Buffalo DriveStation HD-HXU3 USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Announced [Available in 1TB, 1.5TB, 2TB Versions in Q4 2009]

Exactly as expected, more USB 3.0 gadgets are going to miraculously appear in the following period. After we’ve seen the first USB 3.0 external hard drive, the Freecom XS 3.0, we now have the second (we will eventually stop counting them) USB 3.0 external drive! The Buffalo DriveStation HD-HXU3 is expected to arrive in the following months and you should definitely get it by Christmas.

The Buffalo DriveStation HD-HXU3 will offer you faster transfer speeds, but that’s already a given. The maximum transfer speed is said to be around 125MB/s which is up to 4 times faster than the fastest USB 2.0 hard drive available right now. The HD-HXU3 will be powered by Fujitsu’s MB86C30A USB 3.0 to SATA IC which will make all those high speed transfers possible.

What’s Fujitsu’s MB86C30A USB 3.0 to SATA IC? Well it’s a Fujitsu new technology which will quickly become a standard in this fast data transfer field. The USB 3.0 – SATA bridge IC will enable data speeds of up to 5Gbps between external storage devices and PCs. Besides increasing 10 times USB 3.0 data transfers compared to USB 2.0, the MB86C30A will also add a fast encryption/decryption engine which will bring you high security without completely messing with the actual transfer speeds.

Bufallo’s DriveStation might prove to be one of your computer’s best friends at least until something better comes along. Not only will you be able to reduce the time you spend copying files or backing up your main drive by using a USB 3.0 drive but you will also store all your precious data behind a high-speed encryption engine. Feeling a little safer right now? You can always grab one of those laptop security cables to physically tie your DriveStation to the house if you don’t trust Fujitsu’s encryption capabilities.

The DriveStation HD-HXU3 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2009 in European and Middle Eastern markets and you’ll be able to choose between three versions: 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB. Prices haven’t been announced at this point but we can assume that Buffalo will match Freecom’s offer ($175 for the 1TB XS 3.0 external hard drive.) We won’t mind if those DriveStations are even cheaper!