I'm looking for a good way to have a big external drive, for PC use. I've found a 2TB drive for £61.99 :) at Dabs, not ordered it yet though, but I need an enclosure.
I want USB2 (and USB3 is possible) and SATA connection. I want to be able to move it from machine to machine, my laptops are USB2 (and 1394, and the edit one has options for SATA via an adaptor) while the i7 machine is USB2 and 3 and 1394 and SATA. I reckon Firewire's not that useful any more, not fast enough and too delicate.
So, has anyone got a recommendation for what to buy?
Alan, I bought this enclosure because it also has a sata connection.
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/28693?source=PriceGrabber
Interesting. It's out of stock and doesn't say it'll work with Windows 7. I should have said, 2 laptops with XP, and the i7 with Win7
I have one of these:
http://etradehouse.com/code/ui/main/product_info.aspx?prdid=35-SUE&catid=274&prd_id=12764
Works with my i5 W7 laptop (and other OSs, including XP and Macs! ...and USB 2.0 when necessary).
Available from here:
http://etradehouse.com/prd.aspx?cat=HDD_Enclosures_Caddies&subcat=3_5_SATA_IDE_TO_USB_Firewire
Downsides - external PSU. Upsides - has fan, activity light, small, metal case, eSATA, <£15...
I measured it at 98 MBytes/s via eSATA, and 26 MBytes/s via USB (with a 1TB WD SATA drive).
Alan, I now have four of the Enermax Jazz Tony suggests, bought the first one a couple of years back and loved it so much I bought another three. The fact it can connect to USB (2) AND eSata is so useful. Very fast transfer with eSata of course, just like an internal drive. Not sure about 2TB though, I only have 1TB drives in mine, you might want to check on this. Last, I like that the drive case opens with a simple slider latch and the drive simply drops in, no screws needed. Fully recommended!
I have one of them too.
I bought it so I had something to work with laptop that could be also linked up with desktop pc.
I couldn't get it to capture video direct to the external HD, but that was a preference rather than a must have.
Don't use it much, but handy to have.
It has USB 2 and firewire, though not esata (even though same box as in link), unless notated different?
I haven't tried in on win 7 pc and win7 isn't mentioned on box, but I assume it will.
Box also says suitable for up to 500GB -maybe that was biggest at time was first m/f.
I have one of these:
http://etradehouse.com/code/ui/main/product_info.aspx?prdid=35-SUE&catid=274&prd_id=12764
Works with my i5 W7 laptop (and other OSs, including XP and Macs! ...and USB 2.0 when necessary).
Available from here:
http://etradehouse.com/prd.aspx?cat=HDD_Enclosures_Caddies&subcat=3_5_SATA_IDE_TO_USB_FirewireDownsides - external PSU. Upsides - has fan, activity light, small, metal case, eSATA, <£15...
I measured it at 98 MBytes/s via eSATA, and 26 MBytes/s via USB (with a 1TB WD SATA drive).
..it'll work with Windows 7. I should have said, 2 laptops with XP, and the i7 with Win7
Hello Alan, yes it works with win7.
Like Claire I bought another one and the Sata connection is fast.
I found this http://www.dabs.com/products/seagate-2tb-expansion-3-5--usb-2-0-7200rpm-662G.html?q=%222TB%20Expansion%203.5%22%20USB%202.0%207200RPM%22 at Dabs , in stock and silly price. I know there's no SATA connection, but it's small and fast enough for backup storage. I've ordered one, so we'll see.
Thanks chaps. I'm still interested in a SATA box at some stage.
Alan I have just bought two 2tb external WD hard drives from Amazon which I think were about 66 pounds each (away from home at the moment). I found them cheaper than buying enclosures. Only USB2 but I am just using them to archive video and pictures and they are fine with windows 7. Because they are exactly the same, windows 7 could only access one at a time until I found a fix.
ps They are mirrored and both nearly full after only a couple of weeks :)
The box turned up last Friday. It's neat, quiet, runs cool, and is 10% full now :)
I'd far rather have a drive in an enclosure than as a bare drive, it just seems safer.