Mac® Users and Creative Professionals Can Upgrade Storage with Custom Labeling, High Performance and Full Metal Sleekness

LAKE FOREST, Calif., June 8, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --WD® (NYSE: WDC), the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its new high performance My Book® Studio™ LX external hard drive, which offers a high-speed FireWire 800 interface and features a sleek new, cool-to-the-touch aluminum case that complements any iMac®, G5 or MacBook Pro®. The award-winning, book-like design, with its customizable, always-on digital e-label, allows creative professionals to easily archive and find photos and videos from different projects and time periods, even when the drives are unplugged.

Key features include a FireWire 800 interface to give users the speed they need for demanding tasks like photo and video editing and graphic design, as well as a customizable e-label that enables users to easily personalize their media collection and identify critical information about the drive, such as the contents and remaining capacity, without having to boot up their computer and plug in the drive. The My Book Studio LX drives also support USB 2.0, so users have maximum flexibility in allocating their FireWire and USB ports or plugging the drive into a variety of computers.

My Book Studio LX drives offer automatic, continuous backup through WD SmartWare software and also sync seamlessly with Apple Time Machine software, so consumers can choose the backup method that suits their needs. And the 256-bit hardware-based encryption, typically only found on much more expensive drive systems, provides a high level of data security along with password protection that acts as a virtual padlock to keep users' data safe. Available now at select retailers and the WD online store, the new My Book Studio LX drives are formatted for Mac® and come in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB.

"When choosing the right hard drive, creative professionals look for high-quality materials, maximum speed and visual appeal to complement their creative toolkit. The My Book Studio LX drives offer high-speed FireWire 800 performance and a design that will look right at home next to their G5 or MacBook Pro computer," said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD's branded products group. "With the customizable e-label, My Book Studio LX drives help videographers, photographers and graphic designers create, organize and locate their clients' valuable content, no matter how many drives are in their studio."

The new My Book Studio LX drives come equipped with WD SmartWare software, an optional application that provides automatic and continuous backup, control of the e-label display, password and other settings. The real-time visual interface of WD SmartWare software gives users a reassuring view of their backup as it happens. After the first backup, users' files are backed up automatically every time they change or add a file.

WD's My Book Studio LX external hard drive with E-Label display. Photo provided by Western Digital Corp.

My Book Studio LX External Drive

The new My Book Studio LX drive features:

• New, contemporary aluminum casing that remains cool to the touch and matches the aesthetics of Mac computers;

• High-performance FireWire 800 interface to access data at top speeds and USB 2.0 interface for maximum flexibility;

• Smart display with a customizable e-label that reminds users of what is stored on the drive, available capacity and security status at-a-glance, even when the drive is unplugged;

• Plug-and-play ready for Mac users and compatible with Apple Time Machine;

• WD SmartWare visual backup software, 256-bit hardware-based encryption and password protection to give users peace of mind knowing that data is protected from unauthorized access;

• WD GreenPower Technology™, lowers internal drive power consumption by up to 30 percent. WD GreenPower Technology also includes a sleep mode that reduces power during idle times, and a power-saving feature turns the drive on and off with your computer;

• Planet-friendly packaging derived from recycled materials to minimize waste; and,

• HFS + Journaled formatting and are compatible with Mac OS X Tiger®, Leopard® and Snow Leopard®.

Price and Availability
The new My Book Studio LX drives are offered in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB and have a 3-year limited warranty. My Book Studio LX drives are available now at select retailers and online at shopwd.com. MSRP ranges from $199.99 to $269.99 USD depending on the model.

WD's My Book Studio LX product packaging, two terabyte version. Photo provided by Western Digital Corp.

About WD
WD, one of the storage industry's pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and media products.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital® and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to expected growth in digital libraries, consumer demands for access to personal media, and the market for connected consumer electronics devices. These forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations, and actual results may differ materially as a result of several factors, including business conditions generally and other risks and uncertainties listed in WD's recent SEC filings, including its form 10-Q for the third fiscal quarter of 2010. WD undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or for any other reason.

Western Digital, WD, WD logo and My Book are registered trademarks; Studio, WD GreenPower Technology, and WD SmartWare are trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. Other marks may be mentioned herein that belong to other companies. All other brand and product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.One terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment.

SOURCE Western Digital Technologies