Our take
Consider the G-DRIVE mobile 0G01818 when a portable 500GB hard drive, USB 2.0 or FireWire 800 host connection, and documented bus power fit the job. The manufacturer data sheet maps this exact regional SKU to EMEA silver and describes its legacy ports and power arrangement. Those are the useful distinctions; the 2012 compatibility list is historical, and the saved evidence does not establish how a present seller's unit, cable, or computer will behave.
A buyer with a confirmed USB 2.0 or FireWire 800 host who wants a portable 500GB HDD and can verify the actual drive, cable, current operating-system path, and seller terms.
Buyers who require USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, FireWire 400, a current operating-system guarantee, a confirmed current Amazon listing, a known seller cable/package, a tested individual drive, or more than 500GB of nominal capacity.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- The manufacturer SKU table maps 0G01818 specifically to the 500GB EMEA silver variant, despite the historical row's conflicting black/white wording.
- The data sheet lists USB 2.0 and two FireWire 800 ports, giving a verified legacy host more than one documented connection path.
- The source explicitly says the portable drive is bus-powered through USB 2.0 or FireWire 800, so it does not describe a separate AC supply for those paths.
What to weigh up
- FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 are older interfaces, and the exact sheet does not list FireWire 400, USB 3.0, or Thunderbolt.
- The source's Mac OS 10.5 and Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 list is from the product era and does not establish support for a current computer.
- Historical ASIN B005G3PMVI is not verified as a current exact Amazon offer; a seller's cable, package, condition, and unit health are also unknown.
Specifications and exact model details
The key details
| Model covered | 0G01818 |
|---|---|
| Advertised capacity | 500GB advertised capacity; accessible space varies with formatting and operating environment |
| Drive configuration | Portable external hard disk drive, 5400 rpm per the data sheet; no measured file-transfer result is established |
| Host connection | Two FireWire 800 ports and one USB 2.0 port; data sheet specifies bus power from either connection |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 15, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
Full review: how the features affect your choice
What the features mean for you
Which 500GB G-DRIVE mobile is SKU 0G01818?
The manufacturer-authored data sheet has separate model-table rows for North American, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Japanese configurations. It maps 0G01818 to the 500GB EMEA Silver G-DRIVE mobile, while nearby SKU 0G01817 is the North American silver 500GB version and 0G01819 and 0G01820 are separate regional codes. The frozen source-row title says black/white, but its exact model field is 0G01818; the SKU crosswalk supports the EMEA silver configuration. Keep these SKU and regional boundaries intact when comparing listings. The Amazon row's B005G3PMVI is retained only as a historical reference, not as proof of a current offer. Check the actual drive label and seller description against 0G01818 before relying on the stated color or capacity. ([G-Technology / Hitachi data sheet](https://cdn.billiger.com/dynimg/1EBnghGCfgOziotJwZwsEvt4H9rycHjeBa9LTdXG2DAeUL-uySefzx3c_tE4_CbvacSt_0iRvssAr5CK5pJYC0/Hitachi-G-Drive-Mobile-750GB-0G01994-Technische-Details-56d9c8.pdf), page 1 lines 38–66; checked 2026-10-15.)
Which computer connections are actually listed?
The specification table lists two FireWire 800 ports and one USB 2.0 port. That is a useful choice for a computer that has one of those exact host paths, but it does not turn this model into a modern USB 3 or Thunderbolt drive. The source does not list FireWire 400, so do not count on a 400 connection merely because the product has FireWire 800. A physical adapter or connector shape would not, by itself, prove protocol or operating-system support. Confirm the ports on the offered unit and verify any cable or adapter chain with the computer you intend to use. USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 describe supported interfaces in the old data sheet, not measured transfer speeds on today's hardware. ([G-Technology / Hitachi data sheet](https://cdn.billiger.com/dynimg/1EBnghGCfgOziotJwZwsEvt4H9rycHjeBa9LTdXG2DAeUL-uySefzx3c_tE4_CbvacSt_0iRvssAr5CK5pJYC0/Hitachi-G-Drive-Mobile-750GB-0G01994-Technische-Details-56d9c8.pdf), page 1 lines 27–33; checked 2026-10-15.)
Can it be used where there is no wall outlet?
The product description calls the unit bus-powered and says the drive can draw power through its FireWire 800 or USB 2.0 connection instead of carrying an external AC supply. This makes the power arrangement relevant to a portable archive or transfer where an outlet is inconvenient. The claim is about the documented model design; it does not prove that a particular older drive still works, that every computer port supplies enough power, or that a current seller includes the required cable. Check the exact unit, the intended host port, and the cable before planning a no-outlet setup. Do not infer from a compact case alone that a different G-DRIVE model shares the same power behavior. ([G-Technology / Hitachi data sheet](https://cdn.billiger.com/dynimg/1EBnghGCfgOziotJwZwsEvt4H9rycHjeBa9LTdXG2DAeUL-uySefzx3c_tE4_CbvacSt_0iRvssAr5CK5pJYC0/Hitachi-G-Drive-Mobile-750GB-0G01994-Technische-Details-56d9c8.pdf), page 1 lines 0–15; checked 2026-10-15.)
