Western Digital’s WD Elements USB 2.0 external hard drive is the right answer for simply affordable add-on storage. Just plug it in to a USB port and start saving your photos, music, video, and files.

Key Features:

WD quality inside and out – Designed with the same commitment to quality that made WD external drives the number one selling drives in the world.
Plug and play simplicity – Just connect the power and plug it into a USB port to instantly add more storage to your computer.
Designed to save power – Turns on and off with your computer. Enters idle mode when not in use. Utilises a WD drive with power-saving WD GreenPower Technology and an EnergyStar compliant power supply.
Earth-friendly packaging – Packaged in a minimised eco-friendly, recyclable packaging made from recycled materials.
Preformatted for PCs – Designed for use with Windows-based computers. Can be easily reformatted for use with Macs.

What it can hold:

Up to 200,000 digital photos.
Up to 250,000 songs (MP3).
Up to 25,000 songs (uncompressed CD quality).
Up to 76 hours of Digital Video (DV).
Up to 380 hours of DVD quality video.
Up to 120 hours of HD video.

My experience with this drive…

My latest purchase of this drive is my second one, although at a substantial price difference.

On 23rd June 2011 I bought one for A$69. I had seen it advertised on special at a shop a 15 minute drive away, but checked at Dick Smiths in my local shopping centre, and asked if they would price match. I didn’t have the other advert, and said I thought it was $69. Their shelf price was $79. The agreed to match the price, so I bought it their and then.

I checked in the other suppliers advertising leaflet when I got home, and it was only $64. I ended up paying $5 more than I needed but without having to travel for it. I am sure that I could have got it for $64 though, IF I had taken the other advert with me, or even just remembered the exact price.

This new external drive is to be plugged into my new TV, so I can use the PVR function on the TV, and pause, rewind, record, etc., the program that is on.

Today’s Prices (23rd June 2011) at other shops:

$ 64.00 Officeworks (Model: WDAU1000BK)
$ 64.00 The Good Guys (Model: WDBAAU0010HBK-AES)
$ 79.00 Dick Smith (Model: WDBABV0010HBK-AESN)
$127.00 JB Hifi (Model: WDBABV0010BBK-PESN)
$128.00 Big W (Model: ?)
$149.00 Deals Direct (Model: ?)

It was interesting to see that model numbers differ, and it makes me wonder just what the differences are, if any.