Our take
The Iomega eGo Helium 34709 is a narrowly useful legacy portable hard drive: it provides 500GB over USB 2.0, and the original product sheet says it needs no external power supply. Choose it only if that exact older setup suits your host and the particular unit and cable can be checked. Its main compromise is a dated connection and software story with no evidence here for present-day OS support or a current exact Amazon offer.
A legacy portable-storage option for someone with a confirmed USB 2.0 path, a need no larger than its advertised 500GB, and no outlet at the point of use. It is a poor fit when documented USB 3.0, at least 1TB, or confirmed current software and OS support is essential..
Buyers who require a documented USB 3.0 interface, at least 1TB, or verified current operating-system and software support.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- Exact-model evidence ties 34709 to a silver 500GB eGo Helium USB 2.0 drive.
- Iomega's release sheet describes portable USB bus-powered operation without a separate supply.
- The original Drop Guard design claim and dated software and package context are documented without treating them as current guarantees.
What to weigh up
- USB 2.0 is the documented interface; the saved evidence does not show USB 3.0.
- The 500GB capacity does not satisfy the existing 1TB floor.
- Current OS and software support, seller cable and condition, and exact Amazon offer identity remain unverified.
Specifications and exact model details
The key details
| Model covered | 34709 |
|---|---|
| Advertised capacity | 500GB nominal advertised capacity |
| Drive configuration | Portable 2.5-inch HDD; USB bus-powered |
| Host connection | USB 2.0 |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 14, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
Full review: how the features affect your choice
What the features mean for you
Is 500GB enough for the job?
The exact-model retailer page identifies model 34709 as a silver 500GB drive. That makes its capacity concrete, but it also sets a firm limit: it does not meet the existing 1TB minimum-capacity answers. A buyer moving a modest set of documents or keeping a bounded archive may have a reason to consider 500GB; a large photo, video, or multi-device library should compare a larger documented capacity instead. Advertised capacity is nominal, so usable space after formatting will be lower. No saved source measures this unit's speed or performance with a particular workload. ([Newegg exact-model listing](https://www.newegg.com/silver-iomega-ego-helium-500gb/p/N82E16822186194R), checked 2026-10-14.)
Does USB 2.0 match your computer?
Newegg and Iomega identify the 34709 as a USB 2.0 drive. That is the decisive compatibility distinction in this shortlist: it can satisfy a requirement for a documented USB 2.0 connection, but there is no saved evidence for a USB 3.0 interface. Someone who requires USB 3.0 should choose a model whose exact configuration documents it. A connector fitting physically is not proof that an old drive, cable, adapter, and current operating system will work together. Confirm the intended host path before relying on this legacy unit, especially for a computer without a native USB 2.0 port. ([Newegg listing](https://www.newegg.com/silver-iomega-ego-helium-500gb/p/N82E16822186194R); [Iomega 2009 release sheet](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wDOWs34EL.pdf), checked 2026-10-14.)
Can you carry it without an outlet?
Iomega's product sheet says the Helium requires no external power supply, and Newegg identifies a portable 2.5-inch drive. That arrangement can help where a separate adapter is inconvenient. It does not establish that a present seller includes the original cable or that an aged drive and cable still work. The manufacturer listed a USB power cable in the original package, while the checked open-box retailer page warns that accessories may vary. Verify the exact seller's contents and unit condition before choosing it for travel or field use. Iomega also described Drop Guard as protection for a drop of up to 51 inches. Treat that as the manufacturer's design claim, not an independently measured result or insurance against data loss; it says nothing about how a used unit was handled or whether the feature remains intact. Keep another copy of important files rather than relying on the claim to prevent damage. ([Iomega release sheet](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wDOWs34EL.pdf); [Newegg listing](https://www.newegg.com/silver-iomega-ego-helium-500gb/p/N82E16822186194R), checked 2026-10-14.)
Should the bundled backup software affect the decision?
The 2009 release sheet lists EMC Retrospect and MozyHome Online software available by download. Those are historical package details, not proof that downloads, accounts, cloud services, licenses, or present operating systems still support them. The same dated sheet lists Mac OS X 10.1.5 and Windows 2000/XP/Vista-era requirements. Those requirements cannot establish compatibility with a current Mac or Windows computer. Use software and a host path that are currently supported for your own system, and treat the old Iomega software as unavailable unless you independently confirm otherwise. ([Iomega release sheet](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wDOWs34EL.pdf), checked 2026-10-14.)
How should you shop for the exact configuration?
The source row's Amazon ASIN is historical and unverified as a current 34709 offer. Search by the exact model and check that the seller names 34709, 500GB, and the silver eGo Helium configuration. Confirm whether a cable is included, what condition the unit is in, what return terms apply, and whether your host can use it. Do not substitute the distinct 34491 Helium listing or the 1TB Ruby Red 35684 page just because the names are similar. Current price, stock, warranty coverage, and Amazon variant identity are not established by this review. Use the tagged exact-model search above, not a direct link inferred from the old ASIN.
Compare for your needs
Find the external drive that fits you.
Tell us what matters. We’ll help you weigh the options.
Before you buy
Is model 34709 the 1TB Ruby Red eGo?
No. The saved exact-model source maps 34709 to a silver 500GB eGo Helium. Ruby Red 1TB eGo model 35684 is separate; the other saved silver 500GB Helium model 34491 also remains distinct.
Does it need a wall adapter?
Iomega's product sheet says no external power supply is required. Check the seller's cable and the actual unit before relying on bus power.
Will its backup software work today?
The 2009 sheet lists Retrospect and MozyHome Online by download, but current service, license, software, or operating-system support is not verified.
Does the historical ASIN prove the current listing is model 34709?
No. Use the tagged exact-model search and verify the seller's configuration yourself.
Where can I check the current price?
Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.
Sources and review basis
Sources & review basis
We use the linked product documentation for the features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- Newegg exact-model listing for Iomega eGo Helium 34709, corroborated by Iomega's dated product-release sheet ↗ — checked October 14, 2026.
- Newegg exact-model listing; lines 60–67 identify the silver 34709; lines 83–101 list 500GB, USB 2.0, 2.5-inch form, 8MB cache, dimensions and product claims. Open-box notes say accessories may vary. ↗ — checked October 14, 2026.
- Iomega eGo Helium product-release sheet dated 2009-07-31; page 1 lists the silver 500GB USB 2.0 family, no external power supply, Drop Guard claim, historical software, period requirements, contents and original warranty details. ↗ — checked October 14, 2026.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.