Iomega expands REV range with new desktop REV Loader 280

Iomega has announced the local release of the Iomega REV Loader 280, a new desktop autoloader for small business backup and archive duties.

Using removable hard drive-based technology created by Iomega, the REV Loader 280 provides access to 280 Gigabytes (GB) - 560GB compressed - of storage, managing up to eight removable 35GB REV disks in a compact desktop form factor - only 17cm tall and 13cm wide. This new autoloader design will cost approximately half as much as many competing automation tape products.

The Iomega REV Loader 280 connects to a server through a USB 2.0 interface, making it easy to use as a backup and archive device for computers on a network, and less expensive than traditional SCSI-based tape drives. For small businesses that require professional grade backup with removable media, but desire a simple, hands-off solution, the desktop REV Loader 280 delivers automated, multi-disc data protection at a price similar to single tape drive solutions. Bundled with the REV Loader 280 is a licence for CA BrightStor ARCserve Backup for Windows including support for disaster recovery.

"Today`s small businesses cannot take chances with their critical data," says Bobby Kennedy, Key Account Manager for Iomega in South Africa. "The new Iomega REV Loader 280 delivers the speed and convenience of a hard drive with the advanced backup protection of removable media in an automated, `no-touch` data protection solution."

Kennedy says the Iomega REV Loader 280 is a backup kit in a box that includes everything a small business needs while delivering on the Iomega REV vision of "capacity without limits and backup without worries".

"If disaster strikes and the server goes down, searching for the right backup disc is a worry of the past," he says. "The Iomega REV Loader, instructed by CA`s BrightStor ARCserve backup software, automatically loads the correct disk and restores the system to its previous state."

Unlike tape backup products that rely on fragile, slow and expensive linear-access technology, the REV Loader 280 drive uses durable 35GB REV disks based on hard disk drive technology. The Iomega REV Loader quietly loads disks as required for continuous, automated data protection. Reliable operation is possible even in dusty or dirty conditions where tape-based backup technologies could fail. Password protection and encryption provide additional data security. The REV Loader 280 is also dramatically faster than tape-based automation devices, delivering up to 25MB/sec data transfer rates with random access capability. It outperforms many tape alternatives such as DDS-4 and DAT-72 while costing as little as half as much.

In addition to the new desktop REV Loader 280, standalone Iomega REV 35GB drives are currently available in external USB 2.0, FireWire, internal SCSI, SATA and the REV Autoloader 1000 rack-mounted ten-disk automation device.

Compared to tape, REV products generally cost less and work faster, reducing backup times while delivering virtually unlimited rewrites per disk. REV disks provide an estimated archival life of 30 years. They are also highly portable (10 x 77 x 75 mm), durable and low cost.