Price : Too low to display
The Maxell myGEN Multi PC External Hard Drive is a simple and intuitive backup hard drive that can store your computer's collection of files. Pre-installed Maxell backup software gives you continuous backup that will automatically copy your files as you modify them. Protect your backup files with optional AES encryption and sync your files with to a personal "cloud” on the internet for ultra-safe backup.
This review is from : Maxell myGEN 250 GB Portable External Hard Drive MY-250 (Black)
A very nice backup system ... . One of my first questions when I installed this was "what does it mean by back up your hard drive in minutes?"
I have a 250 Gb Laptop (HP Pavillion), Vista 64 with 4 Gb Ram. It has more than 200 Gb on it. Of that 41 Gb were files that were transferred to the backup hard drive. It took one hour and 10 minutes to completely backup these files the first time. You have a choice of what types of files to back up, and whether you want automatic backup or manual backup.
While the system ran the backup, I Skyped online, and ran other programs. It was very polite, and did not slow down anything I was working on. Best of all, each time you turn your computer on or plug the backup drive in, it automatically reviews any changes and backs up your data. Mine takes about 5-6 minutes, and is not noticeable when I am working on my computer. Most of the time I am keeping it plugged in, and it automatically updates all of my documents onto the drive.
As someone who doesn't have time to learn a lot of programming (I just want things to work right), this backup was perfect. I plugged it in (using the attached cord) and it worked it's heart out without me really doing anything more than answering a couple of simple questions about what I wanted backed up. I also tried the extension cord, directly into the USB port, and it worked well with only one USB plug on my computer (the extension cord has two, in case you need them).
What I like BEST is the fact that it will back up more than one computer AND will do it across platforms. As someone with both a MAC and Windows computer, this is a very neat feature. If you intend to do this, be sure to read the instructions first, since it does require special formatting to make certain that the drive is able to be read by both. Because of this feature, it makes a super way to transfer very large files from one platform to another. You back it up, then export it to the other computer without hassles.
It is an ideal backup for my laptop, small (a little larger than a pack of cards), USB port only (no plug needed), and it sits nicely under my trackball. Because it is so convenient, and doesn't disrupt my computer, I am happy to have it run in the background.
I would rate this as incredible for the non-professional as a super backup for all those things you don't want to lose that we keep on our computers today - photos, videos, music, and oh yes, those work documents too. ;-)
A very nice backup system ... . One of my first questions when I installed this was "what does it mean by back up your hard drive in minutes?"
I have a 250 Gb Laptop (HP Pavillion), Vista 64 with 4 Gb Ram. It has more than 200 Gb on it. Of that 41 Gb were files that were transferred to the backup hard drive. It took one hour and 10 minutes to completely backup these files the first time. You have a choice of what types of files to back up, and whether you want automatic backup or manual backup.
While the system ran the backup, I Skyped online, and ran other programs. It was very polite, and did not slow down anything I was working on. Best of all, each time you turn your computer on or plug the backup drive in, it automatically reviews any changes and backs up your data. Mine takes about 5-6 minutes, and is not noticeable when I am working on my computer. Most of the time I am keeping it plugged in, and it automatically updates all of my documents onto the drive.
As someone who doesn't have time to learn a lot of programming (I just want things to work right), this backup was perfect. I plugged it in (using the attached cord) and it worked it's heart out without me really doing anything more than answering a couple of simple questions about what I wanted backed up. I also tried the extension cord, directly into the USB port, and it worked well with only one USB plug on my computer (the extension cord has two, in case you need them).
What I like BEST is the fact that it will back up more than one computer AND will do it across platforms. As someone with both a MAC and Windows computer, this is a very neat feature. If you intend to do this, be sure to read the instructions first, since it does require special formatting to make certain that the drive is able to be read by both. Because of this feature, it makes a super way to transfer very large files from one platform to another. You back it up, then export it to the other computer without hassles.
It is an ideal backup for my laptop, small (a little larger than a pack of cards), USB port only (no plug needed), and it sits nicely under my trackball. Because it is so convenient, and doesn't disrupt my computer, I am happy to have it run in the background.
