 Be very careful and make sure this drive's features are what you want. |
| Review Date: December 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jerry Saperstein, Evanston, IL USA |
I have been using Western Digital My Passport model drives for a few years now in my work and have more than a dozen in a various capacities. Until now, there has been nothing unique about these drives. Plug them into USB port and you're ready to go. Some older laptop computers might not have enough power for them, but that means nothing more than using a special cable that plugs into two USB ports instead of one. The My Passport units have always come with some kind of backup software, which I have never used because I have preferred backup solutions. So I would simply get a new drive, reformat it and be ready to go.
This unit with its WD SmartWare solution is different: very different. Different enough to ruin the day for many people who find that they have something they don't want - an automatic backup system. Thus, this unit must be reviewed from two very different perspectives. One as a standalone backup system - and the other as a standalone external drive.
Essentially (pun intended), Western Digital blew it on this product line. I guess some MBAs decided that people wanted a plug-n-play backup system. Maybe some people do. But they sure don't make it clear on the box that when you plug this puppy in, it is very insistent on installing its backup software. And there is as virtual CD that pops up and pops up and pops up and pops up: you seemingly can't get rid of it.
As delivered - unless you want a simple backup system - this My Passport model is bad news. Western Digital got the message after the marketplace blasted it with reviews running from bad to awful. They finally introduced some software that would update the firmware and suppress the virtual CD function.
So now if you're willing to take the time to download and run the firmware updater and the software manager, in about thirty minutes or so, you'll have what you might have been looking for in the first place - an external hard drive without any bells and whistles.
Western Digital did this one wrong. The advertising and the outside of the box should make it absolutely crystal clear that this is intended as a standalone backup system that can be converted to an ordinary external hard drive.
As a backup system for people who don't want to learn anything about backing up hard drives, it isn't bad. It is simple to use, configurable for default operation and even provides for whole drive encryption. However, it is not a system experienced users will like. It is inflexible and it is WD's backup way or no way. It is, effectively, backup for dummies - and the unsophisticated will probably appreciate it simplicity.
A lot of people, however, are going to buy this unit without reading the current descriptions or the notice of a firmware updater from Western Digital and are going to be very aggravated as they try to get rid of the virtual CD and defeat the backup software.
Physically, the unit is smaller than previous My Passport units, which is nice. I am told it is because the external micro-USB connector is soldered directly to the drive, which makes the drive unusable for any other purpose, which is not so nice. Also, Western Digital has opted to use a micro-USB connector instead of the more common mini-USB. This means you must remember to carry the micro-USB cable with you and not confuse it with the more common mini-USB cable. For someone like me who may carry several small form external hard drives around on field assignments, this is as showstopper. Try finding a USB cable with a micro-USB connector in the field. Until all small from factor external hard drives use micro-ISB cables, this unit will be staying out of my travel kit. In their quest to be brilliant and different, the MBAs at Western Digital also put the USB symbol on what amounts to the wrong side of the USB connector. Western Digital would be well advised to do some housecleaning of its personnel: the people who designed this product line don't know which way is up. Literally.
So, the bottom line(s). For someone seeking a simple backup solution, this is a pretty good idea. For someone who just wants an external hard drive, it works, but only after you remove the backup features. The design is nice, but don't forget to keep an eye on that micro-USB cable. (Many Amazon reviewers have complained of the micro-USB end of the cable being loose. On my review unit, the connection was very firm.) The hard drive itself is a Western Digital product and I have been pleased with them over the hundreds of drives I use in my work.
If you're looking for just an external hard drive, don't buy this unit unless you don't mind getting rid of the backup features: get one without the WD SmartWare features. If you're looking for a very simple backup system that doesn't require you to learn anything, this unit works well.
Jerry
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Don't Panic! You can disable the SmartWare...
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| Review Date: October 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Freber, Westfield, NJ United States |
When I first purchased this device and plugged it in, I was horrified to see that the embedded Smartware software not only forced you to use it to back up your files, but you have no ability to actually see what it's backing up beyond major categories (music, video, 'other'). This would be great for my parents in their 70's or anyone with little computer savvy, but is completely unacceptable to someone like me who wants to SEE what EXACTLY is being backed up and be able to choose what to keep. You can't even manually move files like on any other normal storage device.
It seems that Western Digital is listening - if you type 'smartware' in the 'Knowledge base' tool found here:[...] There is an FAQ that states "How to disable and re-enable a WD My Book (+ WD SmartWare) Virtual CD in Windows or Mac"
I tried it and it works - I can now use my new little hard drive as usual and the virtual cd software does not reappear. Yes, a pain in the butt but WD also states that in the future there will be a tool to remove the software for those who do not want it.
Long story short, I think the Smartware software might be great for the right user, but not for me. I was 10 seconds from returning this drive before I found the ability to disable the thing. As far as the cable (what other people have complained about regarding this drive) - it's no biggie to me. |
update makes all the difference
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| Review Date: January 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Bradley P. Barnett, |
| Just bought this drive. The update that lets you get rid of the built in software should gain this drive back its demerits from all the other reviews. The only still haggle point is the drive cable but I think it is a bit ridiculous. I am very happy with the drive and cant beat the price. Good 100 to 50 cheaper than its predecessor for the same drive space. |
Petite, Works With Mac, Cord Could Be Sturdier
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| Review Date: September 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ms_Ladi, |
First as the title states, with a little reformatting, you can use this with your Apple Mac computer. A bit of searching on the web or forums will easily explain how to do this within a few minutes of your time. If you so choose, you can use this with Time Machine. I don't even use the included software, no need.
