Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)

Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)
by Western Digital

Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)
List Price: $99.99
Our Price: $94.99
You Save: $5.00 (5%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: CE
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Digital product summary information

Manufacturer: Western Digital
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: CD
Release Date: 2010-09-15
Model: WDBAAA5000ABK-NESN
Color: Midnight Black
Product features:
  • Automatic, continuous backup
  • Visual backup control center
  • Password protection and 256-bit encryption
  • USB 2.0 interface
  • Several colors to choose from including Black, Pacific Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver
Accessories:

Digital camera reviews of Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)

Digital camera Review: **** Excellent Portable HD, Just remove the SmartWare****
Summary: 4 Stars

Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Aside from the controversial WD back-up software "SmartWare" & the VCD that other reviewers raged about (which can be hidden if you so desire); this is a very good, reliable, easy to install and easy to use HD. Over the years, I have had a number of My Passport HD's of different sizes (from 60 to 750) all are running great with no problem at all; mostly used to back up music, pictures, and movies. This 500 GB is no different, it is very quiet, runs cool, and can fit in a shirt pocket. The reliability is the keyword.
The "SmartWare" is now included in other WD HD's, I recently got a 750 My Passport Essential with that software, and I personally think it is helpful if you schedule for auto backup on specific intervals and effortlessly retrieve the data when needed. However, this software and the virtual CD can be disabled if you so desire. One star off for making the removal of the SmartWare easier.
In short, I'd buy this HD again, and I would recommend it to my family and friends.

Summary of Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive (Midnight Black)

The world?s most popular portable drive is now smaller than ever. And it?s smarter than ever with WD SmartWare data management and backup software that backs up your data automatically and continuously, shows your backup as it happens, and restores lost files effortlessly. Password protection and military-grade, 256-bit hardware-based encryption lets you secure your data. One of the five beautiful colors is just what you need to make you look smart (and very stylish). WD?s smallest portable drive ever - WD is an expert in portable storage, so they designed a smaller, high-quality integrated USB hard drive inside a stylish package. With a variety of fun colors, there?s sure to be one to suit your style.

The world?s most popular portable drive is now smaller than ever. And it?s smarter than ever with automatic, continuous backup software and password protection. Choose your favorite fun color to look smart and stylish.

Our smallest portable ever.

We designed a smaller, high-quality, integrated USB hard drive inside a stylish package. With a variety of fun colors, there's sure to be one to suit your style.

See your life safe in one place.

WD SmartWare software - A visual control center with a single screen view of all your data. From it you can back up, retrieve, and secure your files.

Password protection.

An extra level of security with password protection and 256-bit hardware-based encryption.


Features at a glance
  • Automatic, continous backup
  • Visual backup control center
  • Hardware encryption, password protection
  • WD SmartWare software
  • 2-years limited warranty

Our smallest portable drive ever - We're experts in portable storage, so we designed a smaller, high-quality, integrated USB hard drive inside a stylish package. With a variety of fun colors, there's sure to be one to suit your style.

WD SmartWare? - A control center for your drive that gives you the power to:

-- Protect your data automatically - Relax, your data is secure. Automatic, continuous backup will instantly make a second copy whenever you add or change a file.

-- See your backup as it happens - Seeing is believing. Visual backup displays your content in categories and shows the progress of your backup.

-- Bring back lost files effortlessly - Retrieve your valuable data to its original location whether you?ve lost all your data or just overwritten an important file.

-- Take control - Customize your backup, set drive security, run diagnostics, manage the power settings, and more from the WD SmartWare control center.

Find out more about WD SmartWare?

Drive lock - Gain peace of mind knowing that your data is protected from unauthorized access or theft with password protection and 256-bit hardware-based encryption.

Ready to plug-and-play with Windows PC's - if you're a Mac user, check out our Mac version of this product.

USB 2.0 interface - Powered directly from the USB port on your PC. No separate power supply is needed*.
* An optional cable is available for the few computers that limit power from the USB port.

Planet friendly - We designed a small box from recycled materials to minimize waste. We encourage you to recycle it.

Ideal For

  • Protecting your data with automatic, continous backup
  • Retrieving lost data effortlessly
  • Adding extra storage space for photos, videos and music
  • Securing private or sensitive data

Compatibility

Formatted NTFS
Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows 7
Mac OS® X Tiger®, Leopard®, Snow Leopard? (requires reformatting)

Note: Compatibility may vary depending on user's hardware configuration and operating system.

What's in the box

Ultra-portable hard drive, WD SmartWare software, USB cable, Quick Install Guide.


Backup software you'll really use ? WD SmartWare

Five great reasons to love it:

1. It's easy - Data backup can be a chore, but it's your family photos, your movies, your music - your life - and it's important to protect it. So we made this software extra easy because we really want you to use it.

2. You can see your life safe in one place -
See your content displayed in easy to understand categories like movies and photos. Watch the progress of your backup as it happens with the instant-feedback color bars. Now you can truly be sure that all your stuff is backed up.

  • A unique visual interface lets you see the drives connected to your computer.
  • WD SmartWare will automatically scan your computer and find all of your personal files, including e-mail.
  • Content category gauges show how much information you have to be backed up in each category. You can even mouse over a category to see a file count.
  • Simply click Run Backup and WD SmartWare will automatically start backing up your files.
  • As your backup is running the category gauges will change color showing you the backup as it happens.
  • When finished, you?ll see a status screen and information about your backup. You only have to do this once. After the first backup your files will be backed up automatically every time you change or add a file.

3. It's always on the job - WD SmartWare is always watching your computer, so when you change a file and save it, create new files, add new pictures, movies, or songs, WD SmartWare will instantly back them up.

4. You can bring back lost files effortlessly - If you ever accidentally delete an important file, or need to get an earlier version of a file, you can find and retrieve it in seconds with this easy-to-use interface.

  • Restore files and folders by categories ? photos, music, video, for example.
  • Find a lost file with the search function.
  • Go back in time to retrieve an older version of a file.

5. You're in control - WD SmartWare software is also a control center for your external drives. From it you can:

  • Customize your backup
  • Set drive security
  • Run diagnostics
  • Manage the power settings, and more...

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