Product Description

Fast, green and Mac ready, WD's My Book Studio Edition II dual-drive, quad-interface external storage system for Mac offers optimum performance with up to one-third reduction in power consumption - get the speed you need and save a tree. Lightning-fast FireWire 800 interfaces combined with RAID 0 (Striped) yields high performance for fast, smooth video and audio editing, rendering complex 3D objects or special effects, and saving huge blocks of data in record time. Includes automatic data backup software, user-serviceability, a 5-year limited warranty, and works with Apple's Time Machine. This My Book Studio Edition II external hard drive is the affordable way to save your precious memories including up to 284,000 photos, 250,000 songs or 76 hours of video. Configurable to RAID 1 (Mirrored) eSATA, FireWire 800/400 and USB 2.0 and 1.1 Interface System Requirements - Mac OS X 10.4.10+, 10.5.2+, Windows 2000/XP/Vista; Available eSATA, FireWire 800/400 or USB 2.0 port Approximate Unit Dimensions - 3.87(W) x 6.54(H) x 6.06(L) Approximate Unit Weight - 5.2 pounds

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9291 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Western Digital
• Model: WDH2Q10000N
• Platform: Windows
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 8.50" h x 8.50" w x 7.50" l, 6.35 pounds
• Memory: 8MB
• Hard Disk: 1000GB

Features

• Contains Dual-drive storage system, FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 800 to 400 cable, USB cable, AC adapter, Software CD, Quick Install Guide
• FireWire 800 combined with RAID 0 (Striped) yields the speed you need for smooth video editing, rendering complex 3D objects or special effects
• Designed to use only WD's GreenPower drives, the system uses about 30% less energy than standard systems and runs quietly as it doesn't need a fan
• 1TB = 1000GB Hard Drive Capacity; Pre-configured to RAID 0 (Striped)
• Helps saving huge blocks of data in record time

Customer Reviews

So far so good, except runs HOT
I thought this drive would finally release me from my worry that my backups will melt away before my eyes. The Greenpower concept seems well and good but I don't know about the long term viability of putting two of these drives in the same tiny enclosure with no active cooling.

After about 20 minutes of transfers I opened the lid and the drives burned my hand. I put a digital thermometer on the inside of the case between the hard drives and the air in there was 51C. The drives were probably between 60-70C as I can't be sure. Compared to my internal WD Caviar 500GB drive that runs at 32C when cooled by the case-fan the the My Book worries me. Not that I will be running the drives for 2 hrs at a time all the time but it happens.

Otherwise, I tested the RAID 1 feature by removing a drive while the unit was powered and when I replaced it, the rebuilding process automatically began. If I unplugged it during the rebuilding, it would resume when I plugged it in again. Again after only 15-30 minutes of rebuilding the drives were too hot to touch again. I can't imagine how hot the non-Greenpower drives get.

The power consumption ranges from 4W when off to 16W when rebuilding.

The interface is quite speedy as well. Roughly writing at 35MB/s using USB2.0.

I think I'm going to return the drive and build a NAS with two of the same drives inside for peace of mind.

Cheap, reliable storage for Time Machine
Using this drive with RAID level 1 and Time Machine is an easy way to get backup storage you can trust for the Mac.

I prepared by downloading the latest driver from Western Digital and installing it instead of the driver on the CD. I turned off Time Machine so it wouldn't prompt me to use the drive the first time I plugged it in.

When the drive arrived, I followed the instructions on the quick start card to change the drive to RAID level 1. (This uses the second drive for redundant storage. If a drive fails, you just pull it out and replace it, without losing data.) Then I turned on Time Machine and clicked Change Disk.

The WD drives in the enclosure are WD5000AAVS "Caviar Green" drives. The rotation speed varies depending on a number of factors, mostly to save power. That's why the data sheet doesn't specify 5400 or 7200 rpm.

I tested the heat issue by copying files for an hour and then opening the enclosure. The drives were almost too hot to touch. However, I don't think this is an issue in practice, since the drives don't normally need to run for such an extended period. I would rather have them quiet--and redundant.

Does not daisy-chain on FW800 for Mac
OK drive stand-alone.

But disregard the product info: It does NOT daisy chain on FW800 bus on a Mac. WD Tech Support told me so. They have no fix planned at this time.

If you are serious enough to buy a FW800 drive, you are likely serious enough to want two of them... these do not daisy chain and so you will need to put one on FW400 or USB.