HAMMER Morespace 500GB USB 2.0 3.5" External Hard Drive HU1100-500

Pros: This is a nice looking unit which offers workspace versatility - either "upright" config, or "stackable". I've had it about 2 weeks now, and really have had no problems - other than those I stupidly created. I.e., don't fail to format it NTFS (if that's what you want) once you're up and running (it comes FAT32'd) - it only takes a minute or two to do a quick format. Also, before you do, save the warranty and backup software elsewhere, so they're not nuked by the re-format. On that score, I didn't - but an overnight email to Hammer brought an early morning reply with a link for the files I'd lost. Such product support is much appreciated. (I can't vouch for the backup software; haven't used it, and regretting having installed utility software re: one of the 750 Gb Seagate external models (SATA), I don't know if I will). Every time I've gone to "safely remove" the Hammer drive, it's disconnected perfectly (which, on my system at least, is not always the case with external devices).

Cons: (1) The low price w/ added rebate is tempting me to buy another - which I don't really need at all.
(2) I'd prefer it if the unit self-powered down (like the Seagates, for example), once you "safely remove hardware"); it doesn't, which means I have to *lean over* and flick off the power switch once I'm done ! (& the reverse when I want to re-connect). Horrors !
(3) There's only one "serious" (but really pretty trivia) "con". Since I've had the drive installed, if I haven't been accessing it for a while, it seems to go into something of sleep mode such that when it's re-accessed directly, there's a couple of seconds lag before the drive spins up and is functional. This lag also seems to occur when the "sleep mode-y" Morespace drive is "accessed" indirectly as well. That is, it also occurs when you access not the drive itself directly, but are accessing "devices" like "My Computer" or the "Recycle Bin". Pretty trivial to my sights, but I thought I'd mention it.

Overall Review: Nice unit, great price, good customer support and I'm hoping for good reliability which will long outlast the 1 year warranty. And, of course, Newegg Rocks. Super quick delivery, great customer support, etc. etc, etc.

Pros: Drive worked well for the first three weeks.

Cons: Drive failed after 3 weeks of moderate usage, taking all of my irreplaceable files with it.

Overall Review: Buy this only if you plan to buy a better one, because it will break.