Your route to extra hard-drive space! (Western Digital Dual-Option Backup 160 GB)

Member Name: wwfc_barmy_army

Product:	Western Digital Dual-Option Backup 160 GB
Date:	07/08/05 (376 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great for backing up files, and can be moved anywhere

Disadvantages: Rather big, needs mains power, missing 5GB

I brought this external hard drive from dabs 3 weeks ago. Once i recieved it i just plugged it in (mains and USB port) and windows xp automatically installed it for me. I could then access the hard drive quickly and easily from 'My Computer'.

The file transfer rate is nice a quick, infact i don't noticed any difference between copying a file to some on my computer than copying a file to the external hard drive. I do suggest to anyone thinking of buying this to ensure they have a USB 2 port installed on their computer, as this is quicker than the older USB1 ports, if you've got a new-ish computer it's most likely you have a USB2 port but you can check which whoever provided you with you computer.

You are also able to install their software to do periodic updates, although i'm not going to bother with that.

The hard drive itself is a big large, can only just fit in the laptop case i have.

The drive comes pre-formatted, but only has 75GB worth of space after format. I believe this is down to the formatting type, you can re-format using tools in windows XP and you should get more space out of it.

There are other smaller hard drives out there, like another external Western Digital hard drive which is designed to go in your pocket (i think), but the 80GB version of that costs around £100, and the 40GB around £60, so i would rather get a larger 80GB then a smaller 40GB one :)

---Specs---
Device Type: Hard drive - external
Width: 15.4 cm
Depth: 21.9 cm
Height: 4.4 cm
Localisation: United Kingdom
Compatibility: PC, Mac
Capacity: 80 GB
Interface Type: Hi-Speed USB
Connector: 4 pin USB
Buffer Size: 2 MB
Interface Transfer Rate: 480 Mbps
Seek Time: 8.9 ms (average)
Track-to-Track Seek Time: 2 ms
Average Latency: 4.2 ms
Spindle Speed: 7200 rpm
Interfaces: 1 x Hi-Speed USB
Included Accessories: Vertical stand, feet for horizontal placement
Cables Included: 1 x USB cable - 1.8 m
Package Type: Retail
Power Device: Power adapter
Voltage Required: AC 110/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Software Included: EMC Dantz Retrospect Express Backup
OS Required: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP, Apple MacOS 9.2.2, Apple MacOS X 10.2.8 or later
Service & Support: 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 1 year
Min Operating Temperature: 0 °C
Max Operating Temperature: 40 °C

Overall it's a good external hard drive.

Summary: A good external hard drive even if you only get 75GB :)

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