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| Western Digital My Passport Essential 160GB USB Portable Hard Drive | 
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| Category: CE
Buy New: £39.00
New (20) from £39.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 50
Media: Electronics
Fragile: No
Batteries Included: No
Hard Drive Size: 160
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 3.2 x 5.1 x 0.6
Model: WDXME1600TE
UPC: 718037729558
EAN: 0718037729558
Release Date: February 13, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 WD My Passport 160GB on Asus F3Jc and RM destop PC September 25, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This product does exactly what it says on the tin.
The drive can be used with or without the encryption/synchronisation software. The software is easy to use and offers 128bit encryption of the backed up data. Thankfully, it is not bloated with un-necessary features and looks pretty much like MS Windows Explorer, giving you access to the backed up drives/folders as if you were accessing them on the master PC. It also will backup and give access to your outlook file system and calendar and to your favourite browser's bookmarks/favourites.
It truly is a plug and play solution for those who need to carry their sensitive (or not) data with them. So, if you are a teacher/lecturer and need to roam from one PC to another, or if you want to avoid having to carry a laptop to and from work, this drive is a good investment and solution for you.
Unlike another reviewer, I find it refreshing that the cable provided is shorter (45cm) than those usually provided with portable USB devices. This prevents unnecessary clutter when one uses the front USB ports found nowadays on desktop PCs. I use the drive on a desktop PC (main) and on a laptop PC (ASUS F3Jc).
I am happy with it and I have just recommended the same drive to a colleague (who also works in academia). I think the product is well thought, simple to use and, having used WD hard drives in the past, I do not anticipate problems (I am not planning on dropping the drive to see what happens to it either).
I can only recommend the drive.
Good things come in small shiny packages! July 18, 2008
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
Well, I've been using this for 4 weeks now and I love it. I have the bigger external Western Digital MyBook 250GB, and it's been so reliable for the past eighteen months that I decided to stick with the same brand for my first portable hard drive.
After wrestling with the user-unfriendly blister pack, I plugged it in, deleted all the software on it, and immediately dragged over and backed up 20GB of music. It was that simple, an absolute breeze. As I use it primarily at home as a backup for its big brother, I didn't bother to buy an expensive case for it. When I need to take it out, I just use a spare padded camera pouch which protects it from bumps and key scratches!
So far, I'm really pleased with it, and I love the convenience of being able to take all my music and photos out and about with me.
PROS:
* Fast file transfers, considering it's a usb-powered portable drive.
* Simple enough for anyone to use. Just drag and drop.
* Completely silent when in use.
* Looks beautiful. Tiny and shiny. What more could you want??
* Uses a standard mini USB connection, so the cable is easy to replace.
CONS:
* Total fingerprint magnet. Smudges if you so much as look at it.
* Cable could have been a little longer, but that's nit picking.
Reliable and well-priced June 30, 2008
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
I have 2 WD drives: one 500GB for home use/backup and one 160GB for on the road.
Both are simple to use and reliable; I would recommend WD to you if you are looking for a straightforward Windows or Mac storage device.
Incidentally, don't bother with the free/bundled software tools; they offer very little benefit or functionality.
Just plug in and go...
 Excellant, but dont drop it !!!! June 7, 2008
11 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is a perfectly good Hard drive.
The problem is that it s not shock proof.
My young son got his hands on it, it fell a short height and thats the end of the end of that.
If you want a portable hard drive, buy one thats shock proof.
Effortless. April 23, 2008
34 out of 35 found this review helpful
I had read a lot about Western Digital Passport drives not getting enough power from certain laptops. I checked my USB 2.0 connections in 'Hardware' in 'system information' and was informed that all 4 were rated at 500mA (Dell Latitude D630) so I did wonder if I would have problems with this unit.
However, there were no problems at all. Having got the packaging off with an angle grinder and an industrial laser (and a small first aid kit)** I simply plugged the Passport into a spare USB 2.0 and it started up immediately and was recognised by the system. (XP Pro) I formatted and named it in order to get rid of any dubious (and usually ineffective) software/adware etc that manufacturers provide, and fired up my Acronis True Image 10 software. Fifteen minutes later I had a complete bootable clone of my entire C drive. Job done.
I tested by booting from it and there were no problems. System is a bit slow when everything is running through USB 2.0 (to be expected) but re-assuring to know that if my Laptop's internal HD died then I could get a new one installed and boot from the Passport to load everything back without a rebuild.
Maybe the underpowered issue is one that has been addressed with this generation of Passport. Maybe the people who had problems were trying to drive the Passport from USB 2.0 whilst their laptop was running from battery rather than the laptop mains adaptor. Maybe Dell are a bit 'conservative' in the rating of 500mA. I don't know but it all worked fine. Nice, elegant, compact, quiet and suprisingly quick.
Good luck with yours.
**I wish manufacturers would use something other than impenetrable plastic 'bubble' packaging. What is wrong with using a recyclable card box?
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