View Full Version : Uber gadget
Picked up one of these the other week:
http://www.storagedepot.co.uk/Gallery/product/SATA-CradlePopup.jpg
Fantastic idea imo. I replaced two 250GB Hitachis with a 1TB Samsung and now use the two Hitachis as backup discs via the dock. The large amounts of space allows me to shovel HD movies off onto the external disks and also run regular backups of large amounts of data, such as picture and music archives and regular images of my main OS partition. When I run out of space I just buy another SATA drive and plug it in!
Nice looking :) How does it connect to the PC?
USB 2.0
You'd best tell LeperousDust (http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7316) where you found it. ;D
I've been using them at work for about a year or so - they're fantastic!
Feekles, they have USB and E-Sata connectivity on them.
The one I have is USB only, there is a variant with eSATA too but I couldn't find anyone stocking it.
Got it from StorageDepot: http://www.storagedepot.co.uk/Enclosures-and-Cases/sc884/p640.aspx
Thinking about it, I picked up the eSATA ones in Arizona because I couldn't find anywhere in the UK that had stock.
I have the budget version of this; a USB wire with a combined IDE/SATA connector on the other end. Extremely handy at work as you can whip a student's FUBAR'd Windows install disk from their laptop, plug it in, and just copy the important bits off. It comes with a separate power supply for full size discs, with a molar connector and SATA converter. Laptop drives get powered by the USB though. Cost me about ten quid on the 'bay and has saved at least three people's bacon in the last couple of months.
Sounds like what I have. Can't remember where I got mine. Scan I think.
Hmm, never thought of Scan but they do it and even cheaper too:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=723367
LeperousDust
19-04-2008, 23:35
Hahaha :D Cheers guys, left all my other hard drives at home now this isn't really needed right now, i ended up doing a lot of swapping back and fourth!
Something like this that support pata and sata would be a godsend for people who a bit of computeringfixing on the side!
The Sharkoon branded version (not sure they actually make it) has a PRO derivative with eSATA, USB hub and card reader! I'm trying to find one atm.
If you want something that covers all the home HDD solutions (i.e. IDE/SATA/2.5/3.5 etc.), then something like this...
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=550155
Not as pretty or friendly, and not the one I have, but very similar.
MarcLister
19-04-2008, 23:57
Something like this that support pata and sata would be a godsend for people who a bit of computeringfixing on the side!But what about geeks who want to be even geekier?
"Course I just plug my spare HDDs into an external cradle and use it that way".
;D
LeperousDust
20-04-2008, 00:50
If you want something that covers all the home HDD solutions (i.e. IDE/SATA/2.5/3.5 etc.), then something like this...
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=550155
Not as pretty or friendly, and not the one I have, but very similar.
Wow thats pretty cool too, i guess it just leave the drives nekkid to lie on a desk? How does one power them?
2.5" via USB or adapter, everything else via adapter.
MarcLister
20-04-2008, 00:52
Wow thats pretty cool too, i guess it just leave the drives nekkid to lie on a desk? How does one power them?Power cable included.
http://www.sharkoon.com/html/produkte/externe_gehaeuse/drive_link/index_en.html
Middle pic of the three in a row.
Just found the pages for the stand.
http://www.sharkoon.com/html/produkte/externe_gehaeuse/sata_quickport/index_en.html
And the Pro
http://www.sharkoon.com/html/produkte/externe_gehaeuse/sata_quickport_pro/index_en.html
That looks suspiciously like a Molex connector. Maybe it'll power from a PC PSU as well then.
MarcLister
20-04-2008, 00:56
That looks suspiciously like a Molex connector. Maybe it'll power from a PC PSU as well then.Yes. Wanna bet Sharkoon have realised this and the molex end is hardwired to the brick? :D
I believe that's called DIY - a few ££ will get you a Molex-to-Molex cable of whatever length you need. :)
LeperousDust
20-04-2008, 01:09
That brick is HUGE for what is essentially only a few watts and 12v needed :D
Can't find the Sharkoon PRO model anywhere :(
MarcLister
20-04-2008, 23:52
Might be worth emailing Sharkoon for their list of distributors in the UK.
Mailed them over the weekend asking where I could purchase it in the UK and so far have had zero response. Very impressive - NOT!
Well both Scan and OcUK are now stocking the Sharkoon Quickport PRO and I've upgraded to it this week.
The difference in speed over eSATA is astonishing. Was maxing at about 30MB/s over USB but am now averaging 60MB/s and the limiting factor is the speed of the disks :)
A good gadget just got even better.
MarcLister
22-05-2008, 22:54
that's what we do!:shocked: It is? Phew! I'm in the right place after all. :D
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