Customer Rating: 
Summary: Easy to use but feature limited...
Comment: This drive is truly plug-and-play, just connect the cords and power it up. However, it lacks very important features. Most importantly is that you can't write to an NTFS formatted drive that you've connected via USB to the back of the unit (only FAT32!!). So if your performing backups over 4GB to this unit and want to store the backups off site, you have to transfer them over the network to an external drive instead of hooking it right up to the WD drive.
Also, you don't have the ability to configure folder level permissions and everyone is logged in as "guest" if you have a private share password which gives me trouble connecting to the drive with BackupExec (I had to make the share public just to perform backups to it!); this may be a combination of bad configuration options of both BackupExec and WD Netcenter but nevertheless troublesome.
It would be a 5 if a couple of these issues could be resolved in a new firmware release.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great product regardless of others lack of understanding
Comment: I'm a techno dweeb too ! Others that have whinned about speed issues just don't understand what the technology is capable of without paying $1500 for a HD Server. Bottomline is that this is a fast device for it's class and price point. It appears to have better features than the Maxtor Unit... and I am a MAXTOR FIRST FAN whenever possible. I've even plugged in other USB based HDs, printers and additional accessories to network other non network capable devices. You'll save $10 to $20 per month just in electricity by shutting down those other computers in the house that you leave running because they have a printer attached to them.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Setup is ok but not for a complete beginner
Comment: The hard drive does what it is suppose to, it stores data. I have been using the NetCenter for over 6 months and everything has been solid. The only complaint that could be made is in regards to the setup software. It definitely made it a whole lot easier than trying to set it up via the Windows provided applications. I still wouldn't say it is something the computer novice should attempt unless they are comfortable calling tech support if things were to go wrong. But overall a very good buy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Warranty of merchantability
Comment: They say it's quiet, and it holds tons of data. They were correct. Fast access speed, easy installation, an overall fine product. Have not used the feature that let's you back-up your entire drive, but we use it in our LAN for shared files, and it's comforting to know that we've got these files stored redundantly. This box does just what it claims to do, the warranty of merchantability (from my old law class!).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Western Digital WDXE5000KSN right on target
Comment: I purchased this drive, set it up next to my wireless router in my wiring closet in my basement, and that is the last I have seen of it. I use it to make incremental backups of 3 desktops that I have running 24/7 here at home. I do periodically check the backups and do a restore (always a good idea with any backup method) and it works flawlessly. In fact I purchased 2 more drives. I use one at work and the second here at home to archive photo's and music. Drive read/write time might not be as fast as others I looked at but for what I use it for, it's perfect and the price/Gb is right, and so far, excellent dependibility and easy to set up. Give this drive a look.
Summary: Easy to use but feature limited...
Comment: This drive is truly plug-and-play, just connect the cords and power it up. However, it lacks very important features. Most importantly is that you can't write to an NTFS formatted drive that you've connected via USB to the back of the unit (only FAT32!!). So if your performing backups over 4GB to this unit and want to store the backups off site, you have to transfer them over the network to an external drive instead of hooking it right up to the WD drive.
Also, you don't have the ability to configure folder level permissions and everyone is logged in as "guest" if you have a private share password which gives me trouble connecting to the drive with BackupExec (I had to make the share public just to perform backups to it!); this may be a combination of bad configuration options of both BackupExec and WD Netcenter but nevertheless troublesome.
It would be a 5 if a couple of these issues could be resolved in a new firmware release.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great product regardless of others lack of understanding
Comment: I'm a techno dweeb too ! Others that have whinned about speed issues just don't understand what the technology is capable of without paying $1500 for a HD Server. Bottomline is that this is a fast device for it's class and price point. It appears to have better features than the Maxtor Unit... and I am a MAXTOR FIRST FAN whenever possible. I've even plugged in other USB based HDs, printers and additional accessories to network other non network capable devices. You'll save $10 to $20 per month just in electricity by shutting down those other computers in the house that you leave running because they have a printer attached to them.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Setup is ok but not for a complete beginner
Comment: The hard drive does what it is suppose to, it stores data. I have been using the NetCenter for over 6 months and everything has been solid. The only complaint that could be made is in regards to the setup software. It definitely made it a whole lot easier than trying to set it up via the Windows provided applications. I still wouldn't say it is something the computer novice should attempt unless they are comfortable calling tech support if things were to go wrong. But overall a very good buy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Warranty of merchantability
Comment: They say it's quiet, and it holds tons of data. They were correct. Fast access speed, easy installation, an overall fine product. Have not used the feature that let's you back-up your entire drive, but we use it in our LAN for shared files, and it's comforting to know that we've got these files stored redundantly. This box does just what it claims to do, the warranty of merchantability (from my old law class!).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Western Digital WDXE5000KSN right on target
Comment: I purchased this drive, set it up next to my wireless router in my wiring closet in my basement, and that is the last I have seen of it. I use it to make incremental backups of 3 desktops that I have running 24/7 here at home. I do periodically check the backups and do a restore (always a good idea with any backup method) and it works flawlessly. In fact I purchased 2 more drives. I use one at work and the second here at home to archive photo's and music. Drive read/write time might not be as fast as others I looked at but for what I use it for, it's perfect and the price/Gb is right, and so far, excellent dependibility and easy to set up. Give this drive a look.
Western Digital WDXE5000KSN 500GB NetCenter External Network Hard Drive Reviews: Page 2 of 3
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