Western Digital has introduced its fastest My Book external hard
drive ever. The new My Book 3.0 desktop external drives are among the
first devices certified with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface.
With an interface that’s up to 10 times faster than the
previous-generation USB 2.0 interface, the high-performance My Book
3.0 drive significantly reduces the time it takes to open and save
large files, according to Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing
for WD’s branded products group. Offered standalone, or in a kit that
includes a USB 3.0 PCIe adapter card, the 1TB My Book 3.0 drive is
available now at select retailers and http://www.shopwd.com. The 2TB
model is expected later this week.
The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface on My Book 3.0 drives provides
transfer rates of up to five gigabits-per-second, allowing users to
open and save files up to 4.7 times faster than USB 2.0. The new My
Book 3.0 drive is compliant with the USB-IF SuperSpeed USB 3.0
standard to provide compatibility with other USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
products. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and
USB 1.1.
The new My Book 3.0 drives have 1TB capacity and a two-year limited
warranty. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the My Book
3.0 drive 1TB is US$179.99 USD. MSRP for the My Book 3.0 drive in a
kit that includes a USB 3.0 PCIe) adapter card is $199.99 USD.
Pricing for the 2TB version hasn’t been announced.