I would rate this as incredible for the non-professional as a super backup for all those things you don't want to lose that we keep on our computers today - photos, videos, music, and oh yes, those work documents too. ;-)
Maxell myGEN 250 GB Portable External Hard Drive MY-250 (Black) Reviews
Basic Little External USB HDD With Some Flaws / Limitations . First, the "aesthetics". This is an attractive enough little external USB hard drive. It is encased in a black metal case with black plastic endcaps. It measures 5.25" x 3.25" x .625" (smaller than the dimensions stated in the product description). The long edges of the case are nicely curved. On the front endcap, there is a 2.25" translucent "slit" that glows with blue LED light when the drive is powered up, and that flashes when the drive is accessed. On the back endcap, there is a permanently attached 2" long USB cable. It thoughtfully tucks into a recess built-in to the back endcap - when it is stowed, only a small tab on the USB plug extrudes from the surface of the endcap so the cable can be pulled out. Included with the drive is a USB extension cord - with two male plugs at the end that attaches to your computer or hub (more on that in a moment). Also included is an instruction card & a "warning card" to Mac users that states the drive is pre-formatted NTFS & will need to be reformatted to be useable on a Mac.
I have two Macs (a 15" MacBook Pro & a 27" iMac), both with OS X 10.6.4 installed & a "generic" PC that I built myself with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit installed. On my Macs, Disk Utility reports that this Maxell external HDD contains a Toshiba MK2565GSX drive (5400 RPM, 8MB Cache, 2.5" SATA, 3.0Gb/s).
I tested this HDD on all three of my systems. Here are my results:
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MACBOOK PRO, 15" (May 2006, model identifier MacBookPro1,1 w/ 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo CPU, 2 GB RAM)
When plugging the drive into the USB port on the right side of my MBP using the short permanent USB cable, my MBP immediately POWERS OFF! I tried this several times, and each & every time, my laptop powered off immediately w/o doing a proper shutdown. Interestingly, when I attach the supplied extension cord to the short USB cord and plug in only one of the male plugs on the other end to THE SAME USB port, the drive powers up & mounts fine. Using the USB port on the other (left) side of my MBP, the drive powers up & mounts fine with or without the extension cord. Same with using a self-powered USB hub. Note that my laptop was connected to an AC power source during all these tests.
IMAC, 27" (October 2009, model identifier iMac11,1 w/ 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM)
Drive powers up & mounts fine to the USB ports on the back of my iMac, as well as to a self-powered USB hub. Works fine with or without the supplied extension cord (needing to use only one of the male plugs on the end that attaches to computer / hub).
GENERIC PC (Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q6600, 4 GB RAM)
Drive powers up & mounts fine both with & without the supplied extension cord on a self-powered hub. Powers up, but will not mount using only one connection to a USB port on the PC with the extension cord - requires BOTH male plugs be plugged into two separate ports to power up & mount. Powers up & mounts fine when connected to one port using the permanently attached short USB cord.
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Like many external USB hard drives, this one may or may not draw enough power from a single USB port / connection in order to power up & mount successfully. I have encountered this before with other external USB drives. It all depends on a particular USB port's power output. So, drive manufacturers provide means to supply the extra power when the disk drive is attached to an under-powered USB port. Some provide a separate power connection & supply - this drive by Maxell provides an extra USB connection spliced into the extension cord so that a second USB port can be plugged into to provide the extra power. BUT, on some laptops, like my Macbook Pro, there is only one port on each side of the laptop, so the spliced cable does not work. Self powered USB hubs can overcome this, however.
Nonetheless, I have never seen an external USB HDD cause a laptop to immediately power down like this one did when attached to my MacBook Pro w/ the drive's short cable (and I have used or tested several other drives over the years, mostly made by LaCie). I found this unacceptable, albeit avoidable as I had a couple of work arounds (use the extension cord, or a hub).
