Information storage solutions supplier Maxtor Corporation has announced what it says is a more convenient upgrade path for adding storage to existing PC and Macintosh computers.

The company said the new Maxtor Personal Storage 3000LE, the world's first 40GB external hard drive with high-speed USB 2.0 interface, was a value-priced solution that quickly and easily expanded computer storage without opening up the computer.

"Ideal for digital photos and video MP3 songs, electronic games and other large files, the 3000LE with USB 2.0 also delivers up to 40 times faster performance than current-generation USB 1.1 hard drives," it said in a statement.

According to Maxtor the 3000LE provides users with a convenient and speedy alternative to the complexity of installing internal hard-disk drives. Operating at 5400RPM and providing 40GB of capacity, the 3000LE meets the demanding needs of today's computer users by storing up to 10,000 four-minute MP3 tunes, 40,000 high-resolution digital photos (Jpeg compressed), 40 hours of digital video (Mpeg compressed), 1000 video games or any combination of files, the company said.

"The popular USB interface is used to connect a variety of external devices such as digital cameras, printers, scanners and MP3 players to computers with plug-and-play simplicity," said Tex Schenkkan, senior vice president, consumer electronics and business development at Maxtor.

"USB 2.0 makes data transfers easier when upgrading from older PCs and also protects a consumer's investment when purchasing new computers with the new USB port," said Jason Ziller, Intel technology initiatives manager and USB Implementers Forum chairman. "From the user's perspective, USB 2.0 has the same benefits and ease of use as USB 1.1 but with considerably higher bandwidth which greatly benefits the performance of devices such as Maxtor's personal storage solution."