Buffalo Technology, the creator of the 100 GB flash SSD, has announced that its 500 GB MiniStation TurboUSB hard drive is now available in the U.S. for an estimated street price of US$ 329.

The unit is rated at 5400 RPM and uses Buffalo’s TurboUSB technology. These additions are said to make the drive up to 30 percent faster when transferring files, a definite plus when deciding on a portable storage solution.

The 500 GB MiniStation is shock resistant and is equipped with SecureLockWare to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the unit in case it is lost or stolen. Included with the drive is Memeo’s AutoBackup which should make backing up data much more simple. The drive is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X.