Western Digital My Cloud - first impressions

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Elpie

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#132234 14-Oct-2013 12:49

This is a strange first impressions review as I haven't actually seen the hardware. I'm using it though... let me explain.

I am moving to Canada within the next few months, all going well. Taking my PC across in a shipping container is too risky and carrying hard drives with me also carries a risk (especially with border security). Added to this, my husband is already over there and keeps asking me to send across files left behind on computers here. DropBox doesn't cut it for confidential files so I looked for other solutions.

We bought a WD My Cloud, 3TB and set it up in Canada. Set up was, apparently, easy and it was up and running very quickly.

I installed the app on my desktop and we are also installing on iPads and on our Android phones. It also works with Mac and thunderbolt so we are good to go with Macs too.

Using the thing is dead easy. Upload speeds are way faster than what I get with uploading to DropBox, but it also has DropBox support so can load to both.

All in all, I can't find a negative with the My Cloud device - at this point anyway. Being extendable makes it even more useful but, for my purposes, getting all my important data to Canada in advance of my arrival and not having to worry about public cloud security or carrying hard drives is a great thing.

I couldn't find anyone selling them in NZ but Amazon has them. WD won't ship here. AFAIK, the 4 TB version hasn't yet been released but I will be watching out for it.

Specs for the wee beastie are here: http://www.wd.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1140
It cost us $200 including taxes in Canada which, IMO, is excellent value for a 3 TB NAS we can access from anywhere in the world.

Ragnor

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#914946 14-Oct-2013 17:36

Sounds like good bang for buck.

Looks like just a single drive in the enclosure though? If so, the drive dies it's down - as opposed to a more expensive multi disk solution with some form of raid.

Elpie

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#914961 14-Oct-2013 18:44

Ragnor: Sounds like good bang for buck.

Looks like just a single drive in the enclosure though? If so, the drive dies it's down - as opposed to a more expensive multi disk solution with some form of raid.

Yep, sure, but it's designed for a different use. You can add another external drive for backup (it's designed for that) but it's primary purpose is as a personal "cloud" to be accessed from anywhere. It's kind of like having our own DropBox without needing to worry about the sensitivity or privacy of what files are put there. Being essentially plug n play makes it so easy too - no hardware setting up to do at all.

I am really in love with it so far, except for one thing - the Windows app for the front end uses Java. That hasn't been enough to kill it as an option for me but I might have dithered had I realised that before buying.

Elpie

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#914984 14-Oct-2013 19:31

There have been quite a few reviews for it this month. Here's one that shows screenshots of setup and apps: http://www.storagereview.com/wd_my_cloud_review

I note that there will be multi-drive options available later.

linw

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#914989 14-Oct-2013 19:40

Thanks for inspiring me to have a look at my 'MyBookLive' WD drive in a new light.

Indeed, I can use the Android WD 2go app to readily access it from my tablet and phone. Neat.

Best wishes for your life in Canada.

chevrolux

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#914994 14-Oct-2013 19:51

These things are probably a bit of alright. They have been to supplied to the last couple of schools we worked on for SNUP upgrades. They were small schools so I assume they will use these for server backup.
The Ministry doesn't seem to do things by halves so the fact they like these drives must mean they have impressed someone.

Dratsab

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#915016 14-Oct-2013 20:19

I've been using a 3TB MyBookLive for quite a few months now, along with its cloud system which I access via the WD2Go Android app. I originally brought it as a poor man's NAS as it plugged directly into my router and 'discovered' the cloud option while setting it up. It's brilliant!

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alasta

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#915021 14-Oct-2013 20:22

Elpie: You can add another external drive for backup (it's designed for that) but it's primary purpose is as a personal "cloud" to be accessed from anywhere.

So does that mean that I could bring home an external hard drive once a week (or whatever interval), run a backup of everything on the MyCloud device, and then take the backup off site?

For a while I have been thinking that the eventual replacement for my Macbook Pro will be something with solid state storage, but then I would need another storage device to provide extra capacity, and then I would need to somehow run backups of both the Mac and the supplementary storage device. The thought of how that would work makes my head spin.

linw

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#915060 14-Oct-2013 22:01

You don't need to consider the Cloud aspect to back it up. You just bring home the external drive, and plug it into the comp USB socket and do a local copy from one to the other. After all, both are just registered as local disk drives.

Elpie

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#915852 16-Oct-2013 03:07

alasta:
Elpie: You can add another external drive for backup (it's designed for that) but it's primary purpose is as a personal "cloud" to be accessed from anywhere.

So does that mean that I could bring home an external hard drive once a week (or whatever interval), run a backup of everything on the MyCloud device, and then take the backup off site?

Absolutely. It works with Time Machine backup too.

I really think that WD are onto a winner with this product range. They intend to retire MyBook Live (which I understand works well plugged into the My Cloud via the USB3 port, adding storage and being managed by the same apps) and while they haven't said when, they say they are releasing My Cloud units that will have up to four hard drives.

FWIW, Amazon will ship it directly to NZ BUT the postage cost is horrible.

Items: USD 209.00
Shipping & handling: USD 90.91

Total before tax: USD 299.91
Estimated tax to be collected:* USD 0.00

Order total: USD 299.91