As for the supplied software, like the previous Mac user who reviewed this drive, I use Time Machine & am very happy with it. I did start the install of the supplied Maxell software to see what it looked like, however. Once I saw how "clunky" the interface was, I aborted the install. I didn't bother installing it on my Windows 7 PC, as I use some other software there that I like a lot (Oops! Backup), and I assumed the supplied software would be similarly "clunky" there, as is most "free" software that comes with disk drives.
Bottom line, given the powering down of my laptop & the mediocre supplied software, I give this drive only 3 stars.
Basic Little External USB HDD With Some Flaws / Limitations . First, the "aesthetics". This is an attractive enough little external USB hard drive. It is encased in a black metal case with black plastic endcaps. It measures 5.25" x 3.25" x .625" (smaller than the dimensions stated in the product description). The long edges of the case are nicely curved. On the front endcap, there is a 2.25" translucent "slit" that glows with blue LED light when the drive is powered up, and that flashes when the drive is accessed. On the back endcap, there is a permanently attached 2" long USB cable. It thoughtfully tucks into a recess built-in to the back endcap - when it is stowed, only a small tab on the USB plug extrudes from the surface of the endcap so the cable can be pulled out. Included with the drive is a USB extension cord - with two male plugs at the end that attaches to your computer or hub (more on that in a moment). Also included is an instruction card & a "warning card" to Mac users that states the drive is pre-formatted NTFS & will need to be reformatted to be useable on a Mac.
I have two Macs (a 15" MacBook Pro & a 27" iMac), both with OS X 10.6.4 installed & a "generic" PC that I built myself with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit installed. On my Macs, Disk Utility reports that this Maxell external HDD contains a Toshiba MK2565GSX drive (5400 RPM, 8MB Cache, 2.5" SATA, 3.0Gb/s).
I tested this HDD on all three of my systems. Here are my results:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MACBOOK PRO, 15" (May 2006, model identifier MacBookPro1,1 w/ 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo CPU, 2 GB RAM)
When plugging the drive into the USB port on the right side of my MBP using the short permanent USB cable, my MBP immediately POWERS OFF! I tried this several times, and each & every time, my laptop powered off immediately w/o doing a proper shutdown. Interestingly, when I attach the supplied extension cord to the short USB cord and plug in only one of the male plugs on the other end to THE SAME USB port, the drive powers up & mounts fine. Using the USB port on the other (left) side of my MBP, the drive powers up & mounts fine with or without the extension cord. Same with using a self-powered USB hub. Note that my laptop was connected to an AC power source during all these tests.
IMAC, 27" (October 2009, model identifier iMac11,1 w/ 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM)
Drive powers up & mounts fine to the USB ports on the back of my iMac, as well as to a self-powered USB hub. Works fine with or without the supplied extension cord (needing to use only one of the male plugs on the end that attaches to computer / hub).
GENERIC PC (Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q6600, 4 GB RAM)
Drive powers up & mounts fine both with & without the supplied extension cord on a self-powered hub. Powers up, but will not mount using only one connection to a USB port on the PC with the extension cord - requires BOTH male plugs be plugged into two separate ports to power up & mount. Powers up & mounts fine when connected to one port using the permanently attached short USB cord.
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Like many external USB hard drives, this one may or may not draw enough power from a single USB port / connection in order to power up & mount successfully. I have encountered this before with other external USB drives. It all depends on a particular USB port's power output. So, drive manufacturers provide means to supply the extra power when the disk drive is attached to an under-powered USB port. Some provide a separate power connection & supply - this drive by Maxell provides an extra USB connection spliced into the extension cord so that a second USB port can be plugged into to provide the extra power. BUT, on some laptops, like my Macbook Pro, there is only one port on each side of the laptop, so the spliced cable does not work. Self powered USB hubs can overcome this, however.
Nonetheless, I have never seen an external USB HDD cause a laptop to immediately power down like this one did when attached to my MacBook Pro w/ the drive's short cable (and I have used or tested several other drives over the years, mostly made by LaCie). I found this unacceptable, albeit avoidable as I had a couple of work arounds (use the extension cord, or a hub).
