WD My Passport Portable USB Drive Now Puts Half a Terabyte in the Palm of Your Hand

[malware]

Catering to consumers on-the-go with the world's most popular portable storage offerings, WD today introduced its new 500 GB capacity My Passport Portable USB Drives which are designed to make it easy to store a half a terabyte of music, videos or photos and carry them in the palm of your hand. Available now at WD's online store, the new 500 GB capacity is offered on the My Passport Elite and My Passport Essential portable drive models.




A recent consumer study conducted by WD of 1,559 external hard drive users revealed that 54 percent of survey respondents wished that there was an automatic way to back up their computer without having to think about it. My Passport Elite portable drives are equipped with software to automatically back up consumers' ever-growing collection of personal media and digital files.

Weighing in at less than 7 ounces and designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use, the new 500 GB My Passport portable drives are small enough to fit in a pocket or backpack for easy portability. My Passport users benefit from WD's leadership in hard drive manufacturing. WD has the in-depth expertise to build enclosures that are designed to protect users' data.

"In our mobile society, there is an increasing desire to have your data collection at your finger tips at all times," said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD's branded products and consumer electronics groups. "The new My Passport 500 GB portable drives provide the convenience of a compact USB-powered drive with the high capacity previously only available in larger desktop drives."

WD's My Passport Portable USB Drives with 500 GB capacity are available now WD's online store (www.shopwd.com). MSRP for the My Passport family of portable drives with 400 GB and 500 GB capacities ranges from $179.99 USD to $219.99 USD depending on model. The My Passport Elite and My Passport Essential portable drives are offered in the following capacities: 160 GB, 250 GB, 320 GB, 400 GB and 500 GB.

Product information and photos of the entire family of My Passport portable drives are available on the company's Web site at http://www.wdc.com/en/products/index.asp?cat=9.

Unique features of the My Passport Elite and My Passport Essential portable drives include: USB-bus powered, which eliminates the need for an external power adapter1; synchronization software that lets users sync their changes and protect their information with 128-bit encryption; plug-and-play capability with gaming consoles 2; to make it easy to play music and view photos and video files on a TV. My Passport Essential portable drives are available in 11 fashionable colors.

Additional features of the My Passport Elite portable drives include:

• Capacity gauge that enables users to know at-a-glance how much space is available;
• Powerful automatic backup software lets users designate files and folders for automatic and continuous backup;
• Retrieve forgotten files from the road from any MioNet-enabled PC (compatible with Windows® only) and copy them to My Passport portable drive using the unique MioNet Key software;
• Available now in four elegant, soft-touch colors: bronze, titanium, westminster blue and cherry red; and,
• Industry-leading 5-year limited warranty.

Source: WesternDigital

[mdm-adph]

Man, storage space is so cheap and small these days. If you would've told me 15 years ago that I'd be able to hold half a terabyte in the palm of my hand one day, I would've slapped you in the face with my fist and told you to stop dreaming.

[KBD]

too bad these dont support both USB and e-SATA, not many WD drives do.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by KBD

too bad these dont support both USB and e-SATA, not many WD drives do.

E-sata is the way now, USB 3.0 will be the way soon.

I love my e-sata drives.

[KBD]

I totally agree and this is why i want e-SATA, USB is needed also since its so common and not everyone has e-SATA. I just wish they added it to the Passport series drives.

[cdawall]

why is this news simpletech has had a 500GB on shelves for a month now

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by cdawall

why is this news simpletech has had a 500GB on shelves for a month now

its news because WD has made it so. The drive also has a 'one touch' backup feature.

Its not exciting, but it is news.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by Mussels

its news because WD has made it so. The drive also has a 'one touch' backup feature.

Its not exciting, but it is news.

pssht still no big deal i talked with the seagate/maxtor dealers we are getting 1TB 2.5in drives by christmas

oh and samsung is buying sandisk which means cheap SSD and hybrid drives

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by cdawall

pssht still no big deal i talked with the seagate/maxtor dealers we are getting 1TB 2.5in drives by christmas

oh and samsung is buying sandisk which means cheap SSD and hybrid drives

o rly?!?!?!?!?

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by Mussels

o rly?!?!?!?!?

yep

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by cdawall

why is this news simpletech has had a 500GB on shelves for a month now

Because this isn't news, it's a press release.

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Because this isn't news, it's a press release.

stupid WD what a waste of a press release lol put out a 750GB and i will look foreward to the press release but boasting about a drive thats 2 months old?