Western Digital Media Center Review

By Ian Bell Updated March 21, 2004

Quote from the review at HardwareZone:

“Western Digital’s latest Media Center external drive combines the best of their desktop storage solution with features supporting all the various solid-state media devices. Built specifically for both the corporate or home user who needs a portable backup device in addition to doubling its support for various card standards, the Western Digital Media Center aims to please with both performance, compatibility and flexibility.

Housed in a sturdy plastic case with a metallic look and feel, the Media Center is equipped with Western Digital’s latest 250GB 7,200RPM hard disk drive. From the model number displayed when the Media Center is plugged into the test system, it’s actually based on the drive with the Ultra ATA-100 interface (WD2500JB). “

Read the full review

Publisher

I work with the best people in the world and get paid to play with gadgets. What's not to like?

Audio / Video

How to convert your VHS tapes to DVD, Blu-ray, or digital

VHS tape lifestyle DVD burner combo deck

Nostalgia is a powerful motivator. And nothing quite drives nostalgia more than ripping open a storage bin to find a pile of VHS camcorder tapes that pretty much document your life -- from weddings to graduations, to family vacations, to that indie film you made when you thought you were going to be the next Scorcese.
But when you're done tripping down memory lane (assuming you have a VCR to play them on), you might be thinking about converting that VHS gold to a digital format because, whether you know it or not, the tape that those memories are on is slowly decaying and may soon be lost forever. Converting well-worn home movies will never be flawless, but it can be done on a modest budget with a few basic tools.
Below, we'll show you how to save your moments digitally on multiple formats, including by DVD transfer, Blu-ray, or digital file. If you're just too busy, we've also got a list of the various VHS conversion services, including pricing, to help you preserve that 20-year-old home video of you bailing on your first bike. If not for you, do it for posterity's sake.

Disclaimer: It's illegal to produce copies of commercial films and copyrighted content, but there are no restrictions on copying home videos.
Retail VHS-to-DVD conversion services

Computing

ChatGPT misidentified Japan’s PM, digital minister says

ChatGPT and OpenAI logos.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT may be pretty smart, but it’s not currently able to correctly identify the person at the helm of the world’s third-biggest economy.

Japan’s digital minister, Taro Kono, said that when he recently tried out OpenAI’s much-lauded chatbot, it mistook him for Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida -- the person he lost to in a leadership election in 2021.

Computing

Western Digital comes clean about massive security breach

western digital wd black d30 game drive 1 tb deal best buy march 2023

The popular PC storage manufacturer, Western Digital, has confirmed that it experienced a network security breach earlier this year, in which an unauthorized third party gained control of several of its systems.

The incident took place on March 26, 2023, but was immediately addressed by the manufacturer, with Western Digital reporting the breach bringing in top security experts to launch an investigation, which is currently ongoing, the company said in a statement.