Product Description

They're your photos... your music... your videos... your important files. Make extra room for them, back them up, and keep them safe on WD's My Book Premium. This reliable, easy-to-use external hard drive is the perfect storage solution for all your precious digital assets.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5833 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Western Digital
• Model: WDG1C5000N
• Dimensions: 4.80" h x 8.20" w x 11.60" l, 6.00 pounds
• Hard Disk: 500GB

Features

• Convenient dual interface (USB 2.0 and FireWire) offers maximum compatibility and speed
• 500 GB capacity, 7200 RPM, 16 MB Cache
• Capacity gauge shows you at a glance how much space is left on your drive
• Smart design takes up less space on your desk and stacks horizontally
• Intelligent drive management features ensure optimal operation

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 WDG1C5000 My Book Premium 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 Premium Edition Hard Drive. View larger.

Simple, easy-to-use design.

Hard drive features dual interface connectivity (FireWire 400 and USB 2.0). 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. For cream-of-the-crop, high-speed performance, use My Book Premium's FireWire 400 interface. However, if FireWire 400 isn't convenient, Western Digital has you covered -- the My Book Premium hard drive is also compatible with USB 2.0 connectivity. Best of all, you don't have to choose between one or the other because both interfaces are built into every drive.

Western Digital provides software (WD Backup) that makes backing up your data as easy as possible. With a few simple steps you can back up all your data files, or just save your picture and music files. You can also schedule routine backups so you don't have to worry about it ever again. Built for ease of use, this drive is equipped with a capacity gauge that shows how much space is left on your drive. The My Book Premium also includes intelligent drive management features. For example, the drive turns itself on and off with your computer, and Safe Shutdown prevents the drive from being powered down until all your data has been written.

But that's not all. Western Digital uses a smart design to make the My Book Premium 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 Premium is equipped with free Google software that searches your drives, manages your photos, and simplifies Web searches.

My Book Premium Edition Hard Drives are ideal for:

• High-speed backup of important documents and images
• Extra storage for your computer
• Automatic backups of your existing hard drive
• 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 basic, less expensive storage option without automatic backup software, consider the My Book Essential Edition 500 GB Hard Drive.

What's in the Box
My Book Premium 500 GB USB 2.0/FireWire external hard drive, USB cable, FireWire cable (six-pin to six-pin), AC adapter with power cord, and quick install guide.

From the manufacturer
They're your photos...your music...your videos...your important files. Make extra room for them, back them up, and keep them safe on WD's My Book Premium. This reliable, easy-to-use external hard drive is the perfect storage solution for all your precious digital assets.

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

Features

• Easy to set up, easy to use -- Installation is a snap because you don't really "install" this drive, you just plug it in and it's ready to use. There is no CD to install; the included software loads from the drive the first time you plug it in.
• Dual interface — For all-out, high-speed performance, FireWire 400 is the interface of choice. For convenience and compatibility among multiple computers, USB 2.0 is the way to go. How do you choose? With this drive, you don’t have to choose — you get both interfaces on the same drive.
• WD Backup software – We’ve provided software that makes backing up your data as easy as possible. With a few simples steps you can back up all your data files or just save your picture and music files. You can also set scheduled backups, so you don't have to think about it again.
• Capacity gauge — See at a glance how much space is left on your drive.
• Intelligent drive management features — The My Book drive turns itself on and off with your computer and Safe Shutdown prevents the drive from being powered down until all your data has been written.
• Smart design — The elegant case, iconic of a book, takes up less space on your desk, stacks horizontally, and allows two or more drives to stand neatly together like volumes on a shelf.
• High quality hard drive — Inside the case is an exceptionally fast, ultra quiet, cool-running hard drive from Western Digital.
• Free Google software — Search your drive, manage your photos, and simplify Web searches with included Google software.

Ideal For

• High-speed backup of important documents and images
• Extra storage for your computer
• Automatic backups of your existing hard drive
• 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

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Customer Reviews

this hard drive is a true POS
echoing other reviewers, the drive died unexpectedly - it was used infrequently for archival purposes, so by no means was it overstressed - i will now have to spend anywhere from $1K to $2K to recover the data - in "my book," western digital has soured their reputation for good - i will NEVER buy another WD hard drive again - i wish i could give this product a negative 5 stars

Extremely unreliable product
Our MyBook started failing - first symptom was being able to read, but not write. Then data became unaccessible. Now in researching the problem, I've discovered that MyBook hard drive failures within the first year of use are common. WD will replace it, but of course you've lost any data (unless you want to shell out the $1000-2000 for a data recovery service). Stay a long ways away from them.

Oh yeah, another thing. Apparently updating the firmware can render the MyBook permanently inoperable.

Intrinsic hardware issues.
There have been many complaints of this drive. I am not the only one that has experienced it "simply stop working." Do not buy this drive because it will break down on you for no known reason.