Question 1

can this be used on usb 2.0?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is supposed to work on USB 2.0.
It works best on Windows 7 USB 3.0.
I don't know about Windows 8 or 10 as I don't have them yet.

Question 2

Is there any limitations to using this with an MacBook Pro/Air?

Accepted Answer

I don't know because I only have a mac mini. I would guess based on NOTHING that if you have a recent mac laptop with a USB 3.0 port in it, you may be able to use SSD with that port. But that is just pure speculation. I would recommend contacting Samsung, or calling an Apple Store.

Question 3

Will this work as an external drive for the Xbox One?

Accepted Answer

According to Microsoft's XBox One support docs:

"The basic requirements for storing games and apps on an external drive are:

Has capacity of 256 GB or more, and
    Uses USB 3.0"

This drive meets both of those requirements, so I don't see why it wouldn't work well.

Question 4

Can I use this as external boot drive for slower laptop with Win 8?

Accepted Answer

When I cloned my current SSD drive Norton Ghost gave the option of using this as a master boot drive. It copied everything fine and it shows as a boot drive when launching the computer. I set it up so that it can be used as a boot drive with Windows 7, but I'm only using it as a back-up for my system in case of a crash. I'm already using a Samsung SSD as my primary drive.

Question 5

Does it come with any back-up software pre-installed or do you have to use Windows back-up or a third party software for that purpose?

Accepted Answer

Pre Installed, just plug it in and it will install it's software to your computer then when you want to do a back up plug it in  log into it and go to your control panel select backup and it will backup your data in seconds.  This is a really good product and I highly recommend it.

Question 6

Does this draw less current than a HDD?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Hardly gets warm.  Powered easily from my Surface Pro 3 USB 3.0 slot.  Excellent product!

Question 7

Is encryption enabled by default or do you have to activate it? In other words, can you use this SSD without encrypting the data you are backing up as well? Thank you.

Accepted Answer

When I first plugged the drive in, I was prompted to run a program that helped me set up my security preferences. During this set up you can choose if you want to use a password with encryption or not.

Question 8

Mac 10.9.5 compatible?

Accepted Answer

No issues so far with OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Question 9

Will the drive be capable of operating with both Windows PCs and Macs?

Accepted Answer

I purchased one of these to back up my music files.  It comes formatted so that you are supposedly able to use on both PC and Mac.   I am able to back up my files using my desktop PC just fine, but when I connect to my Macbook Pro (retina display from 2013), laptop freezes/crashes.  I do not recommend for Macs.

Question 10

why not ESATAp?

Accepted Answer

So ESATA is good but its not as Universal as USB.. so I think of this as a Super ThumbDrive.. In some cases faster the a Thumbdrive but just as versatile

Questions & Answers