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 Location:  Home » Desktop Cases » Hard Drives » Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive WDME5000TN (Midnight Black)January 6, 2009  
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Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive WDME5000TN (Midnight Black)
List Price: $174.99
Buy New: $112.49
You Save: $62.50 (36%)
Buy New/Used from $112.49

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(based on 19 reviews)
Sales Rank: 57
Category: CE

Publisher: Western Digital
Studio: Western Digital
Brand: Western Digital
Label: Western Digital
Format: Cd
Language: English (Original Language)
Platforms: Macintosh, Windows
Color: Midnight Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: 0
Memorabilia: 0
Hard Drive Size: 500
Special Features: nv:Capacity (GB)^500|Interface^USB 2.0
Size: 500 GB
Warranty: 3 years warranty
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 7 x 6 x 2

MPN: WDME5000TN
Model: WDME5000TN
UPC: 718037735092
EAN: 0890552607884
ASIN: B001F9LY14

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:
  • Box Contents - My Passport Essential 500GB Portable USB Hard Drive, USB 2.0 cable, Quick Install guide
  • 500GB Hard Drive Capacity
  • Installation is a snap because you don't really install this drive; you just plug it in and it's ready to use. There is no CD to install; the included software loads from the drive the first time you plug it in
  • Powered by the USB bus. No separate power supply is needed
  • This ultra-portable drive fits easily in your pocket or purse, weighs only a few ounces, and holds tons of valuable data

Accessories:

  • Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
  • Quicken Deluxe 2009
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard
  • Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
  • Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
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. Pack up your office files and take them home. Carry thousands of songs or pictures. Synchronize files between home and office and encrypt everything on the drive for added security. WD Sync synchronization and encryption software lets you take your critical data with you. Plug My Passport into any PC, edit files, read e-mail, and view photos. Then sync all of your changes back to your home or office computer. Your data is protected with 128-bit encryption (Windows only). Perfect for the business traveler who needs to transfer large amounts of data from laptop to clients or just daily backups in case of accidents from mishandled luggage to coffee spills. Also comes in handy if you're worried about laptop theft and someone else having access to your important data, you can store it on this portable encrypted drive instead. For all those precious pictures, videos, music and data files, this external hard drive is a must have. WD Sync synchronization and encryption software lets you save your critical data and take it with you. Plug your drive into any PC, edit files, read e-mail, and view photos. Then sync all of your changes back to your home or office computer (Windows only) Search your drive, manage your photos, and simplify Web searches with included Google software (Windows only) Up to 480Mb/sec Bus Transfer Rate with USB 2.0 System Requirements - Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X (10.1.5 or later), Available USB port Approximate Unit Dimensions - 0.59 (H) x 4.96 (L) x 3.14 (W) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.23lb


Customer Reviews:   Read 14 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Good size, memory for a long time...   January 6, 2009
I already had bought a WD HD (120 GB). Then, I decided to buy one with more memory (500GB). It's excelent!


4 out of 5 stars reliable, easy to use, but why such bright light?   December 29, 2008
Not much to add to what's been said here. I use one of these daily for Time Machine backups on OS X, and I keep a clone of my laptop's drive on a second WD Passport drive, stored offsite in case of a fire or theft. They've performed perfectly, if a little slowly.

My one gripe about these things: the LED status light is easily as bright as a pocket flashlight. In a darkened room, it's totally obnoxious. I don't know why electronics manufacturers think it's necessary to use the brightest LED available for a little indicator light. This one's pretty easy to solve: just cut out a tiny piece of electrical tape and place it over the status light. It's bright enough that you will STILL be able to see it through the tape, but at least it won't light up your whole bedroom every time your computer backs itself up.



1 out of 5 stars LASTED FIVE (5) DAYS!!!!   December 24, 2008
  5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This absolute worthless piece of junk lasted for five days of mild use and I lost 500 gbs of photos. This is the 2nd Passport that I have problems with. Stick to a Lacie Rugged, Much better product. Oh yeah and DO NOT PURCHASE FROM "INFINITE SURPLUS" !!! They refused to take it back and asked me to go thru Western Digital directly even though it's only been 5 days. Scumbags. Stick to a decent company with a decent return policy.


5 out of 5 stars Best Mobile Storage Around!   December 23, 2008
I have owned several Western Digital Passport drives and a few other mobile drive brands. This drive is great for backups, as you can hook it up fast without a power supply and store it anywhere. Put it in your briefcase, put it in your safe, take it with you anywhere and keep a copy of your data. It is almost pocket-size and the only thing you have to keep with you is a USB cable. Some people consider the short cable that's included to be too short, but it's mobile! Plus, the more recent models of Passport drives (this one included) has a cable that is a bit longer.

Some owners have commented on needing a power adapter or extra usb cable for it, but I've never had that issue and I have owned probably ten of the Passports over the last couple of years. I've used it on multiple desktops and multiple laptops with no issues at all, but you'll have to try it on your own system. You likely will not have an issue on newer systems.

The surface of the Passports can be easy to scratch if you throw it around or keep it in your bag with other items. That would be my only complaint, but it doesn't really bother me.

All WD Passports that I've owned, including this one, have stood up very well. I've never had a drive failure, the transfer speed is always quick, and the case is very sturdy. I have these drives everywhere, because of their mobility and performance. You can't beat them!

The speed is very responsive. I've used it on an XP and Vista machine and both have copied data to it fairly quick. I haven't performed tests on it, but it always gets the job done for me. The 500GB version is a great upgrade on the previous Passport models.

Also, I usually reformat the Passport drives when I first get them. The file system is FAT32 and I usually prefer NFTS due to file size restrictions. But if you do not store huge files on your drive, you won't have a problem and the Passport will be ready to use right out of the box!

Check back often for pricing. Amazon and other retailers change the prices of the WD Passport drives all the time!



5 out of 5 stars Great little drive.   December 22, 2008
This was the third passport drive I have purchased, The others had lower capacity. All have worked flawlessly. I have yet to find a better way to move large amounts of data physically (I keep one in a safe deposit box). No power supply needed except for the USB connection. I have no experience with the included backup software.

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