The Best of Both Phone, and TabletWestern Digital My Book Premium Edition 400GB External Hard Drive
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp. Part number: WDG1C4000N
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If write speed isn't a top priority, the Western Digital MyBook is a good deal at around $300 for a 500GB drive. It'll look good on your desk or bookshelf, too.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SanWork.com | Not yet rated | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 05/22/2012 Refurbished |
CNET editors' review
Western Digital My Book Premium Edition 400GB External Hard Drive price range: $666.08
- Reviewed by: Dong Van Ngo
- Edited by: Felisa Yang
- Reviewed on: 06/15/2006
- Released on: 03/08/2006
The good: The MyBook Premium edition is compact, employs an innovative design, has an external capacity gauge, comes with backup software, and is a speedy data reader.
The bad: The MyBook Premium edition is slow to write data, over both USB 2.0 and FireWire 400.
The bottom line: If write speed isn't a top priority, the Western Digital MyBook is a good deal at around $300 for a 500GB drive. It'll look good on your desk or bookshelf, too.
- Drive type: external hard disk drive
- Available capacities: 160GB; 250GB; 320GB; 400GB; 500GB--all drives have a 7,200rpm hard disk drive
- Capacity of test unit: 500GB
- Cache: 16MB for the 400GB and 500GB drives; 8MB for the rest
- Dimension: 6.8 x 5.6 x 2.2 (HLD in inches); 2.6 pounds
- Notable design features: backup button; book-like design
- Connection options: FireWire 400, USB 2.0
- OSs supported: Windows 98 SE/Me/2000/XP or, Mac OS X 10.2.8+
- Software included: EMC Retrospect Express Backup and System Recovery Software (on drive)
- Additional features: capacity gauge: the backup button features an LED that indicates how much space is available on your drive; the drive turns itself off when not in use
- Service/support: one-year warranty; toll-free phone support: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT on Saturday; e-mail support via an online form; Web site has a searchable knowledge base, FAQs, downloadable drivers, and software.
On CNET Labs' test bench, the 500GB MyBook was very sluggish when writing, via both FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 connections. The drive took almost 36 minutes to write our 10GB test folder, about three times slower than other hard drives with the same specs. On the other hand, in the read test, the MyBook drive took slightly less than 10 minutes to get the job done, which was the fastest among all of the external hard drives we've tested.
The Western Digital MyBook comes in a very sleek design that is shaped like a medium-size book and weighs about the same. It features a button in front that activates the bundled Retrospect backup software. The coolest thing about the MyBook drive is that the button has a round, blue LED ring around it that indicates the amount of space available on the hard drive.
User reviews
-
-
Broke after six months - Warranty is a joke.
by katedorsey on July 13, 2010
Pros: looks nice, I guess
Cons: BROKE after six months.
terrible customer serviceSummary: This product broke after less than six months while I was unplugging it for a storm, of all things. The data port completely collapsed inwards...seems like this portion of ...
Summary: This product broke after less than six months while I was unplugging it for a storm, of all things. The data port completely collapsed inwards...seems like this portion of the product should have been safeguarded a little better.
When I called customer service I was told there was nothing that could be done to fix it except replacing the drive...and that my data would be lost. What the hell is the point of having a warranty if they don't even attempt to fix the problem...ESPECIALLY with a product that's intended to safeguard data.
Of COURSE this happened right before my weekly backup, so I have data on the drive that can't be replaced. My only option was to take it to a local shop...who fixed the problem in about 30 minutes by merely replacing the crappy plastic casing. Why couldn't WD have done the same thing instead of insisting that hte only option was to throw the drive out and start over? Thank GOD I didn't listen to them.
Of course by doing this I void my "warranty" but that's not an issue...I will be replacing this hard drive with a better quality one as soon as humanly possible. -
ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! BROKE IN LESS THAN 1 YR
by andrew76240 on July 28, 2008
Pros: It has a great look. Thats about it.
Cons: Everything other than the visual design.
Summary: They break. Just take one min. and google "my book click of death". It happens to all of the models. If I am however unable to detour from buying one ...
Summary: They break. Just take one min. and google "my book click of death". It happens to all of the models. If I am however unable to detour from buying one of these pieces of junk PLEASE PLEASE if you so desire to own one. Buy a home edition. Unlike the other editions with a one year warranty they come with a 3 year. And please also keep an extra copy of your data elsewhere. When they go they go without warning alot of times.
-
Slowest External Drive Ever!
by ogman on April 7, 2008
Pros: Looks good
Cons: Terrible performance
Summary: I don't know what this thing is supposed to be good for?! Most of the time it is accessed, it just sits there. The rest of the time, it ...
Summary: I don't know what this thing is supposed to be good for?! Most of the time it is accessed, it just sits there. The rest of the time, it locks up the machine. Even using eSata, this is the slowest drive I have ever seen. No other drive I own works like this piece of junk. BEWARE!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp.
- Part number: WDG1C4000N
- 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.
General
- Capacity 400 GB
- Buffer Size 16 MB
- Width 2.2 in
- Depth 5.6 in
- Height 6.8 in
- Weight 2.9 lbs
Performance
- Interface Transfer Rate 400 Mbps (FireWire) / 480 Mbps (Hi-Speed USB)
- Seek Time 8.9 ms (average)
- Track-to-Track Seek Time 2 ms
- Average Latency 4.2 ms
- Spindle Speed 7200 rpm
Expansion & Connectivity
- Compatible Bays None
Power
- Power Device Power adapter
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50 - 60 Hz )
Software & System Requirements
- Software Included Google Desktop,
Google Picasa,
Google Toolbar - OS Required Microsoft Windows 2000 ,
Apple MacOS X 10.2.8 or later ,
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition ,
Microsoft Windows XP ,
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x IEEE 1394 cable - FireWire 400 (6-to-6 pin) - External - 6 ft,
1 x USB cable - USB Type A to B - External - 6 ft - Microsoft Certifications Works with Windows Vista
- Compliant Standards RoHS
- Package Type Retail
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 41 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
Product series
-
Western Digital My Book Premium Edition 250GB External Hard Drive
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp.
Specs: 250 GB,
External hard drive,
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB,
8 MB,
8.9 ms,
7200 rpm -
Western Digital My Book Premium Edition 320GB External Hard Drive
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp.
Specs: 320 GB,
External hard drive,
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB,
8 MB,
8.9 ms,
7200 rpm -
Western Digital My Book Premium Edition 400GB External Hard Drive
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp.
Specs: 400 GB,
External hard drive,
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB,
16 MB,
8.9 ms,
7200 rpm -
Western Digital MyBook Premium Edition 500GB External Hard Drive
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp.
Specs: 500 GB,
External hard drive,
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB,
16 MB,
8.9 ms,
7200 rpm -
Western Digital My Book Premium Edition 160GB External Hard Drive
Manufacturer: Western Digital Corp.
Specs: 160 GB,
External hard drive,
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB,
8 MB,
8.9 ms,
7200 rpm
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Western Digital Corp. products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Western Digital Corp.
- Address:
20511 Lake Forest Drive, Lake Forest, CA 92630-7741
