Western Digital Unveils New External HDD Collection [5 New Models, Built-In Automatic Backup Software, Password Protection, 256-bit Hardware Encryption]

Western Digital is known for their cutting-edge digital storage solutions so it should come as no surprise to anyone that they have decided, yet again, to give their fairly extensive line of external hard drives a makeover to keep up with the times. Their latest introduction features five new external HDDs in a pretty wide variety of flavors. According to Western Digital, the latest product portfolio move is an effort to move storage solutions into a “smaller, smarter, and safer” arena. To this end, every one of the new drives will come dressed up with 256-bit hardware encryption, built-in automatic backup software, and password protection.

The most important update for this latest release has to be the security. Yeah they’ve made them smaller and now offer them in way more colors than necessary – The new My Passport Essentual comes in five colors – but the security is where it’s at. In the past, most of the WD drives relied strictly upon a software encryption program to protect the data inside. This, apparently, was not secure enough. All of the new drives come with 256-bit hardware encryption. This ultra-secure feature will pretty much guarantee that no one will be able to get at your info. And this includes WD, so don’t even think about ever losing your password…ever.

So what’s included in this latest launch? For starters, you get three new ultra-portable My Passport drives: the My Passport Essential, My Passport Essential SE, and My Passport for Mac. Coming in behind the tiny little Essential is the My Book series, of which there are now two additional models, the My Book Essential and My Book for Mac. All of new the HDDs have another thing in common. WD has removed the USB-to-SATA-to-drive connections and made them all direct to USB 2.0. Here are the details:

My Passport Essential – Available in 320, 500, and 640GB and are NTFS File system optimized for PC. Five color options, Midnight Black, Arctic White, Pacific Blue, Cool Silver and Real Red. USB 2.0 connectivity. MSRP $99-$149

My Passport Essential SE – Available in 750GB and 1TB and are NTFS File system optimized for PC. Midnight Black color with USB 2.0 connectivity. MSRP $179-$249

My Passport for Mac – Available in 320GB and 500GB models and are HFS+JournaledFile system optimized for Mac. Carcoal Matte color with Apple Time Machine compatibility. USB 2.0 connectivity. MSRP $99-$139

The AC-powered, larger-capacity My Book Series has an illuminated capacity gauge on the side, WD GreenPower eco-friendly drive, and quiet, fanless operation. MSRP $99-$249

My Book Essential – Available in 500GB, 1TB, 1.5TB, and 2 TB models and are NTFS File system optimized for PC. USB 2.0 connectivity. MSRP $99-$249

My Book for Mac – Available in 1TB only. HFS+JournaledFile system optimized for Mac with USB 2.0 connectivity. MSRP $139

All of the new Western Digital external hard drives listed above are available for sale now. You can get more information on these and all of the Western Digital products by going to www.wdc.com.