[X4U] External HD Reliability?

[Stroller]

On 27 Feb 2008, at 19:24, Randy B. Singer wrote:
> ...
> Also, Western Digital has decided to include software on their  
> external storage drives that
> restricts them from being used for network file sharing.
> http://www.gearlog.com/2007/12/western_digital_blocks_nas_fro.php
> http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml? 
> articleID=204702710
> http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/12/western-digital.html

This is a slightly misleading statement.

Western Digital include with their drives free "Anywhere Access"  
software that offers additional functionality. As I understand it, it  
allows you to access documents stored on the drive from anywhere in  
the world, presumably in a secure manner, and probably allows you to  
make files shared & public (to the whole world).

It is only this "Anywhere Access" software that restricts sharing (to  
the world) of .mp3 & divx files - otherwise the drive can be used  
normally. If you connect via SMB over the LAN or connect the drive by  
USB to your Mac & share it that way then there will be no such  
restrictions in place.

As an ambulance-chaser yourself, you will surely be aware of Western  
Digital's reasons for this. Just as Napster found itself in a court  
of law for the kinds of files its users shared, WD is concerned that  
they may become liable for the additional functionality they have  
added to their drives.

Stroller.