Buffalo has come up with a new way to provide mass external storage which still plays ball nicely with the many DLNA-capable TVs that don't support 3, or in some cases even 2TB drives.

The multimedia focused HD-ALCTU2/V drive from Buffalo provides a capacity switch whereby you can set the amount of space seen by the 3TB drive inside the unit - 1TB, 2TB or the full 3TB. The way it works is by allowing users to partition their content, so you could for instance have all your larger movie files taking up 2TB, whilst the other 1TB partition would be for housing all your TV shows / music etc.

As for the design of the unit itself, it is of glossy black appearance and measures 121 x 40 x 201 mm. It relies on a USB 2.0 connection for its interface and includes built-in rubber mounts to prevent vibration. The LED system up front give indication as to how much space is left on the drive. Buffalo says power draw of this unit is also particularly nice via use of the eco Manager software, using as low as 2.1W.

The HD-ALCTU2/V from Buffalo will first enter the Japanese market at the end of the month. Pricing is not yet known.