Freecom claims first USB 3.0 HDD

Way ahead of expectations, Netherlands-based Freecom claims to have the world’s first USB 3.0-ready external hard drive.

Freecom’s Hard Drive XS 3.0 will come in three capacities — 1 TB, 1.5 TB and 2 TB — when it ships in November. The price is also totally reasonable at 119 Euros, or roughly $175. It’s presented as a simple rectangle with rubber casing for added style, and no fans.

The hard drive can achieve speeds of 130 MB per second, transferring a 5 GB movie in 38 seconds. Theoretically, USB 3.0 can transfer files at 500 MB per second, 10 times faster than USB 2.0. The new standard also allows drives to enter idle, sleep and suspend modes, though Freecom doesn’t mention whether its drive includes these features.

Of course, a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 hard drive means nothing to your computer without a controller that supports the standard. Freecom says it’s prepared to launch its own controller, at 26 Euros for desktops and 30 Euros for notebooks. Earlier this week, NEC had already announced the world’s first certified USB 3.0 controller, allowing computer manufacturers to start building USB 3.0 capabilities into PCs.

The availability of USB 3.0 controllers is right on schedule with a report from earlier this year, which estimated that NEC’s controllers would go into mass production in September. Freecom’s hard drive, however, is showing up earlier than expected, with previous reports estimating the arrival of USB 3.0 devices in 2010.

Freecom’s Hard Drive XS 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, so there’d be no harm in purchasing one even if your current computer can’t take full advantage.