Western Digital have just added a couple of 500 GB portable HDDs to their Passport range. The My Passport Elite and My Passport Essential lines have had the new drives added and come with the following bells and whistles

My Passport Elite

* WD Sync™ synchronization and encryption software
* Connect to any PC and run MioNet® Key software to remotely access files
* Plug and Play

Both Models

* USB Powered
* Includes Google™ software to search your drive and manage your photos
* Speaks nicely to Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Mac OS X 10.4.10+, 10.5.2+ (not Essential)
* USB 2.0 connectivity at 480 Mbits/sec
* 15.0 x 125.15 x 79.5 mm
* 180 g

With the Elite rocking in at US$220 and the Essential US$200, these are nicely priced external drives and they both come in a good range of colours. The 500 GB capacity is a step up from the 400 GB maximum previously offered.

Featured tags: my passport my passport elite my passport essential passport portable HDD western digital

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With Buffalo just recently unleashing their MiniStation Turbo on the world, Western Digital have entered the 320 GB portable HDD game with their very own version, an addition to the Passport range. Probably the most obvious difference between the two units is the price tag with the WD version setting you back only US$230 - an awesome price for an external drive of this capacity. Anyway here are the rest of the details for you to drool over

* USB 2.0 connectivity
* 480 Mbps transfer rate
* 15 x 130 x 80 mm
* 105 g

WD have used their Scorpio drive for this puppy which spins around at 5,400 rpm, has a transfer rate of 3 GB/s, 8 MB buffer and a 12 ms access time. Other goodies included with the drive are WD Sync which not only syncs up your files but encrypts them as well, and Google software to help you track down your files. It also talks nicely to Macs as well.

This certainly looks like yet another winner from the boys over at WD.

Featured tags: external hdd passport western digital

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