SATA / CF / IDE to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter is way handy

Though there are plenty of whatever-to-USB adapters out there, this critter just tickles our fancy with its extraordinary utility. The SATA / CF / IDE to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter enables owners to connect CompactFlash cards, SATA drives and even IDE drives to any computer with a spare USB 2.0 port. Which is like, every computer made since forever ago. Usually, we'd suggest that practically every travel pack should possess one of these, but the cheapskate in us still feels the $22 price tag is a few notches too high.

[giantenemycrab @ Jun 17th 2008 10:31PM]

I must get one of these.

[teslasnp @ Jun 17th 2008 10:33PM]

My helpdesk needs these!

[Shadyman @ Jun 17th 2008 11:33PM]

Oh hai! I herd u liek mudkipz.

[kevin_ho @ Jun 18th 2008 6:40PM]

I herd I like mudkipz too!
...oh and teh product is good too...

[KarlW @ Jun 17th 2008 10:35PM]

When I saw this, I got that kind of geek impulse-buy thing going going on. Then I remembered I have a Mac, so it probably won't work.

Good news though, it uses the standard mass-storage drivers, so it works on everything (should have mentioned that, e!). Will buy.

[KarlW @ Jun 17th 2008 10:43PM]

Oh, and you should mention that this only works with 2.5" drives (i.e. laptop drives). It doesn't work with the conventional desktop 3.5" drives.

This one does: http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0773, although it's $3 more expensive, and requires an external power adapter (spinning hard drives need way more power than USB provides).

[w00t @ Jun 17th 2008 10:50PM]

Smaller drives don't spin? :D

[RikF @ Jun 17th 2008 11:16PM]

Spinning *large* hard drives

Better now?

[tank @ Jun 17th 2008 11:19PM]

USB Mass Storage is compatible with Mac.

[phanbouy @ Jun 17th 2008 11:20PM]

sorry to hear about your mac's limitations. i'll take it off your hands.

[Joseph @ Jun 18th 2008 1:59PM]

why wouldn't it work? I have yet to have a card reader not work on my mac.

[darkstar @ Jun 17th 2008 10:39PM]

this is a great deal! looks like it doesnt require an AC cable too!

[Lein @ Jun 17th 2008 10:46PM]

When did we start up with the synchronized banner shit again? See, this is what happens when you disable adblock...

[Shadyman @ Jun 17th 2008 11:34PM]

So don't disable Adblock?

[Addic @ Jun 17th 2008 10:59PM]

Yeah! great write up numb nuts:

Who's it made by?
Who's gonna stock/sell it?
What's the timeline until it's available for order?
Will it still require an external power source?

Damn fool tempt me with gadgety tidbits only to tell a fraction of the story. :-0

[happy_penguin @ Jun 17th 2008 11:01PM]

Click the pic.

[A.C.E.R. @ Jun 18th 2008 1:01AM]

Lazy much?

[Xepol @ Jun 17th 2008 11:06PM]

only supports 2.5" sata and sports a near useless cf adapter - seriously, CF? Why not toss on some LEDS, a coffee warmer and a usb hub while you are at it?

Seriously, call me when its 10$ and supports a full size sata drive.

[Mile @ Jun 17th 2008 11:24PM]

Coffee warmer would be cool! Of course, that would only add to the price. :(

[McBUNT @ Jun 18th 2008 1:47AM]

Most professional SLR cameras use CompactFlash. The RED camera uses CompactFlash. CompactFlash is far from useless.

[batfastad @ Jun 18th 2008 6:30AM]

Compact Flash, useless?
So are you just holding out for the MultiMedia card version? :D

[Chris in CA @ Jun 18th 2008 10:01AM]

Screw that, I'm not buying it until it has a teleporter and mows the lawn. Incompetent bastards adding useless features to an otherwise great device at a decent price- the nerve!

