Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive WDG1U5000

Product Description:
Small, simple, elegant, and very easy to use. Just plug this drive in, and you've got plenty of room to back up and save your valuable data, music, photos, and movies.

Amazon.com Product Description:
Is your computer loaded with photos, music, video, and all sorts of important files? If so, you should make extra room, back them up, and keep them safe on Western Digital's WDG1U5000 My Book Essential Edition 500 GB Hard Drive. This reliable, easy-to-use external hard drive is the perfect storage solution for all your precious digital assets.

Save and back up all your digital assets with the My Book Essential Edition Hard Drive. View larger.

Simple, easy-to-use design.

Connects to your computer via USB 2.0 interface. View larger.

The elegant case takes up very little space.

Installation is a breeze because you don't really "install" anything -- just plug it in and it's ready to use. There is not even an installation CD because all the included software loads automatically from the hard drive the first time you plug it in. The My Book Essential is all about simplicity. Just plug it into your computer's USB 2.0 port and you're ready to start saving and backing up your files.

But that's not all. Western Digital uses a smart design to make the My Book Essential look as good as it performs. The elegant case resembles a book and takes up very little space on your desk. Plus, it stacks horizontally and allows two or more drives to nestle neatly together like encyclopedias on a shelf. Inside the stylish exterior is an exceptionally fast, ultra-quiet, cool-running hard drive. Last but not least, the My Book Essential is equipped with free Google software that searches your drives, manages your photos, and simplifies Web searches.

My Book Essential Edition Hard Drives are ideal for:

• Simple add-on storage for your files, music, photos and movies
• Adding virtually unlimited storage with multiple USB 2.0 external hard drives
• Archiving the music stored on your MP3 player
• Adding plenty of space for digital video capture and editing
• Saving and organizing your digital photo collection

Note: For higher performance and automatic backup software, consider the My Book Premium Edition 500 GB Hard Drive.


What's in the Box
My Book Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 external hard drive, USB cable, AC adapter with power cord, and quick install guide.

Features:

• Store and back up your music, photos, videos and important documents with this external hard drive
• Easy to set up and use with built-in installation software
• Simple user interface features USB 2.0 connectivity
• Device holds up to 500 GB of data
• Measures 5.55 x 2.25 x 6.71 inches (WxHxD)

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Western Digital Products Crash Prone
Within one year of purchasing this product it crashed twice.The drive could not be read.Was able to reformat and drive seemed ok.One year later drive crashed again, but this time could hear the "click of death"and now the drive will not function at all.Will never buy Western Digital again, stick with Maxtor.Didn't purchase this drive from Amazon, but wanted to share problems since they seem to be a common occurrence with these drives.
Rating: - WD is crappola.
Mine was manufactured in Dec of 2006.And today it died.2 years and 6 months life.If you ask me thats pretty horrid.I got a quote of $400 minimum to recover my lost data.Don't know why I ever bought the dang thing...
P.S.~I know it died because its making the click-of-death noise.
Rating: - Takes a Lickin' and keeps on Tickin'
I am a DJ that also does a good deal of traveling from gig to gig and goodness, I don't know HOW many times my WD external drive has been banged around in my travel bag, dropped on hard floors, and suffered innumerable power surges/outages and the thing just hasn't DIED! (NOT Complaining!) I guess I just might be one of the lucky ones that has a tough little external drive.
Setting up the myBook is pretty intuitive, anyone that is moderately tech saavy won't have a problem figuring out how ... Read More
Rating: - Good Hard Drive Until it Died After 1 Year
I purchased this drive last year and used it to store my Time Machine backups.It was quiet and attractive looking and served the purpose well.However, it just broke down a mere 2 months out of warranty.Classic.The hard drive had an easy life too, so this is totally unacceptable to me.

When I told a friend of mine about the incident, he reported that he has had two of these break prematurely on him as well.
Rating: - Worked ok for 2 years, now I'm screwed.
I'm absolutely beside myself with anger.The one device I count on to maintain all my media dies exactly 2 years and 1 week after purchasing it. I now have no access to my music, movies, or pictures.

DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE!!