It certainly would be great if as new faster standards came out you could simply upgrade your existing external drive, instead of being forced to buy all new equipment. Seagate seems to agree, as their FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra Portable 500GB external drive is designed from the ground up with upgradeability in mind via its groundbreaking interchangeable GoFlex cable system. On paper, this sounds like a wonderful idea but is the reality the same as the theory?

The Verdict:
While the 5400-rpm drive is not going to break any speed records, the FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra Portable Drive actually does what it claims: simple, painless upgradeability. With minimum effort, you can customize its interface to suit your changing needs. The included software, while basic is still a nice bonus.

The Good:
+ Quick and easy upgradeability
+ Only pay for what you need
+ Portable yet stable design
+ Included software based encryption
+ Software is preloaded on the drive, no need of CD/DVD to install it
+ Seamless automatic data backup options
+ GoFlex adapters can be used on any SATA drive

The Bad:
- Short USB cables (only 18 - 20 inches)
- Proprietary cable means expensive cable replacement
- No active cooling
- 2 year warranty is extremely short compared to older model's 5 year warranty
- Sealed unit so hard drive replacement will be difficult
- No power On/Off switch for drive