Western Digital Passport portable drive hits 320GB

Face it, that 80GB HDD your laptop entered the world with isn't cutting it anymore, and just any add-on won't do. No, you've gotta do it up right with a newfangled 320GB 2.5-inch portable drive, and Western Digital's got just the thing with the newest member of its Passport lineup. The drive weighs less than 5 ounces, runs on the latest and greatest platters, and will set you back $230.

[Sean M. @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:05AM]

Yeah, I bought one of these drives from Best Buy a few months ago and it had so many problems mounting. I loved the small form factor, but you'll see how much the shell scratches and that it's not very reliable. Now when i plug it in I can only copy 10 - 20 megs before it unmounts on it's own giving me an error message. I lost alot of data. Now i have a 500 gig seagate with leopards time machine running. Hopefully I don't go through the same thing again.

[Jonathan Keim @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:17AM]

Got a 160 gig for a customer awhile ago and she hasn't complained. You should have sent yours back

[rlh82 @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:18AM]

Were you using this with a laptop? Because I've heard that they're fairly unreliable with laptops because they can't pull enough power from the usb or something . . .

[Justin @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:23AM]

Exactly. I won't get an external HD that doesn't plug into the wall (or, in my case, my UPS).

[Totalfixation @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:29AM]

did you use the short and thick USB cable they provided you or did you use some generic USB cord? I first had the same problem when I used a longer usb cord that i had previously had. After using the original cord provided it didn't happen anymore.

[BillyG @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:22AM]

Runs great on most desktop and macbook (fast abt 7gb in 7mins), however problems when connected to my dell laptop...not enough power

[Tangston @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:26AM]

@ rlh82

I kind of thought the whole point of buying a passport drive would be to use it with a laptop cause its so portable. If size isn't a concern you can buy plenty of higher capacity drives for less $.

[Wolfticket @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:01PM]

I know it's not an ideal solution, but you can use one of these cables: http://www.lindy.co.uk/31780.html
Just plug the second usb plug into another usb port, or a usb charger adaptor.
However, I agree that manufactures should warn people that 2.5" drives are not certain to be able to draw enough power from a single usb port on all computers before selling them as usb powered.

[Ben @ Dec 12th 2007 8:04PM]

I have one of these and it mounted fine for a while then stopped. I couldn't figure out why. Turns out it was upside down. Yep. That's right. Upside down.

Of course, it's a perfectly symmetrical black box, so I'm not entirely surprised I'd put it down upside down...but I AM surprised it wouldn't work that way...

I was on tech support when I noticed it...and the guy actually said, "Yes, if it's upside down it won't mount."

So there you have it.

[George @ Dec 16th 2007 5:04AM]

Those of you who use the Western Digital Passport drive really need to plug it into a USB HUB which has ITS OWN power supply... Some USB ports on laptops don't have enough power to run the passport drive... you need a HUB with its own power source... Mine works GREAT, but I have it plugged into a Belkin 4 port USB hub...

~~ George

[joshua @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:20AM]

I would love to get one but as an internal drive...when are they gonna release just the drive???

[Wolfticket @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:54AM]

They a ready have, it can be had for $210 or so.
I've never been a fan of pre-built external drives. Buying an internal drive and an enclosure gives you so much more flexibility.
It's not even like it is remotely difficult to install the drive, generally 2 screws and 2 plugs, and generally the cost they same or even slightly less.
Plus you can use the enclosures to test/recover other drives.

BTW - This isn't really a benchmark, the first 320gb 2.5" drive is newsworthy. IMO Western Digital sealing it in a usb case isn't really.

[Paul K @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:20PM]

@Wolfticket

Mind pointing me in that direction? I've just spent the last half hour looking around online, and I've only found two places that claim to carry it at all, those being CDW and PC Connection. Neither have it in stock. Everywhere else only has the 250gb model.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, why not just buy an enclosure and do it yourself, being able to test other drives as well as having access to Firewire or eSATA connections would be incredibly useful.

[Rob @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:31AM]

I have a 160gig version and it works great. However, the secret is in the USB cord being used. You have to use the short one that came with, which is very inconvenient because of its length. Whenever I use a different and longer cord, it would work for a bit, click, then unmount. I don't think the drive is defective because once I plug the short cord again it works fine.

[Jonathan @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:33AM]

Dam I just got the 160 about a month ago. I haven't had a problem with it.

[Revels @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:49AM]

My friend has had the 160Gb one for his MacBook for over 6 months without any trouble. I'm after a portable HD and this looks just the ticket.

[matteorampazzi @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:52AM]

I own the 250 Gb version as TimeMachine drive for my MacBook. No problems at all to report with regards of unwanted unmounting.

The only problem is that, if the drive is connected when the Mac is off, when I turn it on sometimes my Mac wouldn't boot properly, freezing prior to loading OSX Leopard.

