1st choice ... but not for everyone ...

- The drive is working here with USB, Firewire and eSATA Linux
problems (Suse 10.3). In contrast to the FreeAgent Pro drives
eSATA, here does not seem to be slowed by an eSATA and chipset
I get more than 80 MB / sec under Linux on a notebook eSATA
ExpressCard (SIL chip). However, this is not as fast as the Samsung
1TB drives, but you do not get (yet) in an external enclosure
with standby function.

- A key point for me for the purchase was that the hard drive
Inactivity goes automatically into standby and just automatically backups
wakes. It works under Windows and Linux here very well, what else
unfortunately not self-evident.

- Referring to the review of G.Bender: That in my drive
supplied power adapter does not whistle and the status LEDs are working
halfway (see below).

- The housing is made of plastic metalisiertem wins certainly no prize, is
but otherwise relatively well made and visually gives no bad
Impression.

- With 4 Platter has the drive certainly fast problems with the heat.
Here, the housing and the ventilation slots contained therein seems quite
to do a good job of heat dissipation. Since I have with my Maxtor
OneTouch and Seagate Pushbutton and FreeAgent drives have more
Fears.

- Five-year warranty for such a large and new drives for my
Recommendable experience alone to charge for WD "Studio"
Version value.

Now the negatives:

- Unfortunately, the standby time is defined as approx 10 minutes and can
not like the Maxtor OneTouch or Seagate FreeAgent Pro by software
be set.

- The drive is relatively quiet when it off the table by
Foam pad "decoupled", but when accessing the head movements
clearly heard. Here are Maxtor, Seagate and Samsung drives
much quieter, and even this only bearable decoupled from the table
were. Why does not the manufacturer to decouple the drives properly?

- The status display is a bit "strange". Thus, the LEDs go sometimes 1-2
Seconds from when new after a short break to the drive via eSATA
is accessed. Such a display provides at least for me the
exact opposite of "I'm busy". The
Capacity gauge does not work with Linux, because the to
necessary software probably (still) missing (see also below :)

- Since the plate hanging on a Linux box here, I can not help to
available Mac or Windows software say. But I recommend taking a look
to other user- reports on the Internet, as they are not always positive.

- Via eSATA are many SMART features of the drive via hdparm / sdparm
apparently unavailable. But maybe someone will still something out
and it's possible to call eg standby and testing ...

In summary: Who an external 1TB hard drive with fast
eSATA / FireWire 800 Interface and auto standby without additional
Will have software for this record is certainly present the first
Choice. Otherwise, I would perhaps rather to my opinion,
significantly better grab Samsung 1TB drive in an external enclosure. Yet
with separate standby and 5 years warranty There are apparently something
not yet ...