Comparison WD Passport Portable WDBPKJ0040BBK 4 TB vs WD My Book NEW WDBBGB0040HBK 4 TB

The form factor in which the hard drive is made.

This indicator determines primarily the size of the device. But its more specific meaning depends on the execution (see the relevant paragraph). So, in the case of external drives, only the overall dimensions of the case depend on the form factor, and then quite approximately. But internal HDDs are installed in slots with a well-defined size and location of holes for fasteners; these holes are made specifically for one form factor or another. For desktop PCs, the standard form factor is 3.5", for laptops — 2.5" ; at the same time, there has been a recent trend in desktops towards miniaturization and the transition to 2.5-inch drives. Theoretically, there is an even smaller form factor — 1.8", but in fact it is used mainly among ultra-compact external HDDs.

Manufacturer's warranty provided for this model.

In fact, this is the minimum service life promised by the manufacturer, subject to the rules of operation. Most often, the actual service life of the device is much longer than the guaranteed one.

— Wi-Fi module. The hard drive has its own Wi-Fi module. The Wi-Fi standard was originally created for building wireless computer networks, but can also be used for direct connection to various devices. Disks with this function can be used as network drives — data storages that can be accessed by every network user. They are also useful for smartphones and tablets: the built-in memory of such devices rarely exceeds a couple of tens of gigabytes, and external storage can come in handy. Many Wi-Fi drives are initially optimized for use with portable electronics (and some are even designed for specific popular models), but anyway, you should make sure that the drive and gadget are compatible in advance.

— Shock-resistant body. A housing that protects the hardware of the hard drive from shock and shock. It is undesirable to specifically drop such media, but anyway, they endure falls better than unprotected counterparts. The specific degree of impact protection should be specified separately; the traditional indicator is resistance to falls from a height of 1 – 1.5 m.

— Data encryption. Ensures the security of storing information on the disk: access to encrypted information can only be obtained by someone who knows the password. The encryption module is an integral part of the drive and does not depend on the computer to which it is connected. The ability to encrypt data is critical if you pl...an to write confidential information to discs; this feature is especially useful for portable drives and laptop drives, which are more at risk of theft than fixed systems and their components.

— Built-in USB connector. USB plug provided in the design of the drive itself. Thus, no additional cables, adapters, etc. are required to connect such a disk to the computer's USB port.

— Backup button. A separate button for starting the file backup procedure, located on the case of an external hard drive. When pressed, the important information for the user contained on the disc is automatically copied to a predefined folder. It is worth considering that the backup settings must be manually configured beforehand.

— Energy saving mode. Drives with power save mode, other things being equal, consume less electricity than conventional drives — both during operation and in standby mode. They usually have a low rotational speed (see Spindle speed (rpm)). Reduced power consumption is especially important for laptop drives, as it allows longer battery life.

— USB port. Powering an external hard drive directly through the USB connector used to connect to a computer. The advantage of such disks is that they do not require a separate power supply — thus, they can be used even with laptops in the absence of an electrical outlet. However, it is worth considering that the power of the current supplied through the USB connector may sometimes not be enough to start the disc — especially if the connection is made through a USB hub at the same time as several other devices.

— Thunderbolt. Powered directly through the Thunderbolt connector — the same one used for the main connection. For more information about the connector itself, see “Connection Interfaces”, otherwise this option is completely similar to the USB power supply described above (adjusted for the fact that Thunderbolt does not use hubs).

— Power supply. Power supply of an external drive from a separate unit connected to a standard 220V network. Such drives may have a connection interface other than USB, are free from problems associated with insufficient power supply, but their mobility is limited by the availability of electrical outlets.