The Western Digital Elements Portable is as basic of an external hard drive as you can get; the device doesn't offer much beyond simple plug-and-play operation. But don't let the bare-bones functionality of this drive fool you; powerful USB 2.0 performance and compatibility with both Windows and Mac make it a good low-cost alternative for new digital storage users.

The Elements Portable drive may not have the rapid transfer speeds afforded through USB 3.0, but the device does have top transfer speeds among USB 2.0 drives. Unless transferring large multimedia files, the external hard drive delivers read and write speeds that should be sufficient for most users. In terms of storage capacity, the 500 gigabyte (GB) model is the largest capacity available in the Elements Portable drive. There's also 320GB and 250GB capacities available, but the 500GB model definitely gives you the most digital bang for your buck.

At first glance the external hard drive's design is deceivingly simple, but upon closer inspection it becomes clear the device actually has some design aspects that are worthy of a mention. For starters, the drive's casing is a matte plastic. Unlike some of the drive's counterparts with glossy exteriors, this type of casing stays relatively clean and is far more resistant to scratches and smudges. Like many other Western Digital drives, this one is also made from recycled plastics, giving the WD Elements a smaller carbon footprint than most portable hard drives. In addition, the bottom of the drive is also outfitted with small rubber pads to keep the drive in place and prevent slipping or vibrations. Our only gripe with the design of the drive is its actual size; it's a bit bulkier and weighs more than most of the external hard drives on our lineup. However, the difference in weight is nominal (essentially just a few ounces) and doesn't hinder the overall portability of the drive significantly.

One area we were less than thrilled with was the portable hard drive's supplementary help and support – namely its warranty (or lack thereof). Western Digital offers a subpar one-year warranty with the Elements Portable drive. We feel external hard drives should definitely have a longer warranty (at least two years) to ensure they can hold up against the minor abuse incurred through daily transport and heavy use. It was also disappointing considering the prominence of the Western Digital brand and the fact that many of the manufacturer's other external hard drives have two, three or even five-year warranties.

Lousy warranty notwithstanding, users will be happy to find several comprehensive and informative resources on the Western Digital website, including FAQs and product guides tailored specifically for the WD Elements Portable drive. Western Digital also offers convenient one-on-one customer support via email and toll-free telephone.