Connected Data has announced an update to its entry-level solution -- the $1449 (24TB) Gen 3 Drobo Disk Subsystem. The RAID product boast a USB 3.0 connection, four 3.5-inch bays for a maximum raw storage capacity of 24TB (SSD or HDD) and has a battery backup module that can last 72 hours in case of power failure. Hot swappable drives can be replaced without the need of tools.

The BeyondRAID features allows customer to swap previous Drobo disks in the new unit and the solution is also Apple Time Machine compatible with a way to set a specific amount of capacity for backups, ensuring that the rest of the storage is available for other use cases. However, we would like to see a Thunderbolt connection on the device, but that could boost its retail price.

Connected Data said it has shipped 300,000 units and doubled its overall unit sold from 3Q13 to 4Q13. Customers include Google, AT&T or even the NSA.

The Drobo Gen 3 will sell in late April for $349 withour disks or $1,449 fully populated.