250GB Dual-Option Media Center External Hard Drive and Backup - FireWire and USB 2.0 comparison

Add to my list
Print
E-mail
Share

Features
Remove from comparison	Remove	Remove	Remove	Remove	Remove
Product name	250GB Dual-Option Media Center External Hard Drive and Backup - FireWire and USB 2.0	Western Digital MyBook Premium Edition 500GB External Hard Drive	Transcend StoreJet 25f (500GB)	Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 250GB External Hard Drive	Seagate FreeAgent Go (blue, 320GB)
Price	Check Prices	$279.99	$103.28 to $118.99	$167.17 to $248.99	$69.95 to $144.55
CNET editors' rating	3.5 stars Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)	3.5 stars Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)	4.0 stars Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)	stars Overall score: ( stars)	4.0 stars Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
Average user rating	2.5 stars	1.5 stars		2.0 stars	2.0 stars
Release date	January 06, 2004	March 08, 2006
The Bottom Line	Featurewise, the Media Center blows away Maxtor's OneTouch, but it's an uneven performer.	If write speed isn't a top priority, the Western Digital MyBook is a good deal at around $300 for a 500GB drive. It'll look good on your desk or bookshelf, too.	While other external hard drives offer built-in backup software, automatic data encryption, or rugged casing protection, the Transcend StoreJet 25F only promises, and delivers, the fastest data transfers at the lowest price. The missing FireWire prevents us from giving this Transcend an Editors' Choice award, but we still highly recommend this drive to storage hounds who don't mind USB 2.0.	The Western Digital MyBook Essential Edition external hard drive is a slightly pared-down version of the MyBook Premium Edition. It's a good option if you need additional storage without backup software.	The Seagate FreeAgent Go is our favorite portable hard drive to date and takes our award for Editors' Choice. The drive is well designed and fast, and you won't find a better value for the price.
Similar Products	Compare more products	Compare more products	Compare more products	Compare more products	Compare more products
Buffer Size	8 MB	16 MB	Info unavailable	8 MB	Info unavailable
Spindle Speed	7200 rpm	7200 rpm	Info unavailable	7200 rpm	5400 rpm
Type	Hard drive - External hard drive	Hard drive - External hard drive	Hard drive - External hard drive	Hard drive - External hard drive	Hard drive - External hard drive
OS Required	Apple MacOS 9.2.2 or later Apple MacOS X 10.1.3 or later Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP	Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows 2000 Apple MacOS X 10.2.8 or later Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition	Linux 2.4.2 or later Microsoft Windows XP Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft Windows Vista Apple MacOS 9.0 or later	Microsoft Windows Vista Apple MacOS X 10.3 or later Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP	Microsoft Windows Vista Business SP1 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2
Vista Certification	Info unavailable	Works with Windows Vista	Compatible with Windows 7	Compatible with Windows 7	Compatible with Windows 7
Supported Flash Memory	Microdrive Memory Stick MultiMediaCard SD Memory Card SmartMedia Card Memory Stick Pro CompactFlash Card type I CompactFlash Card type II	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable
Enclosure Color	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Royal blue
Data Transfer Rate	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	480 Mbps	480 Mbps	480 Mbps
Localization	United States	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	North America	Info unavailable
Weight	Info unavailable	2.9 lbs	5.7 oz	2.9 lbs	5.6 oz
Average Seek Time	8.9 ms	8.9 ms	Info unavailable	8.9 ms	Info unavailable
Manufacturer Warranty	1 year warranty	1 year warranty	2 years warranty	1 year warranty	5 years warranty
Storage Controller	None	Info unavailable	Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-150 ) - Integrated - Hi-Speed USB	Info unavailable	None External - USB 2.0
Capacity	250 GB	500 GB	500 GB	250 GB	320 GB
Dimensions (WxDxH)	5.7 in x 8.3 in x 1.9 in	2.2 in x 5.6 in x 6.8 in	5.4 in x 3.2 in x 0.6 in	5.6 in x 6.7 in x 2.2 in	3.1 in x 5.1 in x 0.5 in
Power Source	Info unavailable	Included AC adapter	USB bus	Included AC adapter	USB bus
Product Description	WD Media Center WDXF2500JBRNN - Hard drive - 250 GB - IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB	My Book Premium Edition WDG1C5000 - Hard drive - 500 GB - IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB	Transcend StoreJet 25F - Hard drive - 500 GB - Hi-Speed USB	My Book Essential Edition WDG1U2500 - Hard drive - 250 GB - Hi-Speed USB	FreeAgent Go - Hard drive - 320 GB - Hi-Speed USB
Interface Type	IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB	IEEE 1394 (FireWire) / Hi-Speed USB	Hi-Speed USB	Hi-Speed USB	Hi-Speed USB
Form Factor	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	2.5"	Info unavailable	2.5"
Voltage Required	AC 120/230 V	AC 120/230 V	Info unavailable	AC 120/230 V	Info unavailable
Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications	Full specifications
Buying choices	E-mail me when this product is available	Amazon.com Marketplace $279.99 In stock: Yes Price from 1 CNET Certified store	Amazon.com $118.99 In stock: Yes Amazon.com Marketplace $117.66 In stock: See Site Buy.com $103.28 In stock: Yes Prices from 4 CNET Certified stores	Amazon.com Marketplace $248.99 In stock: See Site Buy.com $167.17 In stock: Yes Prices from 2 CNET Certified stores	J&R Music and Computer World $84.99 In stock: Yes Amazon.com $93.99 In stock: Backorder Beach Camera $69.95 In stock: Yes Prices from 12 CNET Certified stores
Remove from comparison	Remove	Remove	Remove	Remove	Remove