Western Digital Rolls Out New Portable Hard Drives

Lake Forest, California-based Western Digital, one of the world's leading vendors of hard disk drives and the world's leader in external storage solutions, has announced today the launch of a couple of updated external storage solutions, part of the company's My Passport Elite, My Book Elite and My Book Studio external drives. Designed to provide users with a couple of new, innovative features on their externals storage solutions, the new drives have been featured with things like an illuminated gauge, customizable e-label and 256-bit hardware-based encryption.

“As portable hard drives grow in capacity, consumers are now able to store their entire digital lives on them. Keeping users' content secure as well as stylish are two aspects that make My Passport Elite drives our most personal storage devices yet,” said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD's branded products group. “Equipped with WD SmartWare software and hardware-based encryption, WD's new My Passport Elite drives keep consumers' personal content safe in one place, while the sleek design and premium finishes infuse a sense of personal style.”

Kicking off with the new My Passport Elite drive from Western Digital, users should be able to take advantage of a 256-bit hardware-based encryption, a USB 2.0 interface and a grab-and-go USB dock connection to the computer. The drive is available in three colors, including Metallic Red, Metallic Blue and Charcoal Metallic, while capacity ranges between 320GB, 500GB and 640GB. There's also the SmartWare Software package, which is integrated into the drive for security reasons.

As for Western Digital's new My Book Elite drives, these storage solutions have now been featured with a smart e-label display that provides users with details on the contents of the device, capacity and security status, even when it is unplugged. These drives have also been featured with the company's SmartWare software and 256-bit hardware-based encryption and are available in capacities of 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB.

Last but not least is the new My Book Studio external storage solution, which is available in capacities of 500GB, 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB. Boasting similar features as the aforementioned models, including the e-label display, the new drive has also been featured with a FireWire 800 interface, in addition to the traditional USB 2.0.

Price wise, the My Passport Elite drive is available at an MSRP between US$119.99 and US$159.99, while the My Book Elite drives start at US$169.99 and can go all the way up to US$279. The My Book Studio will be available from US$149.99 to US$299.99, depending on model.