NewerTech intros USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter

Sure, we've seen similar adapters in the past, but NewerTech's latest is quite a few rungs higher on the attractive scale than its most formidable rivals. The inelegantly named USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter allows users to easily connect any 2.5-, 3.5- or 5.25-inch HDD / optical drive to a computer via USB, enabling folks to transfer critical data or backup an internal drive altogether without having to hunt down some snazzy external chassis. Notably, the adapter plays nice with IDE, ATA and SATA (among others), has no qualms dealing with OS X / Linux and will set you back just $29.95.

[Josh Wardell @ Jan 14th 2008 3:03PM]

I have their older model (same specs) and it is something everyone should have in their gadget desk. It's amazing how often I need it.

[SteveJ @ Jan 14th 2008 3:09PM]

Is there any risk when using a hard drive not in an enclosure? Is there any reason to have an enclosure?

[diulei @ Jan 14th 2008 3:14PM]

Not if you use it only to get files when you need it and not for an extended period of time.

[Miron @ Jan 14th 2008 3:26PM]

Well, you have to worry about static shock.
But I'd use it because it's a good way to just quickly back up old hard disks.

[Joseph @ Jan 14th 2008 4:45PM]

Don't let anything conductive, like metal, touch the hard drive's circuit board, and you should be fine. Heat dissipation becomes a problem with extended use. I've burned my fingers on some of the newer drives.

[FThorn @ Jan 14th 2008 3:11PM]

I've got the old one, too. Same functionality it appears. Not sure where the lights would interest me, personally. Fry's has even cheaper, no-name and probably the ACTUAL same mfr, for a little cheaper. Subscribe to OWC's (macsales.com)'s newletter and they have it for $5 cheaper than their usual on-line price, too.

[RyanTV @ Jan 14th 2008 3:22PM]

how does it power devices? i have a similar product that came with a 120 plug that converts to ATA power.

[Randy @ Jan 14th 2008 3:36PM]

You beat me to it! I was just about to ask that.

[Simon @ Jan 15th 2008 7:18AM]

There is an additional power supply, not shown in the photo. But you could also just extend one of your computers HHD powercables if you want to get rid of it an your computers power supply still has the juice.

For SATA drives there is an adapter included, and for the 2,5" IDE HHDs that are powered by the main connector there is an adapter that plugs into the USB unit to pass the power through to the drive.

Got an older model, without the snazzy leds, and it works like a charm. Though the picture is missleading, that small device is not realy all you need ;)

[Sam @ Jan 14th 2008 3:36PM]

I will the main interface was eSata or something faster than USB. (I use these things for imaging our PCs, it makes a difference).

[Mike @ Jan 14th 2008 3:36PM]

From their website at http://www.newertech.com/products/usb2_adapt.php

Clean, ample powered UL listed 2.0 amp external
AC adapter provides drive power

[Mike @ Jan 14th 2008 3:42PM]

Also, I just ordered it from their page which sends you to www.macsales.com and it was only $22.50 plus $4.50 UPS ground.

[malone @ Jan 14th 2008 4:15PM]

Canadians beware: macsales.com charges a minimum of $20 for shipping this USB 2.0 drive adapter to Canada.

[Ryan Beesley @ Jan 14th 2008 9:46PM]

I saw that too... slightly misleading as it is the older model. It looks like getting blinky lights sets the cost back 7 dollars. I'm not sure it's worth it.

[Justin @ Jan 14th 2008 3:54PM]

I fail to see what makes this different from the other devices. There are a lot of these adapters that support USB 2.0 and stuff like that.

[DrXym @ Jan 14th 2008 4:05PM]

That's a very clever device though I expect it needs its own power supply. I can't say I would put it to use *that* much but it could be incredibly handy for upgrading PCs.

[Matt @ Jan 14th 2008 4:06PM]

Hey, a bit off-topic but I figured I'd ask the experts... i'm looking for a way to plug my IDE hard drive from an old computer into my new computer, that has only SATA plugs. It's 120G so I'd rather just not write it off as unuseable, but so far I can only find what seem to be janky converter plugs online. Oh, I'm looking for something that will still let me mount the drive inside my PC tower, as the drive has no external enclosure. Any ideas?

[PDubNYC @ Jan 14th 2008 5:10PM]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815280002

[OddManOut @ Jan 14th 2008 7:56PM]

or...

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SIL3611&cat=CBL

...if you prefer...

[Queeg @ Jan 14th 2008 4:49PM]

I can't see any mention of the maximum supported drive capacity. Anyone know?

[Taylor @ Jan 14th 2008 4:25PM]

Probably anything. I don't think these interfaces have anything about them that could limit drive size, they just move data.
-Taylor

[Scott @ Jan 14th 2008 5:06PM]

I've had one of these for THREE years now. Where's the news here?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812156102

[Dan @ Jan 14th 2008 8:08PM]

Nothing new here.. just with LEDs :)

I purchased the Bytecc BT-300 half a year ago here, http://www.topmicrousa.com/bytecc-bt-300.html

It seems they have a duplicate item for $5 less :O
http://www.topmicrousa.com/bt-300.html

[pooptypeuptypants @ Jan 14th 2008 5:28PM]

exactly, i've had one of these for months now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002

c'mon engadget, wake up.

[Che @ Jan 14th 2008 6:03PM]

Poop,

Thanks, that's the one I decided to order.

[Twist @ Jan 14th 2008 6:16PM]

I have tested out a few different products like this and I can say that the original ones from NewerTech are way better than most of the others. Some of the cheaper generic ones require drivers which weren't compatible with anything newer than Mac OS X 10.2.8 (and that is if you could even locate them). The NewerTech ones work without a driver.

I ended up using a few of the older NewerTech adapters to turn an ATX mid tower case into a 5 drive external case (with room for a few more drives) when I got tired of replacing fans in smaller external cases (or replacing hard drives because I didn't catch that the fan had went out soon enough). It worked great and was much cheaper than bridge boards.

[CaliforniaKid @ Jan 14th 2008 10:35PM]

Don't know about this product's quality, but for the same price, go to http://CablesToGo.com/. I use their model 30504, which is VERY high quality, not the cheesy version seen at Fry's.

Cables To Go customer service is extremely good, too.

[kL @ Jan 15th 2008 3:56AM]

I have one that looks just like it (probably older model), and it doesn't seem to work at all with SATA + OS X (other combinations are ok).

[Dan S. @ Jan 15th 2008 10:08AM]

Personally, I'd avoid this thing like the plague -- I had a NewerTech v1.0 USB SATA adapter and it fried two brand-new SATA drives and a ATA/133 drive. (And before you shoot your mouth off, yes, I was using an anti-static mat, in a clean environment and a filtered power supply.)

Spend the extra money on a quality product, like those made by WiebeTech -- in my experience, they've been rock solid.

[Beno @ Jan 15th 2008 10:29AM]

Yawn Engadget ... did you get paid to post this? This is not new tech.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!!

[Isaac @ Feb 22nd 2008 4:45PM]

Huh... the rubber protector costs an extra $10 for one protector.

Or for roughly the same price as the adatper ($24.99), you can get this one and it comes with two rubber drive protectors (one for each size, 3.5/2.5 drives)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119152

No shinies though.

[Tony @ Mar 16th 2008 4:47PM]

One thing that bugs me about this unit (I bought one) is that the light from each LED bleeds through into the lens of the other LED's. I bought the unit because I like to see lights blink as my system works. The poor case design ruins this effect. I was able to correct with some internal surgery and a home made baffle design but not everyone is going to be that patient. Or willing to blow off the warantee.