Western Digital WD Elements 640 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBAAR6400ABK-NESN

by Western Digital

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 3.1 x 0.6 inches ; 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002RL8JBM
• Item model number: WDBAAR6400ABK-NESN
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,513 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

  #74 in

  Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Memory Cards & External Storage > External Hard Drives

• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 26, 2009

Product Description

Capacity: 640 GB

Product Description

Simply affordable, easily portable. Designed with the same commitment to quality that made WD external drives the number one selling drives in the world, Western Digital’s WD Elements™ USB 2.0 portable hard drive is simple, easy-to-use, light and easy to carry. No need to carry a bulky power adapter; this drive get its power from the USB cable. Just plug it in to any USB port and start saving your photos, music, video, and files. Simply affordable; Easy to use; USB powered; Kit contents: USB 2.0 portable hard drive ; USB cable; Quick Install Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Basic Portable External Hard Drive, August 22, 2009

By	Lawrence H. Bulk "Lawrence H. Bulk" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Western Digital WD Elements 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBAAR3200ABK-NESN (Black) (Electronics)

I bought this Western Digital WD Elements 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBAAR3200ABK-NESN (Black) last week at, I regret to say, Target - not Amazon. Target had it "on sale" at $59.95, an irresistible price. This unit works perfectly with Linux (both Ubuntu Linux - which is my main computer's operating system - and the modified-Xandros Linux found on the ASUS Eee PC 1000 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Solid State Drive, 20 GB Eee Storage, Linux, 6 Cell Battery) Pearl White which I own) and, naturally, Windows. (It is "pre-formatted" for Windows - it has some programs incorporated which I of course immediately deleted as I do not use Windows.) This unit will also work perfectly with the Apple Mac operating system (Windows and Mac compatibility are specified on the box.) As another reviewer has mentioned, it may be necessary to format the drive for use with a Mac.

Used with a Linux computer, no formatting or any other special operations are necessary. Just plug it in and you're instantly "on!" (Of course, this same comment about no formatting necessary also applies to Windows computers, though, the first time you use it, a Windows machine may take a few seconds to recognize the new drive.)

Packaged with the unit is a standard USB connection cord (supports v. 1.1 and 2.0 and, in addition to connecting to your computer for data transfer, it also powers the unit; no other external power supply is necessary) as well as the usual warranty, etc., information. In addition a CD containing the operating manual is included. I have not looked at this - really however, what is there to know about how to use this external drive? Just plug it into your computer! - that is, of course, if you use these drives as I use them: as storage units only. (I now own quite a few of these drives.)

I find that, especially with Ubuntu Linux, that it is very easy to copy everything in one's "Home" folder to one of these external drives and, should it become necessary to reinstall the operating system, it is quite easy to restore all of your documents, music, pictures, etc. from the external drive. It is also possible to store one's music, videos, audio books, etc. on one of these drives thus freeing up space from your computer's hard drive. (That's why I have several of these things!)

Naturally, the same uses I mention above are also available to Windows or Mac users. These portable external hard drives are very useful and this one, being a simple, basic, unit, is all one truly needs, in my opinion, if your reasons for buying one are the same as mine. I do suggest that, if you do not have an urgent need for one of these drives, or if you are buying an "extra" or "spare" unit, you wait until you see a really good "sale" price either on Amazon or elsewhere.

Like all Western Digital external hard drives that I own it is very well-made and, with reasonable care, should last a very long time. (My oldest Western Digital external drive - 40 GB, "huge" at the time I bought it - is over five years old, still in use, and still going strong.) In my own personal experience the company is reputable, responsive and VERY customer-oriented.

I highly recommend this unit.

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great little package, October 1, 2009

By	Speedway Girl "Speedway Girl" (Upstate New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Western Digital WD Elements 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBAAR5000ABK-NESN (Electronics)

I retired my little Passport for use solely as a backup for my MacBook, since they had the exact same size hard drive. So then it was time to shop for a replacement to move data back and forth between my PC's and Mac's. There was a great deal for this little gem that I saw on [...] from Dell, so I scooped it up. It seems like a great drive. It is substantially faster than my Passport, so that was a plus. It moves back and forth from machine to machine, up and down the stairs, gets carried around in the briefcase and works like a charm. My only complaint was that I had to wipe it and reformat it in order to be able to have the Mac write to it, but that took only a few minutes.

Very happy with this purchase!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple works, November 30, 2009

By	shopaholic (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Western Digital WD Elements 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDBAAR5000ABK-NESN (Electronics)

This thing is the exact same width and length as the passport, but slightly thicker. It really is like a brick, and is not the slickest looking thing out there. But I LOVE the matte casing. My 500gb passport got so scratched up from the tiniest handling that I dread smooth shiny surfaces now. I don't know why this only has 1 yr warranty as oppose to the passport's 3 yrs. But hopefully it's of the same quality I've always been expecting from WD. The price was good, and amazon surprisingly delivered it super fast even with super savers s/h. Ordered on black friday and got it today on a Monday. Quite happy so far.

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