
There are so many detailed reviews that I won't try to compete with.
Specific points are that this is 5400RPM which means lower power and lower heat. This will run off of a single USB port so long as you can get half an amp. If you run a non-powered hub, you may not be able to use the drive off of it without a split USB cable to pull power from somewhere else.
The drive is 5400RPM and low platter count, which ALSO means that thruput on inner tracks will be poor.
Due to data density, even at 5400RPM, the outer tracks will perform well.
While this is a plastic case with softer plastic trim on the edges, the data density means you've got glass platters inside. If you drop this from high enough, expect it to shatter inside.
This is 2.5" inside, so seek times should be respectable. Due to size, you could easily quarter-stroke the drive (only use the outer 30% or so of the drive via partitioning) and should expect outstanding seek times.
My only actual complaint about the drive is that the included USB cable is about a foot long. This might be ok on a table, next to a laptop, but otherwise is grossly inadequate.
As for my purposes, I've purchased a 4M, shielded, USB 2 cable so I can keep this in my fire safe.Get more detail about
Western Digital My Passport Essential 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive WDME5000TN (Midnight Black).