Iomega Zip 100

Backup and removable storage seem to go hand in hand nowadays and a name that's become synonymous with removable storage drives is Iomega.

We have seen little of note from this company in recent months and so were keen to try its new USB-powered Zip 100 drive. This is not the slimline version that was launched some time ago, but a slightly chubbier drive.

It's still host-powered and makes use of the lower-capacity 100Mb Zip disks.

This is Iomega's cheapest external drive. At £60 it's not a lot of money but, with today's trend for CD writers in every new PC and the lowest prices ever on CD media, we have to ask whether this type of product is past its sell-by date.

A budget CD writer would set you back in the region of £60 to £70, which is not a lot more than you have to fork out for the Zip drive. Other options, such as USB memory keys, are easier to use and a lot smaller if portability is a key requirement. A 128Mb USB memory key would cost £90 to £100.

The Zip 100, meanwhile, relies on removable disks at about £10 each. Spending the same on blank CD-R media would get you around 50 discs. If you compare the price per megabyte you'll soon realise the false economy of going for a Zip drive.

On the other hand, if you already own a Zip drive and need a portable one then the Zip 100 might be the right way forward.

The build quality is poor and the plastic casing feels very flimsy. Installation, however, couldn't be more straightforward, as long as you use Windows ME or XP or a Mac running OS 8.6 or later.

All you have to do is plug in the drive for the operating system to automatically detect it and install the necessary drivers. If you're using an older operating system you'll have to install the drivers on the supplied CD.

Our overall feeling is that this product is too late to the market and not cheap enough to make a major impact as an alternative to a CD writer.

Price: £58.75 (inc. VAT)

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