Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB Personal Cloud Storage Drive Review

A Review Of The Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB Personal Cloud Storage Drive

Introduction

While some people might still be getting used to the idea of an external hard drive with a massive storage capacity to complement the desktop or laptop, many are already considering the 'upgraded' version. The Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB Personal Cloud Storage Drive offers you everything you'd expect from a 3 TB external hard drive and even more.

Product Description

If what you are after is good, fast and reliable external storage then the Western Digital My Book Live is a great choice. It has that classic Western Digital style and is as reliable as its other devices. With 3 TB of storage it will cater to anyone's needs. In fact the Western Digital My Book Live offers you much more than just external storage. My Book Live is your own personal cloud storage - with no monthly or annual fees. It allows you to stream music, photos and videos to your entertainment system, and offers you centralized and shared wireless storage and backup for all the computers on your home network. So if it is not costing you a lot more, wouldn't you opt for an external hard drive that offers you so much more?

Key Specifications

• List Price: $259.99

• Released: September 2010

• Capacity: 3 TB

• Interface: Gigabit Ethernet

• Warranty: 3 year limited warranty

• Dimensions: 6.6 by 2 by 5.5 inches

Key Features

• Stream your music, videos and photos direct to your connected TV, Blu-ray player, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

• Automatic and wireless backup for all computers, both Mac and PC, in your network.

• Faster read speeds than USB 2.0 drives.

• Shared storage and access for all your home computers.

• Access your media and files remotely from any internet connected PC or Mac.

• Use WD free mobile apps to access photos and files from your tablet or smartphone.

• Great quality and style from a well known and respected brand.

Pros

• Set up is easy for all users and super quick for Mac, Windows 7 and Windows Vista. With WD discovery software setting up the drive is also easy with Windows XP.

• The Western Digital My Book Live has a built in 800 MHz CPU giving you maximum power to process your request, whether that is streaming music to your TV or remotely accessing photos to your iPhone.

• You can plug the Western Digital My Book Live into your wireless router so every computer in your home can use it as additional storage to their existing capacity. Each computer can also access the media and files stored on the drive without the hassle of transferring data and files between computers the old fashioned way. Not only is this convenient but it also saves a lot of time because everything is at everyone's fingertips simultaneously.

• WD's mobile apps allow you to access media and files from your tablet computer or smartphone. Not only does this mean you can have your entire photo collection with you wherever you go, but it is like having 3 TB of extra storage on your hand held device.

• Share photos and movies with friends and family direct to your HD entertainment center without the need to fuss around with connecting cables or transferring files.

• With the included software for Windows users (or Apple Time Machine for Mac users) you will have the ability to automatically and wirelessly backup each and every computer on your home network. No more worrying about losing those important files and precious memories when they are all safe in one location.

• The three year limited warranty is quite a rare bonus and it simply reflects Western Digital's strong confidence in this personal cloud storage drive.

Cons

• The Media Share system that is included is Twonky, which according to some users, is not very user friendly. It is not possible to customize folders etc and a little confusing compared with alternatives.

• Firmware updates have reportedly caused the Western Digital My Book Live to sometimes crash. While this did not mean loss of data a manual reboot is usually a little frustrating.

• There are no extra connections with the My Book Live as it offers just the Ethernet interface. So those who wish to connect to a USB device might be disappointed.

Should You Buy The Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB Personal Cloud Storage Drive?

This is a great device from a well respected and trusted brand. Western Digital has brought us a functional, convenient and efficient alternative to an external hard drive. If you live in a home with more than one computer then this is the perfect solution for additional storage as well as sharing content and file back up. Even if you have just one computer but regularly use your smart phone or tablet computer, this Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB Personal Cloud Storage Drive will still be a great complementary device for you to own.

Buy Western Digital My Book Live 3 TB Personal Cloud Storage Drive from Amazon - click here.

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