Western Digital Passport 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

by Western Digital

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000DEMBF0
• Item model number: WDXML1200UETN
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 19, 2005

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description With all the videos, photos, games, music, and other files we keep amassing these days, there's always a need for more storage. Western Digital Passport Portable Drives let you instantly add portable storage for all the data you need to carry along with you. It's the perfect solution for carrying important files and e-mail between work and home or on the road, or for sharing large files between office and home, between Mac and PC. It's also a great way to back up your existing notebook hard drive for extra data safety.

The drives are offered in capacities from 40 to 120 GB and they offer great performance, thanks to an enclosed 5400 RPM drive. It's simple to set up, light and easy to carry, and requires no power adapter, as it's powered directly through the USB cable. Plus, the included WD Sync software lets you turn any PC into your own protected workspace.

Although an optional power adapter is available for the Passport, none is required since the drive is powered by the USB bus.

The Windows- and Mac-compatible Western Digital Passport is designed for toughness, offering maximum protection from data loss with a rugged, protective case and shock-tolerant 2.5-inch hard drive. The elegant, soft-touch case looks great, but it's also designed to allow the drive to run cool and quiet. The design also minimizes power consumption, prolonging laptop battery life (an optional power adapter is available for the few computers that limit bus power). On top of all that, the Passport is safety tested. In fact, it's one of the few external drives with certification to meet all applicable safety requirements.

Installation of the Passport is a snap because you don't really "install" this drive, you just plug it in and it's ready to use. There is no CD to install; the included software loads from the drive the first time you plug it in. The drive is powered by the USB bus, so there's no separate power supply needed. Meanwhile, WD Sync synchronization and encryption software lets you save your critical data, and take it with you. Plug your drive into any PC, edit files, read e-mail, and view photos. Then sync all of your changes back to your home or office computer. Note that this software is only offered for Windows 2000/XP, though.

What's in the Box
120 GB WD Passport portable hard drive, USB 2.0 cable, and quick install guide.

Product Description

Instantly add 120 GB of portable storage for all your business files, music, video, and games with a WD Passport portable USB 2.0 hard drive. This high-performance, 5400 RPM drive is simple to use, light and easy to carry, and requires no power adapter for most systems it's powered directly through the USB cable. WD understands the importance of the information on your drive so we've designed a cool, rugged, shock-absorbing case to protect the 2.5-inch WD hard drive and the data on it. Fast 5400 RPM 2.5-inch drive performance Light and compact Back up your existing notebook hard drive for data protection, or just use the drive to share files between computers! Drive can be locked for extra security Power-conserving design prolongs laptop battery life Compatible with USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 ports running Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS v9.2.2 or Mac OS X v10.1.5+

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Mobile Hard Drive, March 29, 2006

By 

Luther Andal "technology hound" (Lexington, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Western Digital Passport 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Personal Computers)

I got this drive a couple of weeks ago and love it. I do a lot of database work and also run a number of virtual machines which require a considerable amount of disk space. My Dell laptop came with a 80 GB drive and this was simply not enough space to do everything I needed. It is super compact, easy to use, durable and the access speed is reasonable for a USB powered drive. I have mine velcroed to the top of my laptop so I hardly even notice it. It comes with a 2 ft. USB cable. Be sure to use the provided cable because longer lengths of cable will not provide enough power to the drive and it will not work. Also be aware that some older laptops (and possibly some newer though I haven't encountered any) may not provide enough power to the USB port to power the drive. Another thing to keep in mind is that when running your laptop off battery your battery life will be shorter because the external hard drive is taking power from the laptop battery over the USB port as well. All in all a great little drive for those who need portable storage or for those who like a compact format without the hastle of additional power cords.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Beware!!!, October 6, 2006

By 

K. Walls (Metro St Louis United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Western Digital Passport 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Personal Computers)

Before you buy this drive, be sure to Google "Cypress AT2LP RC42" and "western digital".

Until yesterday, I recommended this drive to everyone. Then my drive failed, prompting me for new hardware and to install a driver for Cypress AT2LP RC42. It appears that there is a chip in the drive housing manufactured by Cypress that is failing in drives left and right. (Class action suit anyone?)

The Western Digital support staff is no help. Act like they have never heard of this error. Offer no option to just switch out the housing. Will replace drive- but you lose all the data. There are $30 replacement housings available - but you void your warranty.

Bottom line - if you buy this drive, be prepared for it to fail. Keep everything backed up, because there will come a day that this drive will fail.

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't work with my Mac Powerbook's own USB current, July 1, 2006

By 

Max Leiva - See all my reviews

This review is from: Western Digital Passport 120GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive (Personal Computers)

I bought this great looking external hard drive for my Mac Powerbook G4. The objective was to have a portable little drive. However, it requires a lot of current. My Mac's USB current is not enough for it. So it needs to be pluged in with an external power supply (extra purchase) or with an external powered USB adapter.