I wouldn't buy it again. I've done all the firmware updates and I still have a problem with it not waking up from sleep, so I have to disconnected it, turn it off, and the reconnect and power on again. Of course, that doesn't work very well if you use it for Time Machine.
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Western Digital My Book Studio 1TB review
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I have had one connected to me MacBook via Time Capsule USB for about 2 months with no issues whatsoever--use it to store/stream my iTunes library. It is pretty quiet and have had no sleep/wake issues (though I understand you were inquiring about FW).
I will like be replacing it though with a pair of LaCie D2 quandra's that will be connected to my new Mac Mini (to be a HTPC). I've read about potential My Book reliability issues as well (mine stays pretty warm, bordering on hot), build quality is not great (painted plastic case vs. aluminum LaCie), and LaCie are stackable--minor but my own space saving need. I'm going to keep the WD and use is as my remote back up (translation--backup and keep offsite).
Wow, this is exactly what I didn't want to hear. Now I'm stuck as to which back up solution I should set up. All I want is to have one external drive for all of my videos for a mac mini media center and then another drive for Time Machine back ups.
Man, everyone keeps telling me to stay away from LaCie drives. How about Time Capsule as a mac mini media center set up? I've read from many users that not only do they get extremely hot but after a while, they stop working with no warning at all and they've lost all of they're data. This issue is getting a little more complicated than it needs to be. I'm running out of room on my iMac and need to come up with a workable solution soon.
There are with mine. I was using it with Time Machine. I would frequently find in the morning that Time Machine was trying to run for the past 8 hours, but never could because the drive wouldn't wake up. I stopped using it for Time Machine because it was too problematic. I now have a Time Capsule for that. It's slower, but much more reliable.
I have never had a problem with mine at all
I use it for Time Machine and a scheduled Carbon Copy Clone in the middle fo the night 7 days a week
Flawless
Woof, Woof - Dawg
I use it for Time Machine and a scheduled Carbon Copy Clone in the middle fo the night 7 days a week
Flawless
Woof, Woof - Dawg
I've had good luck with these drives. I first picked up a 500 GB model for Time Machine backups on my Mac Pro. I soon found myself needing more space for backups, so I picked up a 1TB version.
As a precaution, I updated the firmware on the 500 GB when I first got it (I think it was Jan/Feb 2008) and have never had a problem.
I bought the 1TB one from NewEgg earlier this year, and I believe the firmware was all up-to-date out of the box.
Anyway, I currently run these via FW800 - The 1TB is my Time Machine drive, and the 500 GB (daisy-chained through the 1TB) serves as extra storage for DVD images and encoded movies.
The drives wake and sleep with the computer, and run quiet as a spinning platter could be. No complaints here!
As a precaution, I updated the firmware on the 500 GB when I first got it (I think it was Jan/Feb 2008) and have never had a problem.
I bought the 1TB one from NewEgg earlier this year, and I believe the firmware was all up-to-date out of the box.
Anyway, I currently run these via FW800 - The 1TB is my Time Machine drive, and the 500 GB (daisy-chained through the 1TB) serves as extra storage for DVD images and encoded movies.
The drives wake and sleep with the computer, and run quiet as a spinning platter could be. No complaints here!
I just realized that Newegg recently listed it as a "Deactivated Item".
So, what's next on the agenda?
So, what's next on the agenda?Mine's a deactivated item all the time. Goes to sleep and won't wake up unless I reboot.I just realized that Newegg recently listed it as a "Deactivated Item".
Besides the My Book Studio II, it looks like the LACIE d2 Quadra 1TB at $159.99 is next on deck as far as the reviews on newegg go.
Lucky for you. You're one of the few on here that has had good experiences. I had it on my Newegg wish list and now it's gone. I wonder why?
I just purchased a WD My Book Studio Edition 1TB external hard drive.
How do I know if the latest firmware is installed?
How do I know if the latest firmware is installed?
I've had the 1 TB version for months now. Never had any of the sleep issues some people have mentioned.
Only slight problem I've ever had with it is it would have problems dismounting. I'd have to quit finder and then eject the disc a second time, which would always work.
This wasn't too much of an issue for me because the MBP the drive is hooked up to is generally used like a desktop these days; i.e., monitor, mouse/keyboard, ext HD, so it wasn't dismounted too often.
However, that problem went away when I installed the latest firmware about a month ago.
I leave it powered on all the time to let Time Machine do it's thing ( I have it set up with 2 partitions, one for TM).
Overall it's a good drive, but, I think next time I'll go back to what I had before, meaning I would get a external FW800 enclosure and be able to use whatever hard drive I want (easy HD upgrades).
Only slight problem I've ever had with it is it would have problems dismounting. I'd have to quit finder and then eject the disc a second time, which would always work.
This wasn't too much of an issue for me because the MBP the drive is hooked up to is generally used like a desktop these days; i.e., monitor, mouse/keyboard, ext HD, so it wasn't dismounted too often.
However, that problem went away when I installed the latest firmware about a month ago.
I leave it powered on all the time to let Time Machine do it's thing ( I have it set up with 2 partitions, one for TM).
Overall it's a good drive, but, I think next time I'll go back to what I had before, meaning I would get a external FW800 enclosure and be able to use whatever hard drive I want (easy HD upgrades).