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    2.5" External HDD WD Passports 500GB

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by just_geek, Mar 21, 2009.

  1. just_geek

    just_geek Notebook Guru

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    Been looking at these few WD passports external HDD 2.5" 500GB:
    My Passport Essential
    My Passport Elite
    My Passport Studio
    All look good so i can't make up my mind to bring which one home....no real budget and i need to carry it around and guess all are 5400rpm....
    which one should i get?helps....
     
    just_geek, Mar 21, 2009
    #1
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Look at the WDC website. Do you want/need the extra features that come with the higher end models (ie. FW for Studio, ext. capacity gauge for Elite, etc.)? They all have the same int. hard drive...
     
    sgogeta4, Mar 21, 2009
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  3. MobileGamer13

    MobileGamer13 Notebook Geek

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    Just remember, every HDD no matter internal/external, you will lose a lot of GBs. The bigger the HDD the more you will lose.

    For ex. I got the WD 500GB external you just mentioned. Its total usable volume was only 465GB. I also have an old 7200RPM 80GB with only 74GB usable.

    Anyway the WD 500GB external is nice, small, and imho best external hdd out there in terms of portability and style. GL with your decision.
     
    MobileGamer13, Mar 21, 2009
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  4. bigbulus

    bigbulus Notebook Consultant

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    Get the elite. It has the "soft touch finish", where it is resistant to finger print.
     
    bigbulus, Mar 21, 2009
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  5. just_geek

    just_geek Notebook Guru

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    i just need the USB,with the firewire seems expensive but is it worth?

    Thanks.....i didn't know that the bigger HDD the more it loses....i guess i will be bringing My Passport Essential home.....

    yeah....the elite its nice and cool....a bit too pricey....thanks....
     
    just_geek, Mar 22, 2009
    #5
  6. Reaper05

    Reaper05 Notebook Evangelist

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    do not trust i know 3 people whos drive that has died in 3-6 months. including me. i had no warning just up and died with read and write errors huge bad sector. just like the drop of a dime.they were all WD external drives. internal work great. better luck with 3.5" externals.
     
    Reaper05, Mar 22, 2009
    #6
  7. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    1. So far I've had no problems with my WD5000BEVT internal HDD. It;s approaching 2000 hours of operation.

    2. Another new HDD worth looking at the Hitachi Neso.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Mar 22, 2009
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  8. schoko

    schoko Custom User Title

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    ;) the ongoing problem of counting data...

    well, infact you don´t loose anything. it´s just your mathematical skills that are deceived by the counting of bytes in the computer world.

    probably all of you know that 8 bits are 1 byte. and you all know that 1024 bytes make 1 kilobyte. ( 1024 bytes = 1 kb => 1024 MB = 1GB ) therefore 1024 bytes * 1024(= MB ) * 1024( =GB ) * 465 = 499289948160 bytes, or simply 499,289 GB.

    "loosing" might not be the apropriate word for the gap between the 500GB the drives are branded as and the actual size the os is showing you.
    :rolleyes:
     
    schoko, Mar 22, 2009
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  9. just_geek

    just_geek Notebook Guru

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    the Hitachi one Looks good....
     
    just_geek, Mar 23, 2009
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  10. Thibault

    Thibault Banned

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    May I suggest the Seagate FreeAgent Go 500 GB.
    Got mine for 115$ (current price on Amazon). It's one of my two external hard drives and it's been working great.

    As for your original questions. It really all depends on what you need and what you will use this hard drive for?
    If you're just using this as external storage, the most basic model will do just fine. Transfer via the USB port won't be the fastest, but why would it matter in this case?
    As for additional software that come on these external hard drives, I hate them and always format my drives before I use them.
    It really all depends on what you want. They're basically all the same, with different options. If transfer speed is important, you might want to invest in one with something faster than just a USB connection.
     
    Thibault, Mar 23, 2009
    #10
  11. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    It sure does, anyone have any reviews of it ?
     
    wearetheborg, Mar 23, 2009
    #11