External Hard Drives -- Question

Doesn't run from USB power though.

Which model?

500gig FreeAgent Desktop

Look on the base, near the front-right corner, see the embossed power
logo? Press it and hold it for a few seconds while the drive is turned
on (but not busy, obviously)

Nope. I've had this apart and know that there isn't any power switch.

In message v4K4j.90788$cD.46282@pd7urf2no "Noozer"
wrote:

Doesn't run from USB power though.

Which model?

500gig FreeAgent Desktop

Look on the base, near the front-right corner, see the embossed power
logo? Press it and hold it for a few seconds while the drive is turned
on (but not busy, obviously)

Nope. I've had this apart and know that there isn't any power switch.


Interesting. I'll have to do some research and find out when and why
they added it. I'm also unclear as to when you'd want to power the
drive on without a computer connected (which is possible with my unit),
although I suppose I can potentially see the desire to power the drive
off (or powercycle)

The switch on mine is just a push/release button, and it's definitely a
soft feature, when the drive is running I need to hold it several
seconds to power off (And the soft on/off works as expected based on
whether the PC is connected to the drive or not -- I can turn it off
with the switch, then reboot and the drive powers back up)

Just seems like an odd additional expense on an already low margin
product.