This exterrnal (and portable) hard drive is amazing!

Western Digital Series Passport Model WDXML800UETN


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Forget about the 5400 RPM specs. It is USB2.0 with a 2 meg cache.
I was curious why USA Today called it a great product.

I ordered this portable hard drive from Newegg.com. Got a great price ($128.99 USD) and decided to spend $39.99 for the 2 Year Service Net Replacement Plan. I rarely buy "extended warranties", yet I did in this case.
Money well spent. Like "renter's insurance for two extra years".

It came in one of those horrible plastic enclosures that is nearly impossible to open. LOL!
I formatted it to the NTFS file system, then went to WDC for the free WDSynchro software program.
It was so simple ... I chose different folders from different partitions to copy. Ok, that did take some time (80 minutes). I copied all my data, online software programs that I purchased (the installs), over 9300 MP3's (those MP3's took most of the time; over 36 GIGS), plus my current Acronis flash images.
Still, that time was worth it. The next time I plugged in my portable WD hard drive, it synched those folders that I chose and updated it so quickly (less than 10 seconds). Yowza!
I then decided to delete everything using *no* synchro software. Yes, it was quicker, as my WD portable hard drive was now "public". No encryption.
If I was a laptop user, I would certainly use the free WDSynchro software program. Just in case you lost it.

I am now debating to going back to the free WDSynchro software program. The *instant* synchronization is rather cool.

To sum it up, using the WDSynchro software program took some time encrypting all my files and folders, yet, after that it is all gold.
A great purchase for me. And it fits in my bank vault.

Pros:
Small, quiet, self powered

Cons:
1. Uses mini-B plug on device.
2. Cable is only 22" from tip to tip (only about 15" if you bend the connectors at right angles, which you almost always will).

Ehhh, just get it. You will soon forget about flash keys. I should have purchased two of them at that price.

They do have 120 GIG versions as well.

Bottom Line:

I give it two thumbs up. That is, unless you slice off a thumb trying to use a box-cutter to open that plastic enclosure from Hades.