SimpleTech SimpleDrive 250 GB External USB 2.0 Hard Drive

List Price: $203.13

Features:

• USB 2.0 port; also backward compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1 devices
• Speeds as high as 480 Mbps; provides plenty of bandwidth for your most data-hungry applications
• Operates seamlessly with both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems
• Diagnostic LEDs provide port status for each port
• Easily integrates with your existing network at home or in the office

Accessories:
Tripp Lite OMNISMART500 500VA Omni Smart Tower Line Interactive 6 Outlets UPS	IO Card, PCMCIA, Firewire, 2 Port, 6 Pin, w/ Cable, I/O Flex	Cables To Go - 29554 - USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Adapter Card 5-Port	Snap Server 1100	7 outlet 1250 Joule Surge

Customer Reviews:

The dreaded "usb device not recognized" [Posted on 2008-01-27]
I am not one to give 1 star just because the unit I happened to receive turns out to be defective, but I have seen a pattern both here I these Amazon reviews and on the web that indicates an endemic lack of reliability. Since all people will want from a hard drive such as this are: capacity, speed, ease of use and reliability... and since without that last one the other do not amount to anything, I therefore give this 2 stars.

My story in brief:
- Windows XP sp2
- Drive was usually powered on (i.e. of the two usage scenarios: 1-always on or 2-only powered on occasionally to do a backup, mine was scenario 1)
- Used the drive for about 1 year, before seeing any problem
- Drive started acting flaky... usually giving the "usb device not recognized" error whenever the drive was powered on or connected to the PC
- Drive would intermittently work (be recognized), but only as a USB 1.0 device (i.e. slow)

Possible instigating factor:
- The drive did not appear to like it when the computer went on stand-by. Usually when coming out stand-by the drive would not be recognized until power-cycled
- The flakiness described above was first noticed upon the PC coming out of stand-by on one occasion.

Solution:
I cracked the case, took out the HD, and installed it internally in the PC. Seems to be working well. This indicates this was not a drive problem, but a problem with the USB drive enclosure (which is what SimpleTech is bringing to the game here).

Great HD [Posted on 2008-02-09]
I've had this HD for over 2 yrs now, and it hasn't given me a single problem. It's extremely reliable, and it's even withstood being packed in my luggage for probably about 40 flights over the past few yrs. Simpletech did a great job w/ this HD, fellas.

DON'T BUY IT! [Posted on 2008-02-12]
I got this drive almost a year ago. It was working fine and then all of a sudden the blue indicator light quit working and the computer won't find it. I tried changing the USB cord, I tried it on another computer...nothing! Now I have lost over 11 months of data that is not replaceable. I feel like someone should be responsible for this but can't find any one to help me out. Finally I cracked open the case to see if I could fix it myself. GUESS WHAT!!!!...THIS IS MADE BY WESTERN DIGITAL. So all of the reviews that say this drive sucks and you should buy Western Digital instead are steering you wrong. I went with a Hitachi made drive for my new back up and not only is it much better but I actually get support with it.

Wonderful [Posted on 2008-04-28]
When we bought our external hard drive I knew it was probably a good idea to have a back-up of all my files, pictures, etc. However last week we had a power surge fry my computer, everything was lost. I am soooooo Thankful I had backed up all my files on this hard drive. Everyone who has a computer should buy one of these! We bought one for our son also.

Horrible little drive [Posted on 2008-05-01]
i bought this drive from amazon a little over a year ago and it worked fine up until four months ago, now when i turn it on it doesnt run at full speed - as simple as that seems its a nightmare and i would not recommend buying this drive, there isn't even software for it if you run windows xp which is sketchy - so now i am forced to buy another drive of course from another company, what a waste of money.

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