I was going to get one of these 2.5" portable drives but I've been scared off by the whole "smartware" issue. I just want a drive to drag and drop files onto, nothing fancy and my PCs are not exactly young and fast.

Is the software thing really a problem and if so, any recommendations for other similar USB powered HDDs?

You dont need to use smartware or any other software, get the drive and then reformat it to remove the software and then just use it the way you want. I have a 320GB one and its perfect for what I need.

You dont need to use smartware or any other software, get the drive and then reformat it to remove the software and then just use it the way you want. I have a 320GB one and its perfect for what I need.

That's what I would have thought but I've been reading how its embedded in the firmware and you have to flash it to get rid of it which has confused me

All these external usb drives are, are a laptop hdd with a USB to SATA convertor mounted in a nice case.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3JDO2NTK7PMGI/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B002KG2LOA&nodeID=172282#wasThisHelpful

is how to remove and disable the software which is just some automounting thing stored on the HDD.

I have one of these that was on offer in Costco a few months back,as said above you dont have to run the smartware,I just use mine to backup photos and music.

Edited 25 April, 201016 yr by kenny rsell

Works fine, not sure what everyone on amazon is so upset about

I personally see an issue with buying something that has a feature you don't want and that causes you issues.

Rather than working around it, customers who don't want the feature should buy elsewhere. That way you send a financial signal to companies that said feature is unacceptable, and if they wish to sell more product they should remove said undesirable feature.

Otherwise all you are doing is telling a company that they can do what they like and you will still buy it.

This applies to all companies equally IMHO.