The Iomega 750MB Zip showed speed, ruggedness and portability in tests, but can it beat the almighty CD-R?

Why a storage format so close to the CD-R in capacity, yet costing more? Iomega aims the new 750MB Zip at those who need to write and rewrite large amounts of data on a recurring basis and who hate sluggish CD-RW burn speeds, even slower packet writing and the unreliability of the CD-RW media. So, powered by a speed equal to a 50x50x50x (50x write, 50x rewrite, 50x read) the 750Mb Zip is ideal for data backups and for storing and playing back large multimedia files, claims Iomega. We found a the drive very perky in use, but as with other USB 2.0 devices we've tested, only Windows 2000, XP and ME users will enjoy top speed.

Plug And Zip
The drive comes in a smaller footprint size than that of the average 3.5-inch external hard disk but weighs considerably less. Iomega also gets our nod of approval for the device's quality finish--the bulky exterior of its predecessors has been significantly trimmed down in favor of a sleeker look while the shiny, metallic-silver exterior further enhances the drive's elegant finish.

Our review set came with a single power adapter, USB cable, a CD-ROM and a single 750MB cartridge. The CD-ROM contains a brief user manual, utilities as well as an assortment of drivers for different operating systems, Windows and Mac included. Also bundled with the drive were two backup applications: Iomega Auto Backup which makes manual backups of copies of specific files and folders, and Iomega Sync which automatically keeps track and synchronizes them to their latest version(s).

Installation was a no-brainer as with most USB devices nowadays--simply plug the drive into the USB port and the computer will do the rest. Our test system running Windows XP and equipped with an NEC USB 2.0 adapter had no problems detecting the drive, identifying it as an additional removable storage device. Since Windows XP also configures removable storage devices for quick removal by default, it is recommended that users apply the "optimize for performance" option instead--our tests showed that enabling this function results in a noticeable increase in transfer speeds and writing performance.

The good news for existing Zip drive owners is that Iomega has sensibly made the drive backward compatible with earlier generations of the Zip media. The drive allows users to read and copy files to their older 250MB media but limits 100MB capacity cartridges to just read only. For those without USB 2.0, the device will work with existing USB 1.1 ports but performance will be degraded to the standard USB 1.1 speed of 12Mbps.

Another gripe we had with the Zip drive was that it does not tap power directly from the USB port itself, requiring a separate power adapter to operate. According to Iomega, the standard USB port does have sufficient power for the drive. But with the drive being marketed as a portable storage device, the inclusion of a battery extender or optional battery pack of some sort would have greatly benefited the average mobile worker.

Erratic Windows 98SE Performance
Under Windows XP, the Iomega drive operating in optimized mode gave a wonderfully zippy performance, clocking less than 40 seconds for a single 200MB file transfer and yielding an average write speed of 4.5Mbps. Based on our recorded figures, this put the Zip drive ahead of most of the latest CD writers in terms of sheer writing speed.

But performance in Windows 98SE was far slower. Despite several repeated attempts, we were unable to attain the same transfer speeds we achieved while operating under Windows XP, with the drive dropping to USB 1.1 speeds. It took us almost a full 3 minutes to transfer a similarly sized file to the drive. Why? We weren't sure, but we've seen poor USB 2.0 performance in Windows 98SE before, despite having all the right drivers. Upgrade to Windows XP if you plan to use USB 2.0 devices.

The Zip drive itself was generally well-behaved throughout the entire test, producing a composed and somewhat controlled performance. Spin noise was hardly audible unlike some external CD writers, and no signs of any uncontrolled vibrations were felt while writing files to disk.

Complementing CD-R?
At AU$449 for the drive, the 750MB Iomega Zip drive is not a bad buy--it works on almost any operating platform, is extremely portable, had rugged media, writes reliably and transfers data faster than your average CD writer. In addition, the 750MB Zip drive comes backed by a solid one-year warranty with online support in the form of free software upgrades for registered users. But considering that you can get a CD burner for half that price together with CD-R/RW media that costs almost a dollar apiece, it will require a leap of faith for normal users, especially those on a shoestring budget, to make the transition from CD to the Zip format. The drive also faces competition from external competitors which cost roughly the same as the 750MB Zip.

Iomega Zip 750MB USB 2.0
Company: Iomega
Price: AU$449, 10 Pack Zip 750 disks AU$299, 2 pack AU$64
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 02 8223 9140

Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive, a CBS Company. All Rights Reserved.
ZDNET is a registered service mark of CBS Interactive. ZDNET Logo is a service mark of CBS Interactive.