Jon L. Jacobi

Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Freelance Journalist at PCWorld

None at TechHive

Articles

MSP360 Managed Backup review: Track and manage backups for all your PCs

1 week ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceFile- and image-based backupPowerful online (web) management ConsoleLocal and online backupPro-level features aboundDoesn’t support Consumer-grade online storageCosts add upMSP360 Managed Backup and its fully featured online Console let you control all your computer backups for a decently low fee. Local and online, file-based and imaging, along with disaster recovery are all provided via manageable local clients.
MSP360 Backup review: Very effective local backup -- and free file backup!

2 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceAvailable in a fantastically capable free versionFile-level and imaging (Pro version) backupSupports prosumer/IT online storage servicesPro version with imaging is subscription onlyLacks support for Consumer-grade online storage servicesProprietary data containers and imagesIn its free incarnation, MSP360 Desktop Backup is a worthwhile upgrade to Windows File History. However, the Pro version is subscription-only which makes it very pricey over time.
Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD with USB4 review: Style and good performance -- when it connects at full speed

3 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glance40Gbps USB4Decently pricedHandsome, rugged designSlowest USB4 SSD to dateSometimes connected at only 10Gbps or 5GbpsWe love the rugged, handsome design and relative affordability. But connection issues and comparably lackluster 40Gbps performance left us unamazed.
Teamgroup MP44Q NVMe SSD review: Host Memory Bus champ - with a caveat

3 weeks ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceExcellent everyday HMB performanceSuper affordableGraphene heat spreader5-year warrantyGreat TBW rating for QLC NANDWrites slow drastically off secondary cacheThough you don’t want QLC for heavy-duty, large-scale writes, the MP44Q is a great everyday performer and a super bargain for the average user.
I can't believe how fast this USB drive is...because it's really an SSD

1 month ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceGood 10Gbps light-duty performerAffordableClever, flick-to-open Type-A designSlows drastically during very long writesPlastic-y tactile sensationThough not the drive you want for super-long writes, this thin, flick-to-open USB stick from Kingston is aces for small file sets.
PNY's new SSD mimics a flash drive. I love its fast speeds and slick design

1 month ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceGood 10Gbps performanceSuper svelte and convenient retractable Type-C designAffordable for the performanceThe PNY Pro Elite V3’s clever, retractable design makes it one of my favorite 10Gbps USB sticks. It’s only the third fastest I’ve tested, but the superlative form factor makes it the one I’ll throw in my pocket for light to medium workloads.
This portable SSD is fast and affordable, but I fell in love with its looks

1 month ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceDecently affordable for USB 3.2×2Good 20Gbps performanceMaintains decent speed during uber-long writesNot the fastest of the breedLow TBW ratingGood 20Gbps performance and handsome looks are Addlink’s formula for the P21 external SSD. It also maintains solid numbers when writing off secondary cache.
Glyph Blackbox Pro RAID review: Rugged and speedy Thunderbolt 3 storage

1 month ago | macworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceUp to 48TB of capacity550MBps transfer rates in RAID 0Beefy ConstructionThree-year warranty with two years of data recoveryRunning in redundant RAID 1 doubles the price per TBA worthy, rugged, Thunderbolt 3 dual-HDD box with tons of capacity for backup, video and audio production.
Addlink G55H review: This PCIe 5.0 SSD belongs on your short list

1 month ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

At a glanceFastest PCIe 5.0 HMB SSD to dateAffordable for PCIe 5.0Good warranty and TBW ratingPricier than PCIe 4.0 HMB, but not a lot faster in real-world operationsThe Addlink G55H is the fastest DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 SSD we’ve tested to date, albeit by a very narrow margin. But first place is first place, and it’s an affordable entry point to the latest standard in storage bus technology.
Is USB or Thunderbolt better for portable SSDs? The key differences, explained

1 month ago | pcworld.com | Jon L. Jacobi

I could spoil this entire article and tell you right off the bat which high-speed bus protocol you should be looking at for you current and future external storage needs… But where’s the fun in that? If you need an answer right away, simply scroll to the bottom and grab your instant gratification. Otherwise, educate yourself with this quick treatise on the various high-speed external protocols that are available, as well as their respective strengths and weaknesses.