Western Digital WDG1NC5000N My Book World Edition 500 GB Ethernet Network Storage System

I recently decided 2 do away with my Desktop computer in favor of an older laptop that I had previously had not been using. I ran into the issue of not having enough space on the Laptop's hard drive 2 store all of my music, videos, & pictures. I purchased the My Book World edition a few weeks ago, & thus far everything has been going exactly 2 plan.

I have iTunes installed on my primary computer, but instead of keeping the files locally on my drive, I now keep them on the My Book. The original transfer took some time, with speeds of approximately 2 megabytes per second, you can do the math on the time it would take 2 transfer a full library of movies & music, but that wasn't a problem at all. iTunes functions absolutely perfectly, the only noticeable difference is the first time that I synced my iPod, it took a few hours 2 copy everything over, again, because of the data rate over the network. Each subsequent sync, though, has been speedy, as I don't change more than a few songs, podcasts, or movies, at a time.

The drive is really doing everything that I've wanted it to. It allows me 2 access the drive from any computer on my network, without issue.

The reason that this review did not get 5 stars is because of Mionet. As you have likely read in other reviews, the software is relatively easy 2 setup, but it very much hinders the use of the files on your network. First of all, when you transfer files onto the drive using Mionet, you CANNOT modify the files without going through Mionet, again. This causes a big problem when iTunes tries 2 update tags in songs, or movies, & cannot write 2 the files. This crippled my use, & made me investigate other options.

The Western Digital site does give instructions 2 login 2 the device directly, & I highly recommend using that option. It is just as easy as logging into your router from your PC. You launch a browser, type in the default IP address, (something along the lines of 192.168.1.x), & you can do all of the configuration from there.

I have Windows XP automatically mount the drive, once again, a snap, & it appears under My Computer just like the C, & D drives.

Don't bother installing Mionet, I went against this advice, & that means having 2 copy my entire library twice, again, sort of time consuming when working with 80 - 100gb of information.

Great drive 4 sharing files on a network, & a great option if you are running out of hard drive space, but don't want 2 have an external hard drive on your desk at all times. Skip Mionet, but all else has been wonderful.

After a year & 10 days of using it, the the thing just failed 2 boot up one day. Since I've used it 4 over a year it is out of the waranty. All my backups, business backups, family pictures, tons of software gone. I put up with everything others say here, but never expected anything like this. Went 2 the store 2 buy a new one & it didnt even boot up out of the box. I am taking it back today. WHAT A PIECE OF CR..!

At 3-5 MB/sec, this drive's speed is embarassingly slow & more appropriate 4 a USB 1.1. device rather than a 1 Gb device. The package includes no 64 bit version of the software & WD does not intend 2 release a 64 bit version. While it is possible 2 connect 2 the drive through the SMB protocol, the manual fails 2 mention the device's default name. I was finally able 2 connect by checking my router's DHCP entries.

Unit is very easy 2 use & you can secure files at a very good price. Speed is a factor but if you dont transfer large files all the time it is no big deal no differnet then transferring files accrossed any lan there is a delay. I would recommend this product very easy 2 use & works well a good way 2 backup files.

I had nothing but problems with this. No after hours technical support & the website did not give me advice on the problems I was having. It also caused some of the setting on my machine 2 be reset so that I lost blue tooth device functionality till I reinstalled, & knocked other users in my home off of the system. All in all a headache that I just don't need.

Designed 4 home users, creative professionals, workgroups, small offices & anyone looking 4 shared storage, the My Book World Edition offers a surprisingly simple & secure way 2 access & share data, photos & music anywhere in the world. Wherever you are, My Book World Edition is accessible just like a local drive using Windows Explorer. From any PC, remotely open, edit, & save files as if they are right there with you. My Book World Edition combines 500 GB of networked storage, backup software & remote access software 2 make it the most versatile & powerful product in its class.