Unlike most rivals and even smaller-capacity versions of the Maxtor Shared Storage II, this 1TB model comes complete with two built-in hard drives. In spite of this, it's compact and extremely quiet in operation

Although the retail price is close to £150, we found reputable etailersstocking this 100GB, 2.5-inch USB 2.0 drive for just over the hundred-clam mark.

After the acquisition of Maxtor by its rival Seagate, the two companies are set to merge completely by the end of the year. Until then though, they'll continue to operate as separate entities in the market.

Compared with the super-slim LaCie Mobile Hard Drive, the Maxtor OneTouch II is something of a brick - maybe even a breezeblock. For a start, it's eight times as heavy as the LaCie model, and needs its own AC power supply.