Western Digital updates its My Passport external hard drives

STORAGE VENDOR Western Digital (WD) has launched a refreshed line-up of its My Passport portable hard drives.

The range is specifically designed for Mac users and Apple's Time Machine backup software. Two models are available called the 'My Passport Studio' and 'My Passport or Mac', which come with up to 1TB of storage.

Jim Welsh, EVP and GM of products at WD said, "Whether you are a member of the creative community or simply use your Mac to enjoy digital content on-the-go, users will find the perfect portable storage solution with WD's My Passport Studio and My Passport for Mac high-capacity portable hard drives."

The main difference between the two models is that the My Passport for Mac offers a single USB 2.0 port whilst the My Passport Studio version adds dual Firewire 800 ports. The extra ports provide higher transfer speeds of 800Mbits/s and the ability to daisy chain additional drives.

Both models offer security features via the WD Security utility such as password protection and data encryption. The designs are aimed to fit in with Apple gear such as the Macbook Air.

Prices start at $99 for the 500GB My Passport for Mac model and extends to $119 and $129 for the 750GB and 1TB capacities, respectively. The My Passport Studio edition will set you back $129, $159 and $179 for the same capacities. µ