AcomData PureDrive 640 GB USB 2.0/eSATA External Hard Drive PHD640USE-72

It's a cool looking quiet drive + it is priced reasonably. Also, while it was working with our Direct TV HD receiver, I was a happy customer. Then, after just 1 month, it died taking all our recorded shows & movies to the zone of "no return". The lights are still on, they even go from red to violet and then blue - yes, very entertaining and pretty ;), but the drive is unrecognizable. I bought a new eSATA cable, I rebooted my HD receiver numerous times, (not suspecting that a drive can possibly fail just after 1 month), I tested it on 2 different computers w XP OS & Vista + I used 2 different types of connections: USB and eSATA, but both computers failed to see the drive.

The worst part about this experience, (besides wasting money, energy & time) is non-existent AcomData's customer support.
Try calling (909) 786-4280. You have to press 1 for a technical support. Then every minute you will be prompted to press 1 again in order to continue to wait for the next agent,...Read more

TO MAKE A SAD STORY SHORT:

This died on me in three days.

TO MAKE THE STORY LONGER:

Even the best electro/mechanical equipment does fail occasionally and early failures are usually some kind of manufacturing defect that may only affect a very small percentage of devices that come off the line. Once a device makes it past a week or so there is a good chance nothing is wrong with that particular sample. So, there is a really good chance that this failure is atypical.

TAKE A CHANCE?

If you want to take chance on this drive (and if you do, the odds are in your favor) consider the following:

1. Almost any drive you look at on Amazon, if there are more than a few reviews, you will see reports of failure.

2. This drive is reasonably priced so if you get a good one you are getting a good deal. Be sure to look over to the right hand side of the product page and pick the seller with the best deal. As of...Read more

I bought two of them from Amazon late November 2008 and used them as backup drives. They are all dead now.

Avoid this drive!

An update: sent an email to Acomdata support on their website and did not get a response after a few days. called their tech support at (909) 786-4280 and got an RMA immediately.