HDD Stage Rack gets even better: now with 300% more FireWire
Just like fine wine, the HDD Stage Rack keeps getting better with age. On its third iteration now, the latest version of the external HDD cradle not only includes the obligatory USB and eSATA ports, but it also boasts a 6-pin FireWire 400 connector and two FireWire 800 sockets. 'Course, this thing isn't slated to be available for US hands until the end of this month, but that'll give you a few weeks to swallow the lofty $165.33 price tag, at least.
[Via AkihabaraNews]
[Via AkihabaraNews]



















It has more connectors than Thermaltake's hdd docking station, but for 39 bucks, I'd take the USB-only option from them.
Yeah, Jesus, $165 is RIDONKULOUS!
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=524
$35 TTake one, but no eSATA.
Yeah, it is really pricey but USB ain't really that great.
I'd settle for one with just one eSATA port though.
Wow, wasn't it originally supposed to be around $50 or so? That's quite a cost escalation there.
Is this still SATA only? I really like this device, but it's not worth the investment for me if it is SATA only - I have WAY more PATA drives laying about.
SATA connectors are designed so that the grounding pin is the last to disconnect when you remove the cable (or in this case solid connector). This is to prevent the PCB on the drive from breaking. PATA connectors (the 40-pin and the molex power) do not have this feature. A lot more engineering would have to go into making these more hot-swap-able.
No one is going to design one for that. Too many stupid pins. 1 pin bend and you're screw. But 1 pin bend with the cable/ribbon type you can still force it in. Ain't going to work with this design for PATA.
Have a spring-loaded pin-connector pad for that last pin? it'd stick up just a coupla milimeters. Man someone should hire me right this second :D
Ditto. I have way too many PATA to make this of any use besides, most HDD enclosures w/fireWire are $50.
Price is a bit steep. I rather just leave an enclosure open on my desk. Shut off the power, unplug the drive & plug in the new one before turning back on the power. I'm sure I can save at least $100. Look up the Vantec 360UFS-BK.
Or you could buy an enclosure with a decent hotswap rack. I just don't see this being worth the premium
Great, I just bought the other one.
300 percent of 0 is still 0. This started out with no IEEE 1394 connections so how can it have 3 more and be 300 percent more?
Was going to post the exact same thing!
I bought a LaCie d2 Quatro with all the same connections as this thing plus a 500 gig SATA HD for $180 back in December. Sure it isn't quite as easy to swap out the HD's, but come on that price is insane.
This seems to be intended more for IT/Power Users who are servicing a large client base.
Looking at old posts, it looks like it didn't have ANY firewire ports... Which means 3 ports isn't 300% more than before... Why do you guys do this? We KNOW you must understand percentages... why use them wrong just to make a cool-sounding title? It's just an annoyance is all, but really...
-Taylor
That's what i was thinking.
doesn't 300% of zero equal zero?
:)
Haven't you noticed that the headlines are more and more like geekologie lately?
Along that nitpicky theme: 300% more of something actually quadruples the original amount just like how 100% more of something doubles the original amount.
-george
it's not the price of these things, it's the shipping, Add roughly another $50 for shipping (from japan). So, really this thing will set you back >200 bucks
if they really want to make money with this thing.. they should just rent them.
after I (and several people like me) burn thru all the loose drive they have laying around to make sure nothing needed is on them, i wont have a use for that thing anymore
What's the name of the company that makes these? I can't find their website!
It might be worth the price if it made toast too...