I purchased this portable HDD (320GB Version) about two months ago in order to store all of my work related files and references since I am frequently moving and rarely use the same computer for any length of time. I had been looking for a semi-rugged portable drive for quite some time, but happened on this one by chance and ended up buying it. As I have not used this drive for a significant length of time I cannot comment as to its durability yet, so I will instead give my initial impressions and update later with durability/reliability comments as necessary.
Rather than run off at the mouth about all sorts of nonsense, I will simply address what I consider to be selling points or potential hang-ups for someone who is doing some research and comparison shopping like I was before I decided on this one.
Fit and finish are excellent - It feels very well put together and extremely solid. Based on the weight and tactile feel of the HDD it feels like it will live up the advertised MIL-STD-810F (drop test). This standard is one of the reasons I chose this drive as I do a lot of moving around and don't tend to be gentle with equipment. It's obviously no Toughbook, but it's held up fine so far and for what it is and the price I feel it will be rugged enough for me.
Compact size - I am used to a desktop external HDD, so going from that to any portable drive is going to be a big difference. It is larger than some of the more compact portable HDDs, such as the Seagate and Western Digital portables, but not excessively so. For me it is worth the slight trade off in size for the drop protection and the price.
Ease of use - Plug and play, no problems at all. The included Y USB is a thoughtful touch, but I have had no problems thus far using it with a standard USB with several different computers and USB ports.
Software - The only negative reviews of this drive cite the included software as the reason for the negative review. I have not used the software so I cannot comment on it, but what can you really expect? I purchased a portable Hard Drive, not backup software; if the data you are backing up is that important you should probably be purchasing actual back-up software.
Bottom line, this is a great drive for the money, end of story.
UPDATE:
I have been using this External HDD for around a year or so with zero issues thus far. I have been carrying it with me almost daily and used it on a variety of computers with good results. Still no need for the "Y" USB cable, though the thought is nice. I finally purchased a netbook to replace my aging laptop and have been carrying this HDD around in my computer bag for the last couple of months. Not a horribly abusive environment, to be sure, but the HDD has handled it well. The torture test will come later this summer when I deploy to Afghanistan and will be spending 6+ months living out of a tent. I'll update again once I get back.
UPDATE II:
Copy/pasted from a post in the comments, here is my post-deployment update for ease of access:
I am back, thanks for asking! I was deployed to Helmand province from Sept 2010 to April 2011. I used this HDD almost daily with no problems. Pervasive dust and dirt, cold and damp in the winter. Still very happy with its performance, though to be 100% honest I did keep it in a pelican case when I wasn't using it. The 320 GB capacity of mine is getting dated and I did purchase another desktop external while there, but I'm sure a new higher capacity Transcend would perform just as well. Let me know if you have any other questions!
UPDATE III (3/12/13):
This will most likely be my final update for this review. The drive continues to hold up well to regular use, though the capacity is definitely well below today's standards (mine is the 320GB version). I do have one more interesting thing to note: I let my curiousity get the better of me a few weeks ago and decided to take a look inside and see how this drive is put together. I was pleasently surprised to discover that it utilizes a standard 2.5" drive - all of the anti-shock characteristics come from the case around it. This is one of the reasons that this external is so big, but also means that any standard 2.5" HDD will fit and gain you the anti-shock properties that are the selling point for this item. When I eventually find myself with the need for more portable storage I plan to purchase a "naked" standard HDD, stick it in this case, and have the best of both worlds.
Compare with similar items
This Item  Transcend StoreJet 320 GB 2.5-Inch USB 2.0 Anti Shock Hard Drive TS320GSJ25M |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | -14% $126.95 List: $146.99 | $82.95 | $64.86 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 23 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||
| Easy to install | ||||
| Quality of material | ||||
| Durability | ||||
| Portability | ||||
| Storage Capacity | ||||
| Sold By | — | CONTINENTAL SUPPLY | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| storage capacity | 320 GB | 4 TB | 2 TB | 1 TB |
| hardware interface | usb | usb3.0 | usb | usb3.0, usb3.0 |
| compatible devices | Desktop | Compatible with PC and MAC;One-Touch Auto Backup Button | Desktop | Desktop |
| form factor | Portable, 2.5-inch | 2.5-inch | — | — |
| read speed | — | 1 megabytes per second | 1 megabytes per second | 1 megabytes per second |
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