UPDATES IN THE LAST PARA
I have clarified a few things that other reviews had issues with and gave it a low rating.
For Starters: Since I use Both Mac & PC, I can 1000% say that it works on both these operating systems.
Some customers had issues with the drive going into sleep mode after 10 mins or so. Well, the copying process does not stop, just because the drive has gone into SLEEP mode.
You can take this SLEEP feature off by:
Process 1: Downloading a Free Seagate Manager program available on the Seagate website.
(I did not do this, I used process 2, described next)
OR
Process 2: Formatting the drive and remove the pre-installed Seagate software. Then the drive will NOT go to SLEEP Mode.
How to Format a Drive in Windows:
Plug the Drive --> Go to My Computer --> Right click on the Seagate icon--> Click "Format"
How to Format a Drive in Mac 10.4 or earlier:
Open Macintosh HD --> Click Applications --> Click Utilities --> Open "Disk Utility" --> Select the Seagate disk listed on the Left Side --> Click "Erase" tab --> Choose Volume Format to "MS-DOS" (I chose this so that I can use it on Windows & Mac).
(For the newer MAC 10.6.1 or later, I guess Format is : "Mac OS Extended (journaled)", as rightly pointed out to me by a learned customer IB...Thanks dude!)
Design: Compact & Sleek. Little bigger than the iPhone, but lighter than the iPhone (8GB)
Connection: NO A/C Power outlet needed. Only single USB port is needed, everything provided in the box. So you just take it out and plug it and use it.
Compatibility: Both PC & Mac. Although on the box it says "FOR PC", it was detected by my MAC and will work with both.
Size: Though it says 500GB, we get 465.35GB. And this is the case with most hard drives.
Speed: Forget about the specifics - it is FAST!!
Well worth your money, right!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many customers have asking me why the format process did not work for their Mac?
The reason is, I have a Mac version 10.4.1 and I clarified that in the review.I guess there are a few changes for 10.6.1 and I added that too. If your MAC OS does not fit the description, the best way to start is by finding out OS version of your MAC & then search online on how to format it OR take it to an apple store.
Basically, the STEPS on how to format remain the SAME. But you might find some different Volumes Format based on your OS version. Volume Format will change as new Operating Systems (OS) keep sprouting.
When I bought this drive, there was not a single review which spoke about MAC Compatibility, let alone the other issues. But I took the risk and bought it for $100 or so.
Also, if you compare other reviews vs. mine. My review does not speak about how many songs I have on my drive, who gifted me this, how my life has changed with the new drive, how my office folks like it, how it fits in my pocket although the it is a trouser from my high school.
No offense, they are good individually. What I mean is....one review answer about plug n play....another spoke about light weight (by how much they didnt say)...another complained SLEEP issue...But none answered MAC compatibility, Format, Weight etc
My review has even answered everything that can happen with this drive. (Except that "What will happen if it breaks down" :P ) Seagate Expansion 500 GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive ST905004EXA101-RK
---update at end---
I purchased this drive a few weeks ago and have been very pleased with it. The only junk it was the warranty registration program. Run it then delete it. Disk comes pre-formated for NTFS. I went ahead and did a quick format to get rid of the existing folders on it. The drive goes into standby mode after 5 minutes bye default. This is quickly remedied and set to your liking with free Seagate Manager program available on Seagates website. Also this program give you the ability to do backups, and computer syncs.
Pros -
Quiet drive
very fast
small and sleek
no power supply needed
only requires use of one usb port
Simple/Custom Backups with Seagate Manager
Sync Option with Seagate manager
Cons-
Goes into standby in 5 minutes by default. Easily changeable with Seagate Manager
Case Logic Compact Portable Hard Drive Case listed as an option to purchase with this is TOO SMALL for this drive. This is an issue with Amazon not the drive itself.
Overall I am very please with this drive I have used it on multiple laptops and pcs without issue. I would suggest this over the new WD essential drives that come pre-installed with a bunch of crapware.
------UPDATE--------- 12/17/2010
First Google seagate freeagent download select the Seagate link then select Free Agent GO link. File name is FreeAgentCN.ZIP
I have have used this drive for the last year still performs as well today as it did a year ago. This is still a great buy.
I bought this drive for three reasons:
1. Large capacity in a small form factor,
2. The ability to power/access it from a single USB port,
3. It was on sale at Amazon for under $70.
I started using it on my laptop when it arrived yesterday and was impressed: small, and it worked well with the short standard mini-USB cable. Then last night I plugged it in to my desktop and went to transfer over my 400 GB movie directory. It kept failing after about 10 seconds, at which time Windows 7 would report that I had just attached it. My first thought was it was due to the "sleep" utility, so I downloaded and installed the Free Agent tool from Seagate and set the timeout to Never. Didn't make any difference. I then used the test tool in the utility software and the it reported a drive failure at about 8%, and said I should contact Seagate for an RMA. All my other small external drives (except for an ancient 30 GB) need a splitter USB cable: one end connects to the drive and the two other ends connect to the PC, using the extra USB port for power. As I had nothing to loose, I gave one of those cables a try - it works fine. So, it appears that the drive needs more power than my PC can provide on a single USB cable.
I'm tempted to send it back, but I'm off on vacation tomorrow and it is a perfect drive for that. I may contact Seagate when I get back - maybe my drive is bad?
- - - - Update - - -
It worked perfectly on my trip, and it was nice to have the space. I've now tried this drive on four PCs - my desktop, my father's desktop, and two laptops. It works fine with the single cable on all but my desktop. This is strange, as I've tried the on-board USB ports and the ports on two add-in cards (one as USB-2 with four ports, and the other a USB-3 with two ports) and the drive will only work if I use a USB splitter cable. So, I have to say that the experience I reported in this review is unusual, and I can understand why others report it works fine with the single cable. - Usb Hard Drive - 500 Gb - Seagate - Portable Hard Drive'
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