WD My Passport Essential 500GB upgrade on my macbook

Hey guys, new here. I'm running out of space on my macbook which I purchased sometime mid-last year (Mac OSX 10.5.6, 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB with 160GB HHD) and I'm looking to upgrade the hard drive to a 500GB.

I purchased a Western Digital My Passport Essential 500GB portable hard drive (model: WD5000ME-01) and intend to make a copy of everything using superduper! then extract the hard drive out of the plastic case and replace the internal hard drive on my macbook. Here's the model I purchased:

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a432848012cad9a2740c0a87f3b068c/Product/View/XH2087

for a better view I think this is the same one (looks identical just in black though):
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=579

Just wandering whether this model is compatible to be fitted inside a MacBook as I came across one website mentioning that "you can no longer disconnect the SATA to USB connector from the main harddrive because it is manufactured as one piece":

http://obscuredclarity.blogspot.com/2008/10/500gb-macbook-harddrive-upgrade-for.html

Is this referring to my model? I just wanted to confirm before I began tearing up the case that it can be fitted for my MacBook. Otherwise, I'd like to take it back to the store intact as new and get it replaced for one that will work.

Your knowledge would be appreciated, thanks in advance,

Eugene

damn, what a bummer. Well, thanks for the heads up. I probably would've gone ahead and opened the thing up and learnt the hard way. I'm in New Zealand and this is the store I bought it from:....say you wouldn't know if this model is compatible with the Macbook hardrive replace:

http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a438f40029c1e5c273fc0a87f3b068e/Product/View/XH2089

it looks similar but has a "slanted" appearance to it. or is this model still incompatible for the harddrive replace? I know that the "slanted" looking western digital models are safe to do the replace but my model is more rounded if that's of any help. Please let me know if you know, I desperately need the space.

Regards, Eugene

Sorry, that link to the dicksmithelectronics site wasn't to the right page. But that was the store I bought it from. I remember seeing this model at the store as well:

http://gosecure.be/shop/product_inf...=2218&osCsid=da3ce57a93f153d7fb9ef8c9ce9b6acd

but it was a 500GB one. This is the "slanted" design I was talking about. Will this model be compatible to be fitted in my mac? I know that my friend has done it with a western digital of this design but it wasn't a 500, but much smaller.

I'm too lazy to buy the HD and enclosure separately I'll leave that as a last resort as the dse store is so close to my place haha.

Would appreciate some feedback and hopefully your reply consists of saying that this model in 500Gb is compatible for the harddrive swap

Thanks in advance, Eugene

Hey thanks for the help, but I think I might just take the gamble and buy that model...might be kicking myself later on. But, if I do choose to but it separate, I found one listing on this auction site:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Hard-drives/SATA/auction-225873922.htm

is this one compatible? it seems to fit the description of one that would work in this scenario. Sorry for the number of questions, you've been a great help.

Eug

haha yeah thanks, well that's what I'll go for if I'm unable to get my money back for the WD that's sitting on my desk.

Thanks for all the help.

Cheers, Eug