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Product: Western Digital My Passport Essential 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive WDME2500TN (Midnight Black) Amazon Price: Too low to display Availability: In Stock |
The Western Digital My Passport Considerable 320GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive (Midnight Murky) is the largest capacity in the portable essentials line-up. This comes in a variety of colors including Pink, Genuine Red, Artic White and Intense Blue. They say that this is the update to the regular Western Digital 320 GB Passport Hard Drive and I contain both of them. In fact I also bear many other portable hard drives in the Western Digital passport lineup and so far I couldn’t be happier. All of these are gargantuan for mobile backups of data, though slower to copy ample backups than their A/C powered MyBook big-brothers.
Some will be considering the Western Digital My Passport Notable 250GB and the Western Digital My Passport Primary 160 GB sizes of these drives. I started with the 160 GB and have owned multiple versions in all sizes, and capacity aside these drives are basically the same. If you are on the fence between a smaller or larger size, the decision will arrive down to what you really need most. If you need a drive for complete backups, don’t box yourself in purchasing a 160 GB model when your hard drive is 120 GB. Give yourself some room and go with the 320 if you can.
For those with backup needs of 80 GB or smaller, spy into the other capacities. Periodic specials are being rush on some of the smaller sizes, making them very glowing. Plus a 500 GB model should be on the procedure soon. So if you need the largest size, then by all means gather the 320 GB version. But if you can invent do with the smaller size, then the value pricing may entice you. Weigh your options but whatever size you win now perform clear it’s enough to meet your needs upright now and for at least the next 6 months. In fact, some people who are extremely picky like me are going to want to steal at least 2 drives so that they can have 2 copies of their backups, honest in case.
Pros
+ Sizable capacity options at safe prices available in this line of products
+ Nice portable earn factor that easily connects via USB
+ USB powered, no A/C required, which is grand for portability
+ Works well on Windows Vista, XP and Mac OS X
+ Easy to residence up disk encryption for security and privacy
+ Nice looks, and frosty color options for those that care about that
+ Turns on and off with your computer or easily ejected via system tray
+ Easy plug-and-play installation
+ Integrates nicely with my growing stable of WD MyBook drives
+ Included software may be useful for some novices
+ Drives are sufficiently durable holding up to normal spend over time
+ 320 GB capacity is objective about factual for most users
Cons
- Somewhat uninteresting file transfer speeds for larger backups
- Included software not useful for power users
- Intelligent body attracts scratch, fingerprints and dust
- Only USB, so contemplate to the LaCie 250 GB Rugged Hard Disk if you need fire-wire ports too
- Only up to 320 GB upright now, so recognize to the LaCie 500 GB Rugged Hard Disk with FireWire and USB if you need more capacity in a portable drive
- Have to utilize your cash to earn a case that should have been included
The Looks
The drive has a nice radiant exterior. The case can scratch in transit and the surface also attracts fingerprints and dust. But the examine is serene nice and you can easily buy a case or holder for the drive if it bothers you. Most versions don’t ship with the case included, but you can seize up the CaseLogic Itsy-bitsy External Hard Drive Case (Murky) for $10 or $15.
The Features
I had no pickle connecting this drive to any computer, including Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X. Hold in mind this is a USB 2.0 contrivance so old computers may not yield the same results.
Transfer speeds are ok but definitely slower than the A/C powered MyBooks. This guy is serene itsy-bitsy by the 480 Mbs connection rush of USB 2.0, but performs somewhat slower than this when performing titanic backups. The USB 2.0 race rating can not really be achieved in production and you will accept a section of that. But it’s a trade-off that’s worth it since it’s USB-powered. Check out the LaCie 250 GB Rugged hard disk if you need fire-wire ports too. Or try the LaCie 500 GB Rugged hard disk if you need more portable capacity.
The software utilities included with this draw will be most useful for beginners. I tested the backup software in particular but found it to be tiresome and impractical. I mean REALLY stupid. It works, but cutting and pasting is better. Catch my advice: don’t exhaust these utilities and unprejudiced do slice and paste backups and saves to this drive.
Reliability
I’ve had estimable luck with the passport line of drives. They seem to have lower failure rates than many MyBook drives, though I also occupy those and haven’t had issues there either. Maybe my gentle care has helped me to bag lucky with these guys so far. Maybe it’s because these drives are generally off when in transit. Regardless, these guys have held up shapely.
Conclusion
This drive is vast or those who want a portable drive for backups on the speed. It’s nice getting the 320GB capacity in one drive. There are smaller drives but other than capacity there is no valid disagreement between them. Witness the ticket changes and resolve the sized drive that’s moral for you.
Enjoy!
The Western Digital Passport reduced my 388 CD rack to a pocket-sized miracle. Likewise, all the photos, lesson plans, and Power-Point presentations that were cluttering my computer are now on my Passport.
Here’s the low-down. I was a bit tremulous that I might have difficultly setting-up this runt guy. My fears were alleviated in about 15 seconds. About a month ago, I downgraded from Vista to XP and had NO PROBLEMS with the installation of this product … whatsoever (seems some people who bustle Vista have been having some danger) . It could not have been easier. (Thank you Western Digital!)
Now, the pre-installed software is REALLLLLY dreadful (that portion is upright) . Western Digital should rethink this advance since nearly everyone removes it (and it deters some people from even purchasing their products) . Minus one-star for being SERIOUSLY annoying!!
As mentioned by other reviewers, the product is whisper-quiet. And, while some folks found that they need an USB Power Adapter Y Cable, I did not. I have a two-year musty Alien Spot 51 m5550 and experienced no problems with power (regarding this product) . I would declare that you consume the Passport without the substitute cable and give it a try before you invest the extra cash.
And yes, the product is glossy, so it shows fingerprints and can scratch easily. Amazon currently recommends the CaseLogic Limited External Hard Drive Case (Unlit) but the case is great too colossal and the Passport remains too loosely confined. Instead, I bought the Caselogic Neoprene LHDC-1 Portable Hard Drive Case (Sad Gray) . (It is soft and protects the product’s appearance while in transit) . If anyone finds a better fit, please feel free to comment on this post.
Bottomline: Regardless of the unwanted pre-installed software, this product exceeded my expectations. It is level-headed, miniature, and gorgeous fabulous! It handled a vast volume of work fairly speedily (I was prepared for some lope, of course) and makes my life great tidier. Highly recommended!!