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Western Digital WDG1C5000N My Book Premium Edition 500 GB USB 2.0/Firewire External Hard Drive by Western Digital
Digital Photo Product DetailsManufacturer: Western Digital Audio: English (Original Language) Model: WDG1C5000N Color: Black Product features: - Convenient dual interface (USB 2.0 and FireWire) offers maximum compatibility and speed
- 500 GB capacity, 7200 RPM, 16 MB Cache
- Capacity gauge shows you at a glance how much space is left on your drive
- Smart design takes up less space on your desk and stacks horizontally
- Intelligent drive management features ensure optimal operation
Accessories:
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Western Digital WDG1C5000N My Book Premium Edition 500 GB USB 2.0/Firewire External Hard DriveCustomer Review: WESTERN DIGITAL = LOSE YOUR DATA Summary: 1 StarsI bought two of these in mid-2007 and less than a year later, found many of the same problems reported all over Amazon and other review sites -- overheating, powering down with no warning (even in the middle of data transfers!), intermittent unmountability. They were used in an average home office with typical usage, with plenty of air circulation to keep cool -- but they routinely glitched, crashed, and became useless not only for daily data use, but even occasional backups.
I ended up buying two new WD Elements drives to replace them, and managed to transfer all the data to the new drives. Those seemed to work great, and they were reasonably priced, so I bought two more Elements drives for additional project archives and music/photo media. Meanwhile, while all four of those were in use, one of the MyBooks completely died and wouldn't mount (after sitting unused for months, mind you), and the second became so glitchy it was pretty much unusable.
But then something downright infuriating happened. ALL FOUR of the new replacement WD Elements drives ended up having problems, too! The power supplies on ALL FOUR of them died within weeks of each other, right after the one-year warranty expired. And get this -- WD wanted to charge me twenty dollars per power supply for replacements (not including shipping!).
Thankfully, it's just the power supplies that are faulty -- the actual drives still work, and my data is still on them, so I bought *one* new power supply, and am now transferring each of those drives to a new Drobo with four 1.5tb Seagate drives inside. After they're transfered, I will wipe them clean, crack open all of the cases, and maybe try to salvage the internal drive units with other aftermarket cases. Ironically, it seems in all of the reviews I've read elsewhere, WD's basic internal drive products are fine -- it's the external cases they make that have problems.
THE BOTTOM LINE: SIX WESTERN DIGITAL DRIVES BECAME UNSTABLE AND UNUSABLE, ALL WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASE.
SIX drives, folks. Not just one or two. Over six-hundred dollars spent on totally, completely unreliable products in just about two years. I've heard that second wave of re-engineered MyBooks currently on the market are a much better product -- but I'll never be buying WD drives ever again after this experience. Not only should Western Digital completely get out of the external USB hard-drive business, they should have a class-action lawsuit brought against them.
Description of Western Digital WDG1C5000N My Book Premium Edition 500 GB USB 2.0/Firewire External Hard DriveThey're your photos?your music?your videos?your important files. Make extra room for them, back them up, and keep them safe on YOUR book. WD's My Book Premium is the perfect external hard drive for all your precious digital assets. Amazon.com Product Description Is your computer loaded with photos, music, video, and all sorts of important files? If so, you should make extra room, back them up, and keep them safe on Western Digital's WDG1C5000 My Book Premium Edition 500 GB Hard Drive. This reliable, easy-to-use external hard drive is the perfect storage solution for all your precious digital assets.  Save and back up all your digital assets with the My Book Premium Edition Hard Drive. View larger. |  Simple, easy-to-use design. |  Hard drive features dual interface connectivity (FireWire 400 and USB 2.0). View larger. | 
The elegant case takes up very little space. | Installation is a breeze because you don't really "install" anything -- just plug it in and it's ready to use. There is not even an installation CD because all the included software loads automatically from the hard drive the first time you plug it in. For cream-of-the-crop, high-speed performance, use My Book Premium's FireWire 400 interface. However, if FireWire 400 isn't convenient, Western Digital has you covered -- the My Book Premium hard drive is also compatible with USB 2.0 connectivity. Best of all, you don't have to choose between one or the other because both interfaces are built into every drive. Western Digital provides software (WD Backup) that makes backing up your data as easy as possible. With a few simple steps you can back up all your data files, or just save your picture and music files. You can also schedule routine backups so you don't have to worry about it ever again. Built for ease of use, this drive is equipped with a capacity gauge that shows how much space is left on your drive. The My Book Premium also includes intelligent drive management features. For example, the drive turns itself on and off with your computer, and Safe Shutdown prevents the drive from being powered down until all your data has been written. But that's not all. Western Digital uses a smart design to make the My Book Premium look as good as it performs. The elegant case resembles a book and takes up very little space on your desk. Plus, it stacks horizontally and allows two or more drives to nestle neatly together like encyclopedias on a shelf. Inside the stylish exterior is an exceptionally fast, ultra-quiet, cool-running hard drive. Last but not least, the My Book Premium is equipped with free Google software that searches your drives, manages your photos, and simplifies Web searches. My Book Premium Edition Hard Drives are ideal for: - High-speed backup of important documents and images
- Extra storage for your computer
- Automatic backups of your existing hard drive
- Archiving the music stored on your MP3 player
- Adding plenty of space for digital video capture and editing
- Saving and organizing your digital photo collection
Note: For basic, less expensive storage option without automatic backup software, consider the My Book Essential Edition 500 GB Hard Drive. What's in the Box My Book Premium 500 GB USB 2.0/FireWire external hard drive, USB cable, FireWire cable (six-pin to six-pin), AC adapter with power cord, and quick install guide.
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