Product Description

The Seagate ST3500641CB 500GB External USB/FireWire Hard Drive has the advanced features and blazing performance you need, for better storage and memory performance. It's exceptionally easy to use and gives you better storage for your film, video and audio files - and even the latest memory-intensive games. DiscWizard software simplifies installation SATA connection Includes cable, disc utility CD, quick-installation guide and mounting screws Operating Systems - Windows 98SE, NT, Me, 2000 and XP

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19242 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Seagate
• Model: ST3500641CB-RK
• Dimensions: 2.65 pounds
• Memory: 16MB
• Hard Disk: 500GB

Features

• Push button operation and BounceBack Express software makes it fast and easy to back up data
• High-performance 7200 RPM drive with 16 MB cache and USB 2.0/FireWire combo interface
• On/off button eliminates concerns that your hard drive hasn't been shut down safely
• Built-in self-monitoring technology continuously checks your hard drive for data safety and drive performance
• Hot-swappable, so you can connect and disconnect without turning off your computer

From the Manufacturer
Fast, Versatile, High-Capacity Storage

This compact, durable drive is ideal for all your business and personal storage needs. You can easily protect and access everything from multimedia presentations and digital photos to MPEG video and DVDs.

• Back up with the touch of a button. Award-winning BounceBack Express software from CMS backs up faster and easier than any other method.
• High-performance 7200-RPM drive with 16 MB cache.
• On/off button eliminates concerns that your hard drive hasn't been shut down safely.
• Built-in self-monitoring technology continuously checks your hard drive for data safety and drive performance.
• Advanced software lets you quickly retrieve files.
• Designed to run much cooler than other external drives.
• Hot-swappable, so you can connect and disconnect without turning off your computer.
• Complete with USB 2.0 cable, FireWire 1394a cable, AC adapter and power cord, quick installation guide and backup software CD.

Customer Reviews

The last Seagate product I buy
The 400 GB model worked great until the power button broke. The drive works but the case failed! Seagate's snotty 3rd world reps made matters worse. Seagate sux!

Warranty and customer service failures
I've never been able to successfully disconnect this drive with the Safely Remove Hardware feature or get it to turn off using the on/off button. Every time I eventually had to pull the USB cable and physically disconnect the power source to turn it off. I spent a lot of time trying to locate anything on my computer that was interacting with the drive and keeping it from safely disconnecting. And the last couple of times I started it up, I had a very hard time getting the drive to turn on. I recently spent two hours with customer service, first with someone overseas, who I could barely hear and hardly understand, and then finally with someone in the US when the first person couldn't help me. They never could resolve what was keeping it from safely disconnecting and they really didn't make too much of an effort. The second guy finally decided that it had a defective button, which is why I was having problems turning it on and off. So I can return it... and they will replace it with a refurbished one. I said I found that annoying, that I'm going to send him a new drive and get a drive that some other customer returned to them sent back to me. He said that's my only option; they only replace with previously returned drives and they don't do refunds. I wish I hadn't spent as much time trying to resolve the problem myself and I could have returned it to Amazon. Obviously this drive gets glowing reviews from most people - I wish I had gotten a drive that wasn't defective, and I might have felt the same way, but as it stands now, I wish I could just dump this, get my money back and go with another company.

Excellent choice
A few months ago, I had to buy an external hard drive for my new iMac, mainly to store photos and home video, but also for backing up files.
So I did some minimal research on the web, user forums, etc. and saw a lot of comments on various Western Digital, Maxtor and Seagate external hard drive models.

I finally chose this model, and have to say that I just love it. Here's why from a user's point of view:

* It has a USB 2.0 interface, as well as FireWire.
* It's quite fast.
* It's very quiet.
* You get "one-touch" backup. The Seagate comes with an excellent software utility called Bounce Back Express, which is very easy to set up and to use.
* It has an on-off button on the front.
* You can daisy chain more drives if you need more capacity.
* It's "hot swappable" which means you can plug and unplug without turning off your computer.
* You can stand it up or put it on its side.
* It looks very nice next to my beautiful iMac.

Hope that helps...