Maxtor Corp.'s OneTouch products have made a big splash in the PC storage and backup segment, but the newest model is designed to make a smaller one. Measuring 5.2 by 3.5 by 0.8 inches and weighing 7.2 ounces, the Maxtor OneTouch III Mini Edition is the company's first compact external solution for protecting digital data -- one that draws its power from the USB 2.0 port it's plugged into, so there's no AC adapter to pack.

Based on a 60GB ($150) or 100GB ($200) 2.5-inch, 5,400-rpm hard drive, the Mini includes Maxtor Sync software to automatically synchronize files between two or more Windows XP/2000 systems, with a system-rollback feature that restores a damaged operating system and applications to an earlier time while preserving current data files. Automated backup is available on a set schedule or with a push of the proverbial button, while supplied software-based encryption is backed up by DriveLock firmware that denies access even if a lost or stolen drive is removed from its casing and attached to another PC.