Page 8- Conclusion
So has ADATA pulled off the mix of ruggedness and a slim build? In a word, yes. I have to say ADATA has done a fantastic job at making an external drive that is both functional, and good looking to boot. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there is a lot to like in my eyes. For one, there is the carbon fiber-like wrapping on top to prevent smudges, scratches and fingerprints. Then there is the bright red silicone make for a hard drive that is eye-catching and easy to catch. The grippy surface also means it is less likely to slide and fall, or slide and accumulate scuffs. The rubber does seem to catch a bit of dust and debris, but it is not too big of a deal. In terms of performance, the hard drive provides improvements over the ADATA DashDrive HV620 in almost every department, which is a very good sign. Of course, these improvements are not big enough to notice a day-to-day difference, but it is a good thing to see ADATA moving in the right direction. The HD650 500GB pulls off some very respectable numbers despite being limited by its mechanical drive inside. In the end, the ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 500GB is not an OtterBox, and I can only mean this in the best way possible. It is not big, fat or ugly, and it does not seem as if ADATA has had to make any compromises in making the hard drive. In fact, there are not many improvements that I can think of for the DashDrive Durable HD650. Besides coating the rubber with a material to pick up less dust, ADATA could provide an option of a longer cable, if only just for flexibility. The LED light could also be made brighter for easier viewing. Otherwise, I think ADATA should be quite proud of this product. Pricing on the 500GB version is a bit more at $65, but stepping up to the 1TB version will only add eight dollars to around $73 at press time. Considering the ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 is a more rugged than most portable hard drives, I would say this is one drive that should not drop out of your sight.
ADATA provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that aren't likely going to matter to the end user.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks; but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Numeric Rating is 7.8/10
Please note that the APH Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other sites.
With sleek looks, good performance, and decent pricing, the ADATA DashDrive Durable HD650 500GB is a shockingly good drive.
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Page Index
1. Introduction and Specifications
2. A Closer Look, Test System
3. Benchmark: AIDA64 Disk Benchmark
4. Benchmark: ATTO Disk Benchmark
5. Benchmark: Crystal Disk Mark 3.0
6. Benchmark: HD Tach 3.0.1.0
7. Benchmark: HD Tune Pro 4.60
8. Conclusion