As for the supplied software, like the previous Mac user who reviewed this drive, I use Time Machine & am very happy with it. I did start the install of the supplied Maxell software to see what it looked like, however. Once I saw how "clunky" the interface was, I aborted the install. I didn't bother installing it on my Windows 7 PC, as I use some other software there that I like a lot (Oops! Backup), and I assumed the supplied software would be similarly "clunky" there, as is most "free" software that comes with disk drives.
Bottom line, given the powering down of my laptop & the mediocre supplied software, I give this drive only 3 stars.
Maxell myGEN 250 GB Portable External Hard Drive MY-250 (Black) Opinions
Mac software is terrible as expected . I have an Intel Mac Mini running OS X 10.6. I also have a 1GB Time Capsule, so I'm already doing automatic backups in the background. The Time Machine software is, like all Apple software, elegant, reliable, and easy to use. So I didn't really need another backup system, but I figured I'd give this one a chance since it claims Mac support.
Well, the Mac software that comes with this driver is pretty crappy. The version that came with the drive is out of date, of course. Even if it weren't, it refuses to run directly from the myGEN drive because the drive is NTFS formatted, so I can't use it anyway. I have to reformat the drive as a native Mac OS file system before the software will recognize it.
So I downloaded a new version from the web site. The first thing that application did was tell me that there is a new version available and if I want to download it. Huh? Didn't I just download the latest version? Apparently not.
So then I download the real latest version and start it. As I expected, the user interface is ugly and very "un-Macish". It's ugly even for a PC application. The worst part, however, is that the UI has bugs! Clicking with the mouse on some of the buttons doesn't work most of the time! I had to use the tab key to switch from one control to the next, and then press Enter when I think I got the right one.
The software tells me that it has to be installed on an external drive, but because I forgot to format it the first time I launched it, I didn't see the myGEN drive as an option. Once I reformat the drive, the software seems to work. But it's so clunky compared to Time Machine. Not only that, but in order for the software to provide automatic backups, the application has to keep running, which means it takes up a spot in the Dock.
There's an option for free online backup, but I didn't try it. I don't really need it, and I don't trust Maxell to keep my information secure. After all, I have to sign a user agreement to use their service. How do I send them an agreement that they have to sign to ensure that my information is secure?
So basically, like most bundled third-party Mac software, this software is worthless. So this drive is should really be compared with other, bundle-less portable 250GB drives. In this respect, it seems okay. I haven't run any performance tests on it (I will try to do that later). It has a nice feature that the USB cable can be tucked into the drive itself, but unfortunately, it's way too short by itself. It's only about two inches long, so you generally have to use the included USB extension cord if you want to use it with a desktop. With a laptop, it's probably okay without the extension cord, so it's not a bad choice if you want to use the drive between one desktop and one or more laptops.
Mac software is terrible as expected . I have an Intel Mac Mini running OS X 10.6. I also have a 1GB Time Capsule, so I'm already doing automatic backups in the background. The Time Machine software is, like all Apple software, elegant, reliable, and easy to use. So I didn't really need another backup system, but I figured I'd give this one a chance since it claims Mac support.
Well, the Mac software that comes with this driver is pretty crappy. The version that came with the drive is out of date, of course. Even if it weren't, it refuses to run directly from the myGEN drive because the drive is NTFS formatted, so I can't use it anyway. I have to reformat the drive as a native Mac OS file system before the software will recognize it.
So I downloaded a new version from the web site. The first thing that application did was tell me that there is a new version available and if I want to download it. Huh? Didn't I just download the latest version? Apparently not.
So then I download the real latest version and start it. As I expected, the user interface is ugly and very "un-Macish". It's ugly even for a PC application. The worst part, however, is that the UI has bugs! Clicking with the mouse on some of the buttons doesn't work most of the time! I had to use the tab key to switch from one control to the next, and then press Enter when I think I got the right one.
The software tells me that it has to be installed on an external drive, but because I forgot to format it the first time I launched it, I didn't see the myGEN drive as an option. Once I reformat the drive, the software seems to work. But it's so clunky compared to Time Machine. Not only that, but in order for the software to provide automatic backups, the application has to keep running, which means it takes up a spot in the Dock.
