – do you hear the bits rustling? wink
  • energy-saving USB 3.0 Chip enables operation w/o power supply even at USB 2.0 ports
  • no vibrations – smooth operation courtesy of neat build quality and aluminium casing
  • manual – very good descriptions not only for professional IT specialists
  • installation process – very easy if you follow the install instructions on the short manual
  • software – very easy to use light version of a backup software called Genie Timeline

Cons

  • very sharp edges (risk of harm) to skin and furniture varnish
  • the connection cable is too stiff, which may make placement difficult.
  • proprietary connector socket prevents use of a more flexible cable

Conclusion

This external solid state disk drive has never disappointed me. It works fast and silent.

As soon as I can use it with a new notebook which supports USB 3.0 it will imagine me incredible speed.

If you have an unvarnished wooden work desk not a gloss painted desk the very sharp-edged casing makes no visible scratches.
Otherwise you can use e.g. an old book or mouse pad as bottom layer to protect your desk against scratches.
The smart and nice way is using felt pads as you can see on the page Practice.

With these facts in mind you have a very trustworthy device with a very cool design.

A clear buy recommendation!

Alternatives

Thanks to good experience with external enclosures with interface electronics for tool-free installation, from now on I will no longer buy external drives, neither SSDs nor hard drives. Therefore, as an alternative for a new purchase, I recommend this internal SSD with SATA III connection standard:

WD Blue SATA SSD 4 TB for around 390 EUR
(if you need to save/need less, choose the model with 1 or 2 TB)

... and in addition, I recommend the external enclosure:
UGREEN 2.5 inch SATA up to 10 Gbps enclosure w. aluminium cover 22 EUR
(available as a pure ABS plastic version up to 6 Gbps for around 15 EUR)

Test reports with many details and photos are already in the works.

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