Just received the latest Maplin's catalogue and inside is a SATA docking station at £24.99. I have an old PATA connector which does the same thing by plugging a connector into the HD and also a PATA to SATA adaptor. I can see the convenience of using the Maplin's DS so does anyone use these "gadgets" and any comments regarding them.
Harry
I have a sata docking station , the usb version.
It works really well , the drive sits vertically , tail end connecting to the docking station.
The esata version is supposed to be even better.
I got one from Maplins and use it to back up all documents, photos, music etc from the PCs/laptops via usb. I have plenty of spare HDD so may as well put one to good use, you can't have too many back-ups.
If you have a tower (or external enclosure) with a SATA interface available and an empty 5.25" bay, I use one of these [url= http://www.scan.co.uk/products/Icy-Dock-MB-671-IK-B-35-SAS-SATA-LCD-enclosure-easy-swap-trayless-inc-4cm-fan-and-Keylock]Icydocks[/url]. One of the best bits of technology I've bought in quite a while. Like the Maplin-style dock mentioned above, it also takes naked SATA drives, but gives some element of protection - both mechanical and electrical - that a naked-drive-on-a-desktop doesn't.
I'd avoild the Icy Dock kit, in the last five years I have had three out of three fail.
I have one of Maplins external sata dock that works OK and also an internal sata dock made by i-cute. This has been working fine for 1 year. I use this one to house the boot disc which I have cloned and hence always have a full working backup boot disk available
I'd avoild the Icy Dock kit, in the last five years I have had three out of three fail.
That's quite alarming Col.
I assume, being caddyless the drive is held in place purely by the grip of the connecting sockets. With vibration from fan etc, it may be minimal fuss doing away with caddy but perhaps that's where the problem lies.
I assume it the the Icy that failed, not the HD within it.
Did you hot swap and use it frequently?
I have an earlier version of Icy dock, with caddy, hot swappable, but tend to cold swap.
Some simlar discussions on this thread:
http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=48494&page=2&highlight=icy
.....I assume, being caddyless the drive is held in place purely by the grip of the connecting sockets....
No, the IcyDock I've been referring to has a hinged door to locate, enclose and secure the bare drive in place. It doesn't rely on the connectors for grip at all. It also has a mechanical extraction mechanism that operates when you open the door, to disengage the drive from the connectors, by pushing on it from the connector end.
Thanks for clarifying Martin.
Col's 3 out of 3 failures is still a but worrying.
Col's 3 out of 3 failures is still a but worrying.
Agreed. I've only had one unit for about six months - but it seems fine to me. My model is actually quite simple (and cheap), being simply a SATA-to-SATA bridge (i.e. passive connector linkage only). YMMV as our US friends say! :)
I'm avoiding buying anymore internal drives and using them with adaptors etc. I've just bought 6x 1.5TB Samsung desktop drives using them as 3 matched pairs.
I've still got a shelf full of bare IDE drives but also a draw full of adaptors fans and all sorts of other crap.
A lot of these newer desktop drive use the same dc connector and all at 12v, just a simple circular dc plug. So it makes finding the right mains supply much simpler.
Do shop around as they available cheaper around the web
You can also find some with Card readers and USB in for adding additional USB drives through the same device.
I use a SATA version and is very fast, i can now copy an hours video in about 15 minutes (13Gb)
There is a also a caddy available for the PC, that allows SATA to be slid in and out, handy if space is a premium and you have a spare slot on the front of the PC
eg
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/3.5inch-&-2.5inch-SATA-Hard-Drive-Docking-Station_7705.html
http://www.storagedepot.co.uk/External-Hard-Drives/Hard-Drive-Docks/sc883/p1163.aspx
Do shop around as they available cheaper around the web
You can also find some with Card readers and USB in for adding additional USB drives through the same device.eg
http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/3.5inch-&-2.5inch-SATA-Hard-Drive-Docking-Station_7705.html
That's curious, I've heard of overclockers but not yet overclock.
I wonder if they are an overclockers copy cat.
Even their 'terms' don't disclose who they are:
-----
Overclockers UK (Esnet Ltd)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/contact.php
-----
The only ID overclock have is the domain, so not legal identity (e.g. ltd co, partnership or person trading as abc etc)
http://www.overclock.co.uk/content/Contact-Us_100.html
Make your own mind up.
http://www.jltcomputers.co.uk/content/x2net-from-JLT-Computers_4.html
Thanks Gavin.
That's a standard business model, but made easier for the smaller player.
Prices can therefore be expected to be a margin higher than the source, but possibly better service in terms of advice etc prior to purchase.
BUT IMO I wouldn't rely on that re-seller being trustworthy, reliable and legal unless they clearly stated who they are and are known to have a good track record. You can't sue a domain name. e.g. for non-delivery of paid for goods.
Also, g'tees may be problematic to enforce if not coming from authorised agent. Buyers contract is with re-seller not the supplier.