There's an option for free online backup, but I didn't try it. I don't really need it, and I don't trust Maxell to keep my information secure. After all, I have to sign a user agreement to use their service. How do I send them an agreement that they have to sign to ensure that my information is secure?
So basically, like most bundled third-party Mac software, this software is worthless. So this drive is should really be compared with other, bundle-less portable 250GB drives. In this respect, it seems okay. I haven't run any performance tests on it (I will try to do that later). It has a nice feature that the USB cable can be tucked into the drive itself, but unfortunately, it's way too short by itself. It's only about two inches long, so you generally have to use the included USB extension cord if you want to use it with a desktop. With a laptop, it's probably okay without the extension cord, so it's not a bad choice if you want to use the drive between one desktop and one or more laptops.
Ideal for portable computers . The myGen portable hard drive is a convenient and easy-to-use tool to store or back up large amounts of data. Since the capacity is 250 GB, it will not be the ideal support for any terabyte-class desktop computers, though it will suffice to extend an already robust memory. Using it on my Windows laptop has been more reasonable than on my Mac desktop. It handles both without difficulties. Depending on your system's speed, the transfer might bog processes (on my laptop, it does; on my desktop, it does not). For 250 GB, it is relatively small and can be carried in a pocket or laptop case. Still, one wonders how useful it will be in two years when mobile phones have terabytes of memory and everything is stored on the Internet anyway.
So easy ... . I have a small laptop (PC not MAC) and I just plugged this in and it worked great. I did not have to use the extension to plug it into a second usb slot for more power. I'm using this to hold a lot of video files and it has worked for a few months, and on several laptops, unlike the previous external drive I depended on. I'm not using the automatic backup software because I have no need for that service so I can't say how it works.
Portable fast and practical external drive . As ytou cans ee in the video, this is a very practical backup drive: it does not require external power, simply plug the built-in USB cable to your PC and start using in seconds. It is small, portable and fast. Great product.
One of many . This product is not unlike a lot of external drives on the market. Like others, it has its own software interface that "simplifies" the auto backup process (I never did mind the manual "copy" feature of yesteryear - felt like I was more in control). There is no manual in the box and the on-screen instructions were difficult to find, but otherwise this is very easy to use. 250GB is not huge - consider capacity. Note: the product comes with 2GB of free cloud (read: online) storage. 2GB is NOTHING and this is of course a teaser to encourage you to buy more online storage. The idea of cloud storage is fine as far as additional security and convenience is considered. The downsides are the potential privacy issues and the risk of just plain forgetting that you bought it (and what your password might be?). The real downside that I am experiencing if the length of time that the online backup is taking. While it takes mere minutes to backup to the hard drive, the cloud backup takes hours to just hit the 2GB mark. No kidding.
Anyway, if the price is competitive for you, I have found this Maxell hard drive easy to work with and otherwise indistinguishable from others on the market.
Anyway, if the price is competitive for you, I have found this Maxell hard drive easy to work with and otherwise indistinguishable from others on the market.
Easy to Use Easy Backup: A PC Perspective . First off, I'm not a Mac user. Send the insults over all you want, but I'm happy with my little Toshiba netbook so I cannot state how well the Maxell myGEN hard drive works with them.
I needed an external hard drive that I can back up all my research and work to on the go without taking up too much space in my laptop bag. I've been hauling around the myGEN for about a week and have had great success with it.
It was super easy to install as I just plugged it in, Windows 7 downloaded the drives and I was ready to go within 30 seconds. The cord is also embedded in the device allowing easy storage without the need to roll a cord around the device.
I tested it out by downloading my entire media library (a simple 14.4 gigs) to the hard drive, which transferred over in under 15 minutes so not too bad.
Again, I don't know how well this hard drive stacks up against other hard drives but it worked well for me.
I needed an external hard drive that I can back up all my research and work to on the go without taking up too much space in my laptop bag. I've been hauling around the myGEN for about a week and have had great success with it.
It was super easy to install as I just plugged it in, Windows 7 downloaded the drives and I was ready to go within 30 seconds. The cord is also embedded in the device allowing easy storage without the need to roll a cord around the device.