What does the 500GB capacity and 5400 rpm figure tell you?
The data sheet identifies this as the 500GB configuration and notes that accessible capacity varies with the operating environment and formatting. Leave room for the file system and do not plan on using every advertised gigabyte for files. The page artwork identifies a 5400 rpm disk, which helps describe the configuration but is not a measured copy rate, reliability result, or guarantee for a surviving unit. No independent performance test or exact-model transfer benchmark is saved. For a bounded legacy archive, 500GB may be a useful documented floor; for a larger collection, compare the actual storage need with higher-capacity drives rather than treating the spindle figure as a reason to expect a particular workload result. Keep a second copy of important files. ([G-Technology / Hitachi data sheet](https://cdn.billiger.com/dynimg/1EBnghGCfgOziotJwZwsEvt4H9rycHjeBa9LTdXG2DAeUL-uySefzx3c_tE4_CbvacSt_0iRvssAr5CK5pJYC0/Hitachi-G-Drive-Mobile-750GB-0G01994-Technische-Details-56d9c8.pdf), page 1 lines 16 and 38–66, page 2 lines 18–20; checked 2026-10-15.)
Are the old Mac and Windows requirements still current?
The 2012-era sheet describes a Mac-formatted drive, mentions Time Machine readiness, and lists Mac OS 10.5 or later and Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or 7. Those are period product details, not a current support statement. The source does not confirm that this drive works with a present-day macOS or Windows release, that Time Machine currently accepts its format, or that any bundled software is maintained. A buyer who needs a specific backup application or file-system setup should verify it with the current computer and the actual drive before moving the only copy of data. We leave current operating-system and software support unknown rather than treating the old compatibility list as a promise. ([G-Technology / Hitachi data sheet](https://cdn.billiger.com/dynimg/1EBnghGCfgOziotJwZwsEvt4H9rycHjeBa9LTdXG2DAeUL-uySefzx3c_tE4_CbvacSt_0iRvssAr5CK5pJYC0/Hitachi-G-Drive-Mobile-750GB-0G01994-Technische-Details-56d9c8.pdf), page 1 lines 5–11 and 32–33, page 2 lines 24–26; checked 2026-10-15.)
What should you confirm before buying an older unit?
Use the tagged search for G-Technology G-DRIVE mobile 500GB 0G01818 as a way to find possible offers, then verify the full SKU and the EMEA silver configuration in the actual listing. Historical ASIN B005G3PMVI failed to establish a current exact Amazon offer, so it is not used as a direct link. Ask which FireWire 800 or USB 2.0 cable is included, whether the drive and port work together on your host, what condition the individual unit is in, and what return terms apply. The source supplies neither a current seller package nor a test of any particular surviving drive. Current price, stock, warranty eligibility, modern OS compatibility, and unit health are not asserted here. A drive that powers over a host connection still needs a suitable working cable and port. ([G-Technology / Hitachi data sheet](https://cdn.billiger.com/dynimg/1EBnghGCfgOziotJwZwsEvt4H9rycHjeBa9LTdXG2DAeUL-uySefzx3c_tE4_CbvacSt_0iRvssAr5CK5pJYC0/Hitachi-G-Drive-Mobile-750GB-0G01994-Technische-Details-56d9c8.pdf), page 1 lines 27–33 and 53–66; checked 2026-10-15.)
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Before you buy
Does SKU 0G01818 refer to a silver 500GB drive?
The manufacturer table maps 0G01818 to the 500GB EMEA Silver G-DRIVE mobile. It is distinct from nearby regional SKUs; verify the actual label because the historical Amazon title's color wording conflicts.
Does it have FireWire 400?
The data sheet lists two FireWire 800 ports and one USB 2.0 port. It does not list FireWire 400.
Can it run without a separate power adapter?
The manufacturer description says it is bus-powered through FireWire 800 or USB 2.0. Confirm the exact unit, host port, and cable before relying on that arrangement.
Will it work with a current Mac or Windows computer?
The 2012 sheet lists older Mac and Windows versions only. It does not establish current operating-system or backup-software support.
Is historical ASIN B005G3PMVI a confirmed current Amazon offer?
No. It remains a historical source-row reference. The product uses a tagged search for the exact 0G01818 model; verify any seller's listing and unit.
Where can I check the current price?
Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.
Sources and review basis
Sources & review basis
We use the linked product documentation for the features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- G-Technology / Hitachi G-DRIVE mobile manufacturer-authored data sheet ↗ — checked October 15, 2026.
- G-Technology / Hitachi manufacturer-authored G-DRIVE mobile data sheet, rechecked 2026-10-15. Page 1 lines 0–15 describe a portable bus-powered HDD and USB/FireWire power; page 1 lines 27–33 list two FireWire 800 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and period OS requirements; page 1 lines 38–66 map 0G01818 to the 500GB EMEA Silver model; page 1 line 16 artwork identifies 5400 rpm. ↗ — checked October 15, 2026.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.