[Review] MyBook Studio Edtion 2


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Not really a full review, most likely an overview of the product.

My old MyBook 320 BG has been full for quite sometime and it took me a while to finally go to the store and by me a new one.

Yes, im that lazy.

I decided to get me the MyBook Studio Edition 2 - 1TB with quad interface: FW 400 and 800, USB and eSata.

This baby has everything you need, all the connections you want, big capacity and RAID 0/1 capable.

Plus, its user servicable (as WD say). It means you can replace the drives easily.

But only with WD drives, as they say on their website. Im not sure about this, the connections look identical to me.

Anway, i only buy WD HD. They have the most reliable ones.

I never had a drive dying on me, maybe im lucky with WD.

I can say that i have bad experiences with IBM/Hitachi (die fast), Seagate (loud as hell), Maxtor (loud and die fast).

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This is a box. :p

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Its inside.

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The contents:

1 power adapter (about 150 cm long)

1 cable FW 400

1 cable FW 800

1 cable USB (about 100 cm long)

Quick User Guide (which is a single big sheet telling you how to plug, kind useless)

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The power adpater with 2 types of connections, EU and CH/AU/NZ

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old MyBook 320GB / New MyBook Studio Edition 2 1TB

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The new one is almost double the thickness.

Dimensions: 98 x 154 x 166 mm

Weight: 2.63 kg

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Opening the case, just press the top/front part over where that black square is. Have to push it really hard, you have to be very precise and press exactly over that area.

Have to unscrew that metallic part too.

No tools needed.

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2x 500 GB SATA WD - 7200 RPM - 16 MB - 8,9ms

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Empty inside.

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Small board inside. Must be the one that controls RAID (correct me if im wrong)

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Just a nice detail, printed on both side of the case.

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The light infront indicates how much the drive is filled and when its accessed.

Nice touch.

Ok, about the case quality.

It sucks.

I mean, if you just look at it, its nice. Once you touch it you feel the cheap plastic.

I wont blame them, most of the products you buy today have this feeling.

Now im using it at RAID 0, i prefer to have more space for now since ill have my old 320 GB as a backup for important data.

Didnt test the speeds and couldnt experience any bugs yet.

Ill let it copying the files from my old drive during the night.

Ill let you know if i had errors or any bugs.

For the software included.

It sucks.

Damn shareware.

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Even the WD Anywhere asked me for a key, which i didnt find. I removed it.

Overall, im satisfied with the product for now.

Got it at a good price imo, considering all the features it has.

CHF 250.- = USD 225.-

I think thats it.

Thanks for reading.

(Y)

PS.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Sorry for my english, i know its not that good but it does the job. :)

And sorry for the crappy pics, i dont have a proper place with decent light to make it better.

Edited by Krpano
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Good review, that thing is massive. I might be picking up a HDD so I can do backups with Time Machine, but I don't want something that massive in size. :p I like the way your old MyBook looks better haha.

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Thanks sn00pie.

I agree, its massive and i prefer the look of my old one too.

Im not into grey style.

I would like too add a few things.

Its Mac ready.

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This is a shot with both connected.

I need a new notebook, this one only has 2 USB ports.

Thats why i got the new HD with eSata, the next notebook will have it.

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The power adpater is at the end of the cord and that simply ****s you up.

You know what i mean. It means that will hold more space than needed on the line filter.

What you see beside is the cord from my old Mybook, which has the energy block in the middle of the cord. Much easier to plugin (altho worst to transport, but who would carry that monster around....lol)

Everytime you connect the HD in a WD manager popup on the systray.

It alows you to safely remove the drive and to change tis RAID settings.

When you try to change the RAID settings it will ask you to insert 6 random numbers that the dialog box show. After insertion, it will ask you to confirm again and remember you that you will lost all your data on it.

Edited by Krpano
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Better be Firewire 800, speeds are great!

eSata is much faster.

Now i just need a notebook eSata capable...cant wait for that.

Nice review!

Does it have Wifi to sync wirelessly?

Thanks, unfortunately it doesnt.

I did the full backup yesterday night, everything went flawlessly.

The top of the case gets a little warmer, about the same as my older model. Nothing extreme.

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^ thanks...

One more thing about it.

It does NOT come with the eSata cable.

It ****es me off a bit, how hard would that be ?

Its like the HTC Diamond i got, damn expensive device and has no carrying case.

I would rather pay a few bucks "even" more and get it in the package.

Same applies to the eSata cable.

PS.

Next week ill try a little review of the Saitek Aviator Joystick i bought it together.

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Yeah, i'm still deciding if i want to install an eSata card in my MacBook Pro but the hassle hmmm it would help a lot since im planning on running my pictures, music and videos (i edit all of those) off it.

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Looks great (i like the silver one much better than the old black one), would be cool to replace the 2 drives with 1tb drives

i thought the same thing

looks huuuggee

i have a 1TB my world book edition and it's slim compared to that one

thx for the review

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