Western Digital My Passport Essential 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)
by Western Digital
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Western DigitalAudio: English (Original Language)
Format: CD
Platform: Windows
Model: WDME2500TN
Color: Midnight Black
Product features:
- Powered by USB bus
- Installation is a snap because you don't really install this drive; you just plug it in and it's ready to use
- 250GB Hard Drive Capacity
- Plug-and-play installation
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Western Digital My Passport Essential 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)
Customer Review: Forget the software and copy paste
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had this since March 16, 2009. The software is the only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. The version I have has "Sync" software. When I bought it reviewers said...to skip using the software that comes with it. I was just looking for a way to backup files on a 40G Compaq Presario bought in 2000 with Windows ME but upgraded to XP with a CD drive and small floppy but no DVD drive. The usb ports are from when they were just called usb not usb2.0. When I bought it I looked as the sync/encripton software as an added feature if it worked. If you want to encrypt the data you have to use the Sync software. It was easy to install the software and set it up..but I was leery of using it because it tries to keep the computer in sync with the passport and vice versa. I was afraid that if the passport files got wiped out and I connected it to my computer then it would delete the files on the computer too. I did a lot of testing and even started writing up how the software worked. If I started the sync software and put in my password for the computer I was using and then manually removed files from the passport and then clicked sync it removed the files from my computer. It kind of tells you the files it is removing but it does not ask if you want them removed. (Note, I use Microsoft's briefcase and sync the files between my desktop and laptop that I use both places and prefer how it lets me decide beofore it does the updating and deleting so this may be a personal preference.) There was an automatic sync option but that really scared me so I left mine where I had to tell it to sync. FYI I have a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering and started working with computers in 1978. I have designed and built single board computers, wrote & tested software for business applications in one company and for technical applications in a telecommunications company, and worked as a operator when computers took up entire rooms.
I do like this device as a copy paste backup. But I use it as a backup, meaning that all my data is still on my computer. The idea is that if the computer loses it's data then the data is on this device. If this device dies and I can't get the data from it, the data is still on my desktop. If they both die at the same time then that could be a problem. For my photos I use an online service that I order prints from and keep copies there.
So far I've been happy with the reliability, although I don't put it in my pocket and haven't washed it. I use it, put it up in it's padded case and then all that goes in a small plastic storage box only because I store all my small electronics in these boxes. When using the case I like the short usb cord but when doing backups I have to sit it on top of a book or the plastic storage box to plug it into the front usb port on my tower computer. It is close to reaching without the box under it but there's too much strain on the connections and cord. As for the speed, yeah it is what most would consider slow but I just do a copy and then paste to it and let it sit there and go do something else. In my case since I'm using it with verrry olddd usb ports anything is going to be slow. I'm just happy it works with these ports! I keep all my files under My Documents or under 1 specific folder on the C drive so I copy past the My Documents folder(the actual folder not the shortcut!) let it do it's thing and then I come back and copy the specific folder on the C drive and then paste it to the passport drive. So with a very old computer that only has a 40G hard drive I'm very happy with this device when used as a backup. The software on it is a waste and I never could get the updates from the web page to work for it either. Next, I'll be backing up files from my laptop, which is newer, faster, has usb2.0 and a 250G hard drive. I'm expecting that to be faster. If not then I guess I'll have to update this.
More Western Digital My Passport Essential 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black) reviews:
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Description of Western Digital My Passport Essential 250 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)
These elegant portable drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter -- they are powered directly through the USB cable.* Works with Windows® and Mac®. Synchronize files between home and office and encrypt everything on the drive for added security.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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