WD external hard drive verse WD passport
Jul 14, 2014 07:22:41 #
What is the difference between WD external hard drive that I have plug into my computer with AC and a usb cable'verse a Small WD Passport external hard drive with just a usb cable? Any advantages? is the smaller Passport a new item? that will replace my larger drive.
Jul 14, 2014 07:27:29 #
One has a larger capacity than the other. One is portable where the other is not.
Jul 14, 2014 07:31:47 #
WD external HD is likely higher capacity and is not portable, meaning it stays on your desk. A variant of this is a "Cloud" version that looks the same, but that you can access from anywhere (i.e. while traveling).
The Passport is a portable hard drive that you can take with you on trips, or, store in your fire-proof safe to protect important data or images.
They work the same, however, for storing and backing-up data... Hope I have helped. :D
The Passport is a portable hard drive that you can take with you on trips, or, store in your fire-proof safe to protect important data or images.
They work the same, however, for storing and backing-up data... Hope I have helped. :D
Jul 14, 2014 07:53:51 #
Lenny wrote:
What is the difference between WD external hard drive that I have plug into my computer with AC and a usb cable'verse a Small WD Passport external hard drive with just a usb cable? Any advantages? is the smaller Passport a new item? that will replace my larger drive.
I think, but am not positive, that the Passport locks when ejected to reduce possibility of transport damage.
Jul 14, 2014 07:58:46 #
Lenny wrote:
What is the difference between WD external hard drive that I have plug into my computer with AC and a usb cable'verse a Small WD Passport external hard drive with just a usb cable? Any advantages? is the smaller Passport a new item? that will replace my larger drive.
Depending on the age of your external hd, it MAY be higher capacity. USB Passport drives are available in upto 3 tb sizes now. Externals can go larger depending on the type of case and whether it is "pure" usb or also Nework Attached" (NAS) meaning has the ability to connect to your router and all computers on your network. Both have good plusses and bad minuses.. lol. The NAS is nice because it can be connected to your network and is available to all computers in your router, both wireless and wired. And even to a cloud with the newer ones (I am looking at this solution in the near future). The "Passports" are nice for backup because you can have a couple of them and rotate them to the safe deposit box with your backups to get them off site. Also, you can throw the passport into your computer bag and use it on your laptop. I have several of these in the 1TB, 2TB and now 3TB sizes.
I think that your decision on which to go with depends on your needs and may include both.
Jul 14, 2014 08:19:42 #
Lenny wrote:
What is the difference between WD external hard drive that I have plug into my computer with AC and a usb cable'verse a Small WD Passport external hard drive with just a usb cable? Any advantages? is the smaller Passport a new item? that will replace my larger drive.
There was another thread recently on the Seagate brand. I believe someone stated that the larger drive that plugs into AC has a cooling fan but the smaller drives do not. They also stated that these drives (both large & small) are always spinning when connected to the computer so a cooling fan may be very helpful.
Jul 14, 2014 09:11:14 #
Could be wrong, but one difference seems to be that you usually have a power adapter with an external drive. The Passport powers thru the USB cable.
Jul 14, 2014 09:15:52 #
The external drive has a fan via AC power passport is stickly portable no fan another question how long will the passport last when hook up to a laptop
Jul 14, 2014 09:29:09 #
Lenny wrote:
The external drive has a fan via AC power passport is stickly portable no fan another question how long will the passport last when hook up to a laptop
Measurement you are looking for is or used to be MTBF - Mean Time Before Failure. The number is derived from testing and some math. Back in the days of large size drives this number was part of the product's specs. I have not seen a MTBF listed for quite a while. I tried to find some data in the WD site but could not find any. Since the drives are so much smaller today, components are more reliable and prices are way cheaper maybe manufacturers do not see the need for publishing such data. They could also use another method of measuring reliability. I just could not find the answer.
Bill
Jul 14, 2014 09:53:58 #
Lenny wrote:
The external drive has a fan via AC power passport is stickly portable no fan another question how long will the passport last when hook up to a laptop
I can only speak for the one I have: at least three years, as I have had it a bit longer than that now.
To prevent loss of anything on that drive when it fails, I have another same-size portable drive of a different brand. One "lives" at my house, the other one at my son's house, and they get exhanged every time I visit there, and then updated from the computer's hard drive.
Jul 14, 2014 09:57:43 #
One thing I have found with the Passport is that it does not work well through a usb extender. I have to plug mine directly into the usb port on my computer for it to work reliably.
Jul 14, 2014 10:48:10 #
Caysnowman wrote:
Measurement you are looking for is or used to be M... (show quote)
Isn't MTBF - "between" failure rather than "before" failure? That just kind of hit me. The drive guys probably don't publish it up front any more because it probably was deceiving. Someone once gave me an example - so if the mtbf is 100 years for widget and you have 100 of those widget running, you'd expect one to fail every year. So if the mtbf is 1 billion hours for a drive but they make 100 million drives, you'd expect one of them to fail every 10 hours of operation? Is that right? Sucks if it happens to be your drive.
The compactness of the portables (which are even smaller cased now) is the reason I prefer them over the external full size drives.
Jul 14, 2014 11:07:40 #
AlisonT wrote:
One thing I have found with the Passport is that it does not work well through a usb extender. I have to plug mine directly into the usb port on my computer for it to work reliably.
Yes the passport has to be connected using the little 6" connector from WD. 2 of my 7 passports are 7 years old and none newer than 3 and the ONLY thing I have had to replace is the cables.. they are about $8 apiece and last time I just bought 4 to be safe. One of the other guys on here just bought the WD 4tb cloud and I am anxious to see how it works. I have a 2 TB NAS that has the fan and external power and have used it for 4 years. It is the case and you insert your own internal.
Jul 14, 2014 11:17:35 #
UtahBob wrote:
Isn't MTBF - "between" failure rather th... (show quote)
Think your right. I was with CDC back when 100 MB drives were the size of an executive desk and remember that we did a very profitable spare parts business and specked MTBF. Never had any extended discussions on MTBF but had many on the cost of spares. Sorry for bad info; its been awhile.
Bill
Jul 14, 2014 16:37:25 #
Caysnowman wrote:
Think your right. I was with CDC back when 100 MB drives were the size of an executive desk and remember that we did a very profitable spare parts business and specked MTBF. Never had any extended discussions on MTBF but had many on the cost of spares. Sorry for bad info; its been awhile.
Bill
Bill
I was With CDC back then too. In OKC.. worked on the Phoenix and Falcon lines. I was in QA and then the Head lab also.
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