As far as I can tell, my Western Digital Elements drive has the software to allow it to work with your computer and nothing else (I just checked and it has: 1. some diagnostic tool (could be helpful) 2. a program that powers the drive down when you turn you computer off (useful, because there is no power button) 3. a thing that makes the WD logo display instead of the normal drive icon (useless, but it does let me know which window is the drive one when I've got a bunch open) 4. FAT32 formatting utility (could be useless or useful, depending)
So it has extraneous software, but compared to the MyBook line, it's nothing.)
(On the downside, Amazonians have left consistently bad reviews (most say "dead after five months." I have not had my drive five months yet, but it's worked so far, and it has a fan, so it gets slightly warm to the touch, but nowhere near uncomfortable (plus, I like the little clicking noises it makes. It's likes it's talking to me!))
So, yes, um. Vote for WD Elements, but a vote against the MyBook, which I can assure you (via the complaints of some tech blog) that the software it comes with basically limits you transferring certain filetypes over a wireless network (or something. You can transfer every filetype to the drive and to other places via the cord, but certain types can't be shared wirelessly. Of course, they are exactly the files you'd WANT to share.).
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1. some diagnostic tool (could be helpful)
2. a program that powers the drive down when you turn you computer off (useful, because there is no power button)
3. a thing that makes the WD logo display instead of the normal drive icon (useless, but it does let me know which window is the drive one when I've got a bunch open)
4. FAT32 formatting utility (could be useless or useful, depending)
So it has extraneous software, but compared to the MyBook line, it's nothing.)
You can see a list here.
(On the downside, Amazonians have left consistently bad reviews (most say "dead after five months." I have not had my drive five months yet, but it's worked so far, and it has a fan, so it gets slightly warm to the touch, but nowhere near uncomfortable (plus, I like the little clicking noises it makes. It's likes it's talking to me!))
So, yes, um. Vote for WD Elements, but a vote against the MyBook, which I can assure you (via the complaints of some tech blog) that the software it comes with basically limits you transferring certain filetypes over a wireless network (or something. You can transfer every filetype to the drive and to other places via the cord, but certain types can't be shared wirelessly. Of course, they are exactly the files you'd WANT to share.).