Mandriva and LaCie will introduce a mobile USB hard drive named the "GlobeTrotter 2.0." The GlobeTrotter comes in 40 or 80GB and is pre-loaded with a specially tuned version of the award-winning Mandriva Linux operating system. Combined with the power and unique design of LaCie hardware, it allows users to turn any computer into their personal Linux desktop.

Following the introduction of first-generation GlobeTrotter by Mandriva last year in Europe, LaCie received a significant response and will now offer this second-generation GlobeTrotter through its own worldwide dealer network.

GlobeTrotter is perfect for those with serious capacity and power needs. Unlike CD-R's and USB keys that only store data, or laptops that are heavy and expensive, the GlobeTrotter offers a complete work environment in one cost-effective, lightweight package.

Simply plug the GlobeTrotter into the USB port of a host PC and turn it on. The hardware on the host computer is automatically detected but is not modified in any way. After work is finished, the GlobeTrotter can be unplugged and taken to a different workstation with up to 80GB of user's data including applications and personal settings.

Features include:

- Linux-bootable 40-80GB USB hard drive designed by LaCie

- Automatic hardware detection and storage of profiles

- Pre-loaded Mandriva Linux specific edition with OpenOffice.org and much more

- Free membership to Mandriva Club and Mandriva Online for a month

For computers that don't support booting from a USB, a bootable Mini CD may be used instead.