But I guess it has to do with leopard more than the drive itself.

The drive is quiet and performs exceptionally. It need care, because it tends to scratch on the surface, but all in all it is, for portables, the best "timemachine" drive out there (IMHO).

[Mark @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:09AM]

Half of the computers out there don't put out enough power through the USB ports to power these damn things.

Example: My WD:Passport powers up through my Dell Laptop, but not my Macbook Pro.

[LondonConsultant @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:53AM]

Use a standard USB Y-cable (extra power from the second USB port)...

[Shahryar @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:07AM]

I'd like to have a nice external portable like this - that has firewire though. That's what I like using with my mac

[Poom @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:10AM]

I bought the 250GB one like last month... It's absolutely fantastic. I have no problem with it whatsoever. It's reliable, fully compatible with Vista, really nice looking, and pretty darn small!

It amazes me that they got the 320GB out, considering how small it is. When the 500GB is out, I'll buy a new one.

[Larry @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:15AM]

I wonder if this is an Essential or Premium/Deluxe edition. It kind of makes a difference.

[Mark @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:21AM]

Is it easy to remove the hard drive from these enclosures?

[Ayle @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:21AM]

no...

[Brent @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:39PM]

yes. small bladed screwdriver slowly and carefully around the edges of the plastic. no screws, just pop it open. drive is easily removed from there.

[Dan @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:27AM]

If this had firewire...

[petey @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:21PM]

... it would cost a ton more!

[Larry @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:28AM]

My 80GB Passport has gone with me to 10 countries with me this year, and never had a problem. I've used the short cable and a longer cable on my MacBook Pro, and all works fine. Don't care about the scratches, as it's typically thrown in a backpack and roughed up a bit during my travels. I love it.

[john @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:00AM]

These days, a portable HD should do bluetooth as well.

[Blackster @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:40PM]

so, it gets its power over bluetooth then too?

cool, sign me up (not really ;) )

[john @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:46PM]

No, it would need an internal battery. My point is: these days, a pocket/portable hard drive really needs to be more than just a "fixed hard drive with an external enclosure and a wire". It needs to be something that you really can use on the move, and/or using less conventional devices.

There are emerging bluetooth hard drive products (Seagate DAVE, Agere BluOnyx, older devices in Japan). This should be a new standard feature in the "portable hard drive" market. If you have to pull the hard drive out of its carry case, and attach it via wires, in order to use it ... then it's really still a fixed hard drive ... it's just easier to move than other fixed hard drives.

[Iain @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:31AM]

A firewire port on this would make it such an awesome portable external drive option.

[intelone @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:09PM]

I've used it on my MacBook Pro since the 120 internal HD wasn't enough to hold all my itunes music, and video. I got the 250 gig, and its perfect. It keeps my internal HD clean and clear of all the clutter that accumulate from multimedia files. I've never had a problem, but then again I've always used the short cable that provided with me. Actually there was this one time that my Mac did not mount it, but it was nothing that disk warrior couldn't handle. I guess I unplugged it without unmounting it first. Aside from I'm happy. I don't have to carry a power supply for the external HD, and the size is so small to carry in my bag along with the MacBook Pro.

[JTL @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:44AM]

I use the 250Gig version, I haven't had any problems with it. As for the USB cable, thats the only thing that really sucked. I ended up using my PSP USB for my hard drive and I have no problems what so ever.

[touristique @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:16PM]

BETTER YET...

I have the 250GB one, and the case opens really easily (with a credit card only), and then I installed the 250GB drive in my MacBook in about 4 minutes, and now use the passport with the 80GB. At the time I bought it the passport 250 was cheaper than a bare 250GB drive, and I trust western digital drives more than most.

[St. Stephen @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:08PM]

Yeah 80GB here.. no problems with not enough power, i have a sony viao lappy w/xp. but on occasion i do get the BOD if i boot with it on, not every time though lol go figure. As the other fella posted I too have traveled extensively with mine with no problems. I just may have to pick one of these up before my japan excursion in march

[Syntax Error @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:19PM]

All that space yet in FAT32 format, tsk, tsk.

>4GB files are so commonplace nowadays, that format is useless for those hauling files larger than 4GB; good thing you can format to something more useful, such as NTFS.

[zeke @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:40PM]

"so common"? if you're ripping dvds, sure. otherwise, not so much.

[Brian @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:48PM]

Anyone have any news on the stand-alone version of this drive? I've been waiting for a little over a month now for some retailer to start selling it. It apparently appeared on NewEgg for a few days at the beginning of November and then was pulled -- and now it's not in stock anywhere (even on the Western Digital Online Store).

When will it be available for purchase?! I really need it now (I'm down to 9GB of space on my MBP's stock 200GB drive... things are running sloooowly).