The 800GB LaCie Ethernet Disk, available now, is a Web-administrable Network Attached Storage (NAS) system that uses Windows XP Embedded operating system to provide network-based file storage for Mac, Windows, Linux and Unix computers.

It can operate in a standard 19-inch equipment rack or can work on a desktop and can be stacked with other LaCie d2 devices. The Ethernet Disk sports a single 10/100baseT Ethernet connection, 2 USB 1.1 interfaces, 1 FireWire 400 interface, a 15-pin d-sub analog display connection and a 7200RPM hard disk drive mechanism.

It can be expanded with additional storage capacity using built-in USB and FireWire ports. The 800GB model costs $1,499 (around £840), while 500GB, 250GB and 160GB models cost $999, $799 and $599 (£560, £448 and £336) respectively. UK pricing hasn't been announced.

LaCie is also introducing new d2 SATA Hard Drives. The external hard disk drives are clad in aluminium, like LaCie's other d2 external drives, but are bundled with a Serial ATA (SATA) PCI expansion card which has two SATA ports enabling two separate drives to operate at the same speed.

LaCie plans to ship the new d2 drives this winter -- prices range from $269 to $549 (£150 to £310) for storage capacities ranging from 160GB to 400GB using 7200RPM mechanisms. LaCie also plans to ship a 74GB, 10,000RPM mechanism for $449 (£252). A shipping date for the SATA drive hasn?t been given.

From DIGIT