WD's new 1TB portable hard drive: $249, 256-bit hardware encryption
Western Digital's new line of portable and desktop hard drives have higher capacities, smaller sizes, tougher hardware security and support for incremental backups.
WD's 2.5-inch, USB-powered portable My Passport lineup has three new models: 'Essential,' 'Essential SE' and 'Mac.' The lineup now tops out at 1TB capacity. Its USB-to-SATA-to-drive connection has been exchanged for direct-to-USB, saving space without speed loss, the company says.
WD's 3.5-inch My Book desktop lineup offers two new models: 'Essential' and 'Mac.'
Here's the rundown:
- USB 2.0
- 320GB, 500GB, 640GB
- MSRP $99 to $149
- NTFS File system optimized for PC
- 2-year limited warranty
- 5 colors: Midnight Black, Arctic White, Pacific Blue, Cool Silver and Real Red
- optional docking station
- USB 2.0
- 750GB & 1TB
- MSRP $179-$249
- NTFS File system optimized for PC
- 2-year limited warranty
- Colors: Midnight Black
- optional docking station available in November
- Compatible with Apple Time Machine
- USB 2.0
- 320GB, 500 GB
- MSRP $99-$139
- HFS+JournaledFile system optimized for Mac
- 2-year limited warranty
- Charcoal Matte
- optional docking station
My Book Essential:
- Eco-friendly drive
- Cool, quiet, fanless design
- USB 2.0
- 500 GB, 1TB, 1.5TB, 2TB
- $99 to $249
- NTFS File system optimized for PC
- 2 -year limited warranty
- Light-up capacity gauge on the front edge of the drive
- Eco-friendly drive
- Cool, quiet, fanless design
- USB 2.0
- 1 TB
- $139
- HFS+JournaledFile system optimized for Mac
- 2 -year limited warranty
- Light-up capacity gauge on the front edge of the drive
Security across the board is now 256-bit hardware-based encryption, rather than only software-encrypted. That means stronger security at the expense of remembering a password (forget the password, and you're out of luck).
The drives also support incremental backups, meaning that it can save all versions of a file in case you overwrite one version.
Precise release dates were not announced.