Western Digital Media Center

With the explosion of internet viruses and other nasty things out to destroy your data, backing up your hard disk's content is fast becoming a way of life for computer users. With the size of hard disks ever increasing in desktop PCs, the easiest way to archive files and documents is to use an external hard disk.

Western Digital's Media Center takes the idea further with the addition of an innovative 8-in-1 memory card reader and a USB 2 hub.

It's a chunky yet well-built device, weighing in at just under 2kg. We looked at a 250Gb model, the top of the current range, but there are also 160Gb and 200Gb versions available. At the heart of the Media Center lies a Western Digital Special Edition hard disk that has a spin speed of 7,200rpm (revolutions per minute) and an 8Mb buffer. To cut a long story short, this means that it's super-quick at transferring data.

The front panel contains buttons that control the Media Center's main functions: 'automatic backup', which is used to schedule backups, and 'backup on demand', which is used for backing up at any time. Also on the front is a single USB 2 port for connecting peripherals. On the back are two FireWire ports and two more USB 2 ports.

However, if you decide to connect the Media Center to your PC using FireWire, you cannot use the card reader or USB 2 ports. To rectify this, you have to use both FireWire and USB 2 cables. When both are connected the FireWire is automatically assigned to the hard disk, which will leave the USB 2 powering the ports and the card reader.

The 8-in-1 card reader accepts all the main types of memory card, such as CompactFlash, Microdrive, SD, SmartMedia, MMC, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro.

Knowing just what to back up and how to do it quickly and safely is a tricky subject. Thankfully, the Media Center comes with a wizard-based software package, Retrospect 6.5. Simply pressing the automatic backup button launches the software and the wizard is on hand to guide you through the whole process quickly and effortlessly. A utility of this pedigree would be more than welcome with all hard disks.

Contact: Western Digital
www.westerndigital.com