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SKU:
MCE88-DHWDBAAA5000ARD
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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
Description
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. WD SmartWare - 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 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, and more from the WD SmartWare control center. Drive lock - Gain peace of mind knowing that your data is protected from unauthorized access or theft with password protection and military-grade 256-bit hardware-based encryption. Ready to plug-and-play with Windows PCs - if you’re a Mac user, check out our Mac version of this product. USB 2.0 powered - 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 that uses recycled material and minimizes waste. We encourage you to recycle it.
Average Customer Review: ( 364 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
295 of 301 found the following review helpful:
Be very careful and make sure this drive's features are what you want. Dec 23, 2009
By Jerry Saperstein 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
160 of 170 found the following review helpful:
Not a proprietary cable Oct 01, 2009
By skimetron Contrary to what many other reviewers are saying, the USB interface on this drive is not proprietary. It's the new (about 2 years old) Micro USB interface which we'll see on many new electronic products.
My Samsung cell phone has it and it's used on some bluetooth headset chargers. The advantage is it allows a slimmer product and is supposed to provide a more secure connection. But WD should disclose that they've switched to this new cable.
** Update ** After trying out this drive I decided not to buy it (and bought a Toshiba drive instead). The micro USB connector worked fine and was secure. Perhaps WD fixed this. The drive itself is a marvel -- tiny and very light.
But that Virtual CD and the software is a showstopper. What was WD thinking? They listened to the complaints and now have downloads on their website to disable it. But the 700 MB software can't be deleted from the drive.
Experienced users already have a backup solution and don't need this software. Less technical users (like the one whose drive I tried out) are completely confused by the virtual CD dialog box always popping up when plugging in the drive and don't know how to disable it (a complicated process requiring first updating the drive firmware then updating the software).
Amazon now allows me to change my stars rating, so I'm decreasing it from 4 stars to 3 stars. WD has needlessly complicated their very good drives. Instead I bought a Toshiba, a very good USB drive with none of the WD problems. For more details, see my review on this drive.
178 of 197 found the following review helpful:
Pretty, but dumb. Oct 02, 2009
By K. Knudsen This is simple. Don't even think about buying this drive. I bought this just before the other reviews were posted. They are correct. My bad.
1. The cable is horrible. It disconnects and/or pulls out easily. They previous models with the standard USB cable were perfect. These are the opposite of perfect.
2. Even worse is the process to "install" the disk drive EVERY time you plug it in. I reformatted the disk to wipe everything from it, hoping that it would turn into a standard USB external disk drive. No luck.
Since I had other WD Passport drives (previous model) that were all excellent, I didn't give this much thought. I just bought it. I even tossed packaging away, being so sure it would be fine. Now we will see if Amazon will take this back with no packaging...
If you want the poster child for how to "update" a very good product into something that is virtually unusable, this would be it.
49 of 52 found the following review helpful:
Drive includes hidden, unremovable bloatware Nov 24, 2009
By Aaron Merriman PROS:
- Very small footprint
- Extremely lightweight
- Beautiful finish
CONS:
- Glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet (a questionable design decision for something users will handle frequently)
- Fragile USB connector breaks connection at the slightest touch
- Hardware-hidden, unremovable partition containing SES software
DETAILS:
A tiny portion of the drive's usable space has been set aside for the onboard backup and encryption software (SES). Wouldn't be a problem if we could just wipe out this partition, but it's hidden via the drive's firmware, therefore inaccessible; it can never be removed or deleted.
Windows will detect this secret partition as a new virtual CD-ROM device every single time you plug in the drive, and pester you with the "Found New Hardware" wizard, unless you install the unwanted drivers (unforgivable just on principle, to say nothing of contributing another layer of useless drivers to the house of cards we call Windows).
Contrary to a previous reviewer's comments, removing the drive letter of the virtual CD-ROM drive does not eliminate the wizard pestering. (Windows doesn't care if the virtual device has a drive letter or not; it simply recognizes the new device each time the drive comes alive and doesn't know what to do with it, hence the nagging.)
A tolerable drive for grandma or the kids, but an abomination for the rest of us who know better. Mine's going back, hopefully to find new life as something more useful, like a hockey puck.
97 of 110 found the following review helpful:
Don't Panic! You can disable the SmartWare... Oct 26, 2009
By Freber 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.
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based on 364 reviews
Be very careful and make sure this drive's features are what you want. Dec 23, 2009
By Jerry Saperstein
Pretty, but dumb. Oct 02, 2009
By K. Knudsen
