Desktop Computer Review: Western Digital WD Elements 500 GB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive (Silver) Review

One thing you have to remember when purchasing an item, and subsequently reviewing it, is that you get what you pay for. I bought this drive for $100 in an online auction and it is also relatively cheap elsewhere, which it was designed to be.

This hard drive has its positive and negative aspects, but all-in-all you get what you pay for. I'll start with what I like about it.

The rubber grips on each end are terrific, and provide a firm placement on whatever surface you put it on. The on/off switch is also a big plus, and as odd as that may seem, I have other external hard drives that do not have that simple luxury. On a far less important note, it looks good and sure beats the bright pink lights on one of my other** WD drives.

As for the downsides, the drive is probably my slowest - and I own more than 10. It also gives me I/O errors every now and then, sometimes randomly without cause, other times because (apparently) the data being transferred is just too much for it to handle. To solve these, I simply hit the on/off switch and reset it. Nonetheless, this can be inconvenient if you are in the middle of something, especially if the computer is unattended at the time of the error.

With all that being said, this is a great economical solution to your storage needs. I would not depend on it as a primary drive and would rather depend on it more for backing-up data and just for some extra space. If you can get it for the price I did, you really can't go wrong.

** http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-FireWire-Combo-Drive/dp/B0000DK69V

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Product Description:
WD Elements USB 2.0 external hard drive is an easy-to-use,reliable way to add more storage to your PC or Macintosh.Simply plug it in to a USB port and start saving or backing upyour photos, music, video, and files. Its preformatted forimmediate use so theres no software or CD to load. Thecompact, durable metal case provides extra data protectionhelping keep data safe from loss. Certified for use withWindows Vista.