High-performance portable storage for your Mac and PC. Light and rugged, it is easy to carry and no external power adapter is needed. Comes with sync encryption and Google software.
Product Details
Product Length:
5.1 inches
Product Width:
3.14 inches
Product Height:
0.6 inches
Product Weight:
0.23 pounds
Package Length:
7.4 inches
Package Width:
5.3 inches
Package Height:
1.8 inches
Package Weight:
0.55 pounds
Average Customer Rating:
based on 223 reviews
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 223 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
152 of 155 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Price in a Compact Package Apr 21, 2007
By Eagle Vision This hard drive is worthy of consideration given its compact size, capacity and ease of set up. I have 3 external hard drives, all of which need an AC adapter. Given that the weight of those are quite heavy and the inconvenience of needing a plug, I needed an alternative.
I attached the USB cable to the laptop and the drive, and that was it. Before saving any data, you might as well format it to NTFS, since FAT32 is the default (files greater than 4 GB minus 2 bytes won't transfer on FAT32)
Just right click with the new hard drive highlighted and click "Format" with NTFS selected and you're off to archiving your data. Even more importantly is the ability to back up data on the laptop and have some convenient method of restoring the information.
Powered through the USB cable, this convenient package eliminates the need for an additional power outlet. This is especially useful for the traveling user where all you may get is a plug for the laptop. This unit is quiet and I barely hear it which limits any distraction from the 'plug in units' that I own.
The case is about the size of a 30 GB video ipod with a glossy black finish. My only grip is the 8 inch cable that accompanies it but it is hardly a showstopper.
Your other brand considerations are the Smart disk Firelite which is the pioneer of the portable high capacity HDs and the Seagate double USB corded hard drives.
Wolverine Data Portable Series 120GB External Hard Drive USB 2.0 ( 2120 )
SmartDisk FireLite - Hard drive - 100 GB - external - Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB -
For cost, capacity, styling and size, this one has absolutely NO comparison.
Any case that can hold a Nintendo DS will hold this drive. Here are some examples: Nintendo DS Lite Carrying Case
Nintendo DS Lite Ultimate Leather Case
Two thumbs up.
82 of 83 found the following review helpful:
No Power Booster Cable Jul 09, 2007
By Michael D. Turner This is a very good drive but be aware that it does not work with all USB ports - a lot of them will not supply enough power to run the drive so you will need the power booster cable WDCA029RNN which connects to 2 USB ports to get enough power to the drive. The pity is that WD do not include this as standard since quite a number people buying this item will actually need it to run the drive. Would have got 5 stars were it not for this.[[Western Digital 160 GB USB 2.0 Passport 2.5" External Hard Drive ( WDXMS1600TN )
78 of 81 found the following review helpful:
Many Laptops won't provide enough USB power May 27, 2007
By electriccafe I needed to move my data from a Dell Inspiron 8500 (a large laptop) but when I plugged the drive in I got 'USB Power Overload' messages and the drive wouldn't power up. Tried it in a few other models of Dell laptops in the office and got a 50% success rate.. only some laptops had enough power to drive this thing.
I ended up spending another $20 on an AC powered USB hub to get it working. The extra gear makes this drive much less portable. Otherwise it works fine, and no problems when used with a desktop machine.
36 of 37 found the following review helpful:
Uses more power than the USB spec requires--so it doesn't work Jul 27, 2007
By Chris Luth I'd been eyeing this and some other portable drives here on Amazon for awhile and bought it from a brick-and-mortar store on a lark yesterday when I was in desperate need of some extra space.
I plugged it in and waited for the drive to appear on my PowerBook's desktop. Nothing. I checked Disk Utility and it didn't show as even an unmounted drive there, so I checked System Profiler and it didn't even register as anything connected by USB, which was strange, I thought, because the light on the device was pulsating.
A bit of Internet research and I've figured out the problem: the USB specifications only require each USB controller to put out 500mA, and this WD drive requires more than that (1000mA at spinup and 650mA continuous). Unfortunately, my PowerBook G4's (17") ports only put out the required 500mA, but you can't really fault Apple, since they're just following the standard.
This is a known issue, too. A Google search for "western digital passport not enough power" returns a half a million pages, and the top few dozen are all reviews from here and other stores as well as from professional reviewers that all mention the same problem. It would be nice if the USB standard were upgraded to support higher-power devices, but until that happens, WD should post a disclaimer on their product descriptions or at least, as one Web site poster said, should not put the USB logo on their products since they're out of compliance.
WD seems to say this is a "rare problem." Unfortunately, it appears that it is not as rare was WD might claim. It would be nice if they would include the USB Y cable they sell online (it allows you to draw power from two USB ports), although this is far from a perfect solution (tying up both of my USB ports is not nice, especially since I need one for the Logic Pro USB key fob).
Fortunately, that brick-and-mortar store's very liberal return policy will be working in my favor this afternoon.
One star for false advertising. If WD were clearer about their requirements (or better, included the Y cable), I'd consider upping the rating.
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
They offer a free solution for Mac Powerbooks, but it takes a week Jun 20, 2007
By M. Duncan As many have stated, many Mac PowerBook G4s and other laptops don't provide enough power through a single USB port to properly spin this drive.
Western Digital does have a FREE fix, which is a power booster cable that plugs into 2 USB ports and replaces the original USB cable... and they'll ship it to you free if you call them. As you might have guessed, this means you need two free USB ports in order to use the drive (which is very small and sleek - tres chic).
You cannot buy the power booster cable anywhere that I can find. To get the cable, call WD tech support AFTER you get your drive (you need the serial number to call them) at 800-275-4932. At the prompts press 2 and then 2 again. Be sure you have your serial number when you call.
Others have pointed out that you can use a powered USB hub, however, I encountered trouble in doing so, plus as they point out that means carrying an extra USB cable, the hub, and the power source. The free power booster cable from WD replaces the cable that came with the Passport and thus you only have to carry the drive and the one cable.
based on 223 reviews
Excellent Price in a Compact Package Apr 21, 2007
By Eagle Vision
Many Laptops won't provide enough USB power May 27, 2007
By electriccafe
Uses more power than the USB spec requires--so it doesn't work Jul 27, 2007
By Chris Luth
