Image processing

Adobe Photoshop

ACDSee PowerPack

ACDSee separates the drives a little and relegates the ES to the middle of the pack. There, it's still a few seconds slower than the 7200.10.

Multitasking and office applications

Microsoft Office

Mozilla

Mozilla and Windows Media Encoder

WorldBench's office and multitasking tests don't give the drives much room to stretch their legs.

Other applications

Winzip

Nero

WinZip and Nero do, however. The ES is close to the front of the pack in both, with only Western Digital's latest 10K-RPM Raptors and the Barracuda 7200.10 proving faster.