FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mercury Aura Envoy Photo: http://eshop.macsales.com/NewsRoom/images/PR_OWC_Envoy.jpg

OWC Previews Mercury Aura Envoy, Industry's First Bus-Powered Enclosure for Using Apple MacBook Air SSD as a Portable External Drive at Macworld

Aluminum Enclosure Complements MacBook Air Appearance; Ideal Companion Product for Re-tasking Factory SSD When Upgrading to Higher Capacity, Higher-Performance OWC Mercury Aura SSD

January 27, 2012, San Francisco -- During Macworld this week, Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac® and PC technology company, will display its new  Mercury Aura® Envoy™.  The Envoy is the industry’s first bus-powered enclosure for utilizing the factory Flash SSD from any 2010 or 2011 Apple® MacBook® Air model as an external drive when upgrading to the higher-capacity and higher-performance of an OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD. Complementing a MacBook Air both visually and digitally, the new Mercury Aura Envoy will be shown in Other World Computing’s Macworld booth #513 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Lighter than Air, Take it Anywhere
The Mercury Aura Envoy’s sleek size (5.9in L x 1.79in W x tapered .279in to .466in H) makes it an ideal portable storage and/or backup solution that slips easily into a laptop bag or coat pocket. Made from brushed aluminum and offering bus-powered (no AC adapter needed) convenience, its 1.5-ounce (no drive installed) housing is nearly light as air. The Mercury Aura Envoy isn’t a lightweight in the performance department however; its USB 3.0 interface offers up to 500MB/s data rates for high performance, on-the-go backup and file storage as well as grab-and-go enjoyment of music, movies or videos.

Two-Step Installation Takes Less than Two Minutes
  • Remove the two screws that hold the two halves of the Mercury Aura Envoy enclosure together.
  • Insert the factory SSD module into the Envoy’s SATA adapter and re-assemble housing.


Only Performance Upgrade Available for MacBook Air
Since its introduction of the Mercury Aura Pro Express 3G SSD at the 2010 CES show, OWC remains the only alternative to factory SSD options for the latest MacBook Air. OWC’s 3G SSD models are available in capacities up to 480GB (8x more capacity than factory options) and deliver up to 68 percent faster performance in real world use.

Owners of 2011 MacBook Air models can use OWC’s 6G Aura Pro Express model, available in 120GB and 240GB capacities, as well as the new 480GB capacity announced today for CES (see separate OWC VPO press release), to take advantage of the MacBook Air’s faster processors and built-in 6Gb/s SATA data bus. With an Aura Pro Express SSD, users can achieve peak, sustained data rates over 500MB/s, versus the factory installed SSDs, which are limited by SATA Revision 2.0 (3Gb/s) capability. OWC offers an easy online guide to assist consumers in selecting the correct Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD for any of Apple’s MacBook Air models from 2008 to current.

Complements Industry’s Most Comprehensive SSD Line for Macs and PCs
The new Mercury Aura Envoy enclosure for the MacBook Air Flash drive enhances OWC’s existing line of performance-leading, world record-breaking 3G (3Gb/s) and 6G (6Gb/s) Mercury SSDs. OWC offers SSDs for nearly every Mac and PC produced over the past decade in capacities from 30GB to 480GB with prices starting from $54.99. For more information on the complete OWC Mercury SSD line, including expert benchmark reviews, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/.  For more information on the OWC catalog of over 2,900 performance upgrades and accessories, or for reseller inquires, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/

“It’s very gratifying to have developed the only complete performance upgrade solution available for the highly successful MacBook Air,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. “Besides providing significantly higher performance and capacity than the factory drive with our Mercury Aura Pro Express SSDs, the new Mercury Aura Envoy easily and elegantly turns the factory SSD into a new, high-performance external drive.”

Mercury Aura Envoy Features:
• Lightweight aluminum enclosure complements MacBook Air appearance
• USB 3.0 interface (Micro-B port) for 500MB/s data rates
• Ultra portable:
            Size: 5.9in Length x 1.79in Width x tapered .279in to .466in Height
            Weight: 1.5 ounces (empty case, no drive installed)
• Silent, fanless operation
• Bus-powered (no AC adapter required)
• One-year warranty

Pricing, Availability
Compatible with the Flash SSD module used in current 11.1" and 13.3" MacBook Air models, the Mercury Aura Envoy will be available from OWC and through the retail channel by late March and will have an MSRP of $49.95.

About Other World Computing (OWC)
Other World Computing (OWC) has been providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988 and features one of the largest online catalogs of computer, iPod®, iPhone®, and iPad® enhancement products through its e-commerce portal www.macsales.com. As a member of the Apple Developer Program, OWC also provides extensive US-based technical support for Macintosh users around the world as well as Internet access via www.fastermac.net and www.owc.net


OWC’s industry awards and recognition include: Crain’s Chicago Business 2009 and 2011 “Fast 50” List of 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Chicago Area; Inc. 5,000 “Fastest Growing Privately Owned Companies in America” list honoree 2007-2011; Reseller Ratings Elite Member 2009-2011; Better Business Bureau Top Rating of A+ 2010-2011; Reflex Packaging Commitment to Excellence Recycling Award 2009; Computerworld Magazine Top Green-IT Companies for 2008; and McHenry County Economic Development Corporation 2008 & 2011 Business Champion Award.

Contact:
Company Contact:
Bill Herring
512-412-4009
bherring@macsales.com
Agency Contact:
Andy Marken
408-986-0100
andy@markencom.com
OWC and Mercury Aura are registered trademarks; and OWC Mercury SSD and Mercury Aura Envoy are trademarks of New Concepts Development Corporation.
Apple, Mac, MacBook, MacBook Air, iPod, iPhone, and iPad are the trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.