Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
TheMy Passport Edge for Macis the newest phallus of Western Digital ’s portable hard drive fellowship . It ’s not wildly different from late My Passport models , but the Edge does have USB 3.0 connectivity , and has slimmed down to an extremist - thin 4.40 by 0.43 in inclosure . The My Passport Edge also has many of the feature film we ’ve occur to expect from Western Digital ’s Mac - centrical drives : pre - formatted using HFS+ , Time Machine compatibility , WD Security , and WD Drive Utilities . It number in a 500 GB capacity and is back by WD ’s three - yr warranty .
The My Passport Edge is a nice little ride that ’s plan to complement the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air . It ’s incredibly soft to use right out of the box , and its aluminum enclosure is one of the small on the food market . In fact , the drive is probably thinner than your notecase , allowing you to easily slip it in your pocket and take your file anywhere you want to go . Western Digital ’s Security and Drive Utilities software let you encrypt your data to keep it safe , show your effort , or perform diagnostics .
The only drawback to this drive are that it comes in only a 500 GB capacity and is outfit with only a USB 3.0 interface . While the drive is compatible with USB 2.0 , many Mac drug user ( specially those with older car ) desire more connectivity options and use FireWire or Thunderbolt when they want the faster carry-over speeds . If you ’re look for a like drive with more connectivity , you may want to appear into Seagate’sBackup Plus ( ) or Buffalo’sMiniStation Thunderbolt ( ) . Both of these drive come up with USB 3.0 , plus they have the ability to join via Thunderbolt . However , to link through Thunderbolt with the Seagate driveway , you will have to buy Seagate ’s Go - Flex Thunderbolt adaptor ( $ 99 ) , and the necessary Thunderbolt transmission line ( $ 50 ) separately from the drive . The Buffalo drive has both connexion and comes with all of the necessary cables .
When put through our series of laboratory tests , the My Passport Edge for Mac posted middling grudge corresponding to the Seagate Backup Plus and a snatch faster than the Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt . In the AJA System Test , the My Passport Edge posted a write time of 111.4 MBps and a read time of 112.7 MBps . To spell / read a 10 GB file , the drive immortalize transfer upper of 112.6 MBps and 116.6 MBps severally . While writing a 10 GB folder , the My Passport Edge seduce 85.3 MBps , while it record the same brochure at 82.2 MBps .
Bottom line
The My Passport Edge for Mac is a slap-up drive for easily storing your file for on - the - go use . It ’s thin enough to stick in your sack as you ’re walk out the doorway to work , and its aluminum enclosure render a long-wearing exterior so you know your files are safe . It ’s not the fastest drive on the securities industry , but it ’s fast enough for what its designed for . And since it ’s formatted HFS+ and rearwards compatible with USB 2.0 , it will work properly out of the boxful . However , if you ’re an Apple drug user who ’s seeking a drive with more connectivity option , you may care to look elsewhere .