I tested it out by downloading my entire media library (a simple 14.4 gigs) to the hard drive, which transferred over in under 15 minutes so not too bad.
Again, I don't know how well this hard drive stacks up against other hard drives but it worked well for me.
Simple easy way to keep your data safe . I'm not a computer person. I sell real estate. I know enough about computers to fix minor problems, but I don't like spending a lot of time to make things work.
I have a lot of photos, documents, client files, etc. located on my computer. If it crashed, I'd lose a lot of information I need to do my job. I need something easy and simple that does it's job. That is exactly what the Maxell myGen with automatic backup is. It's not fancy, it's not exciting, but it is easy to use, easy to install, and it works.
I love the fact that every time I start my computer it will do an automatic backup, and it can do this while running in the background. Some software I've used in the past makes working on your computer while doing a backup impossible. This software works quietly in the background, allowing me to work while it does it's job.
I'm able to password protect my backup drive, which is a nice feature. There is also 2 GB of cloud storage with this drive, in case something happens that destroys your computer and your drive.
I am running a laptop with Windows XP by the way, and the software works like a charm. I love the peace of mind that allows me to not have to worry about my data, and I don't have to remember to backup my computer every 2-3 weeks like I used to do. I just keep this plugged in to my USB port, and it's all done for me.
I have a lot of photos, documents, client files, etc. located on my computer. If it crashed, I'd lose a lot of information I need to do my job. I need something easy and simple that does it's job. That is exactly what the Maxell myGen with automatic backup is. It's not fancy, it's not exciting, but it is easy to use, easy to install, and it works.
I love the fact that every time I start my computer it will do an automatic backup, and it can do this while running in the background. Some software I've used in the past makes working on your computer while doing a backup impossible. This software works quietly in the background, allowing me to work while it does it's job.
I'm able to password protect my backup drive, which is a nice feature. There is also 2 GB of cloud storage with this drive, in case something happens that destroys your computer and your drive.
I am running a laptop with Windows XP by the way, and the software works like a charm. I love the peace of mind that allows me to not have to worry about my data, and I don't have to remember to backup my computer every 2-3 weeks like I used to do. I just keep this plugged in to my USB port, and it's all done for me.
Nice and basic - but perhaps too basic? . External hard drives are a dime a dozen. This one is no different. The only advantage of most other drives is that its USB cable is built in. Inside the drive is a Hitachi SATA drive, 5400RPM, so don't expect it to be a speed demon. Maxell attempted to set this one above other drives by including a backup package and 2GB of online storage. Sadly, in doing so, they priced the drive about $30 more than most other brands. The question is, whether your time is worth $30. By finding your own backup app and using Dropbox or Sugarsync, you get the same solution. But if you just want things to work, then this is probably one of the better options available.
Included in the box is an extension cable, but no carrying case. I can only comment on the Windows version of the backup software, and can't really add much more than "it just works". It'll back up files, and it'll do it without too much fuss.
All in all, a decent generic external drive.
Included in the box is an extension cable, but no carrying case. I can only comment on the Windows version of the backup software, and can't really add much more than "it just works". It'll back up files, and it'll do it without too much fuss.
All in all, a decent generic external drive.
Feature Maxell myGEN 250 GB Portable External Hard Drive MY-250 (Black)
- Backup all your computer's files with the option to specifically copy music, photos or other data
- Pre-installed Maxell software enables continuous backup
- Simply plugs into your USB port for easy use
- Add extra protection with optional AES encryption
- PC and Mac compatible
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Product Details
EAN : 0025215619922UPC : 025215619922
MPN : 665203
Brand : Maxell
Color : Black
Weight : 1 pounds
Height : 2 inches
Length : 8 inches
Width : 7 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Manufacturer : Maxell
Model : 665203
Publisher : Maxell
SKU : 0025215619922
Studio : Maxell
Where To Buy
You can buy Maxell myGEN 250 GB Portable External Hard Drive MY-250 (Black) on Amazon . Click here to Read More