I purchased three of these drives: (Midnight Black), (Real Red), and Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBAAA5000ASL-NESN (Cool Silver). All 500GB versions for use of backing up my Macbook Pro 15" (Sep 2009).
I had a previous version that was 320GB Western Digital My Passport Essential 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive WDME3200TN (Midnight Black) which worked fine for me as a bootable back up drive--and came in handy when my hard drive crashed. I had no qualms about purchasing these.
Looks: Awesome. Small, nice and shiny, but not too quick to attract fingerprints. The new curved design makes it look even more compact. Makes you wonder how 500gb got in there! Bright light shows activity and give intermittent blinks based on various activities. The black is a shinier black than the previous Passport version and the red/black is not like the red you see on the product page. The product page gives it a look of a shimmer red, but it's candy apple/nail polish red. I would have rather gotten the red seen on the page (and the box also). The silver is a dull silver. Nice and smooth!
The light on the red hard drive shines through the drive, so you can see through it. Makes it look like there might be something "missing" in the drive, but as of now there is nothing wrong. It's not that way with the black one, so it's either the paint or maybe something *is* missing (oye).
I also wish these would have come in a 7200RPM version. I don't know enough about portable hard drives to know if this is doable.
The last thing is the cord on the hard drive that plugs into the actual drive. In a matter of two hours, just normal shifting of my computer has caused the cord to come loose from the drive (and stop transfers of files). This is just a normal shift, not a knock, nudge or anything serious, so it's a bit more fragile than the previous drive. This is my black one, it hasn't happened on the red or silver one, so it may just be a dud on that area. Not bad enough to make me return it, but enough for me to know I should definitely pay attention.
Otherwise, another win for Western Digital. Don't worry about overpaying for the Mac version if you don't need to, just get the PC version now and reformat for Mac...(or use your PC).
I'd like to comment on the software that pops up on the mac drive when you mount your hard drive. What I do is right click and "remove from desktop" and it doesn't show anymore when I plug in my hard drives. Maybe it's still there "virtually", but at least I don't have to keep ejecting it when it pops up. It was a slightly annoying feature at first, but then again so is the Time Machine icon that keeps popping up every time I plug in an external hard drive. I hope this is helpful to some users.
I use this with my Apple MacBook Pro 15.4-Inch, 2.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drive. It's not sold on Amazon, but the link should give an idea. |
New bad product from a good company (updated 07/18/10)
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| Review Date: December 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: DiscoverYellow, SU Syracuse, NY |
I was a WD most loyal fan for over 5 years (I have WD inside and out my PCs). Got the new SE version and am very disappointed:
-- The new USB connector is so loose you can't touch or move the drive or you get the "Windows delayed write failed" error. This was never the case with the old mini USB plugs. What a poor new engineering.
-- WD SmartWare is too simple, in comparison with older WD Anywhere Backup (by Memeo). The SmartWare is so dumb-simple that you can't choose what folder to backup. Your choices are only a few types of files. On top of that if you have an older WD drive (e.g. MyBook) then you have to run both the SmartWare and Anywhere Backup, because the SmartWare will not pick up your older drive, and the Anywhere Backup will not do the encryption on your new drive.
-- The shiny plastic is so poor quality; it scratches right away and has finger prints all over it.
Update, December 10, 2009:
Being tired of the connection problem I have called up WD and without much hassle requested an RMA. (A return: WD had sent me a new drive, and after moving my data to this new drive, I send my old one back to them. I only pay one way shipping back to WD.)
Now, folks, the issue had been RESOLVED, and here is how:
While the new My Passport drive is just like my old one, the CABLE is UPDATED. This new cable has a better micro USB plug (the end that goes into drive), and the cable itself is somewhat more flexible.
I will post the pictures of the new cable connectors. You can also look at the cable itself and read what is says on it. Look for the marking of temperature in Celsius degrees (circle and a letter "C"). The old cable has 80*C, while the new updated cable 60*C.
NOTE: this might not necessary hold true for everyone, but in my case this is the visual difference along with the updated mini USB plug.
Hope it helps, to restore your trust in this product and identify if you need a better cable from WD.
Also if you have the old Memeo software, then keep it and just DO NOT install the SmartWare. If you only install the virtual CD drive, then you can use the encryption feature, and use Memeo for backup.
I gave this product 4* now instead of initial 1*.
Yes, you are welcome :)
P.s. New cable part number: 4064-705074-000
Old cable p/n: 4064-705045-000
The number is located on the back of the "USB 2.0" sticker on the cable.
Update July 18, 2010:
I have unfortunately lost the USB cable on a trip abroad and could barely find a replacement. It was with mere luck that after half a day of shopping I came across a well fitting cable from Nokia (CA-101). Generic ones for random cell phones would fall out after being plugged in. |
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