[Chris @ Jun 17th 2008 11:08PM]

price is about right for this type of device, but no 3.5" pata is a bummer. hell, many 2.5" drives need more power than USB can provide anyway, unless this has a 2nd usb port for power leeching.

would go nice with the sd/mmc/sm/ms to cf adapter I have

[Chris @ Jun 17th 2008 11:09PM]

oh, and it's PATA, not IDE. SATA and SCSI are IDE too, stands for Integrated Drive Electronics, which all have.

[John B @ Jun 17th 2008 11:56PM]

And you're probably the only person on this whole board who's pedantic enough to even make that distinction or associate IDE with anything other than PATA.

For f**k's sake....

[phanbouy @ Jun 18th 2008 12:49AM]

persnickety

[giuliop @ Jun 18th 2008 6:32AM]

IDS *does not* mean a generic "Integrated Drive Electronics"; it is a synonym for ATA *only*: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_Drive_Electronics.

SCSI *is not* IDE, nor is SATA.

Check your facts before spreading false information in idiotic I-know-all comments. Idiot.

[Chris @ Jun 18th 2008 6:08PM]

My facts are plenty strait, how about you link to reputable
professionals instead of a page that for all I know you create
yourself just to dupe me.

"In fact, the term "IDE" is probably more widely used than the correct
name for the interface! " -
http://www.storagereview.com/guide2000/ref/hdd/if/ide/unstdIDE.html

"Essentially, an IDE interface is a standard way for a storage device
to connect to a computer. IDE is actually not the true technical name
for the interface standard." - http://www.howstuffworks.com/ide.htm

"Integrated Drive Electronics: A generic term term that can be applied
to any drive with an integrated controller." -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/262969

Just because it's on wikipedia doesn't make it authoritative, in fact
most teachers won't accept wikipedia as a reference because of it's
tendency to have inaccurate information.

And just because something is common doens't make it correct. A
photocopy is not a "Xerox", a facial tissue is not a "Kleenex", even
though many people call them that.

[Mile @ Jun 17th 2008 11:23PM]

Shipping kills the deal.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 18th 2008 8:39AM]

$3 shipping kills the deal?

[Joseph @ Jun 18th 2008 2:01PM]

you should have thought of that before you moved to the North Pole.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 17th 2008 11:24PM]

I think us Engadgeteers are kind of owning their web server because that page has been loading for about 10 minutes and I have 1MB/s down..

[phanbouy @ Jun 17th 2008 11:25PM]

they're prolly using Bridge Adapters on their servers

[happy_penguin @ Jun 17th 2008 11:49PM]

LOL@phanbouy :D

[SubHumanSniper @ Jun 17th 2008 11:51PM]

Hmmm...Doesn't exactly make all those old drives I have laying around ultra-portable. Seriously, who carries around a bulky 2.5 or 3.5 inch HDD just "bare-bones kicking it" inside their coat pocket.
I guess it cuts down on useless excessive paperweight on your desk.

[EMaster @ Jun 18th 2008 12:03AM]

If only it supported 3.5`hard drives I would be sold.

[TavisJohn @ Jun 18th 2008 12:35AM]

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0263627
Look only $5.00 more and it supports 2.5" and 3.5" drives. Plus it comes with a power supply.

And I no longer have a need for a CF reader. The only device I have that uses CF is my digital camera... But I got a special adapter that let's me use SD cards in a device that supports CF.

So it is a cute little device, but hardly worthy of an Engadget post.

[E-man @ Jun 18th 2008 12:41AM]

Well $15.99 for a similar product at Geeks
$7.99 for just SATA at Microbarn

[Mike @ Jun 18th 2008 1:39AM]

Yea, but even then, 22$ still isn't worth bitching over with this functionality.

really engadget....you listened to your autoblog buddies and bought gas-guzzling v8's where you can't even afford a 22$ essential utility? pshaw

[phanbouy @ Jun 18th 2008 12:46AM]

or, you know, you could just get a 2.5" eSATA/USB enclosure for like $12 on teh intarwebz

[Kasreyn @ Jun 18th 2008 3:42AM]

Ok, cool, but why is this thing so huge? The 2.5" limitation is only physical! Why not just make a black box with SATA wire and power cords sticking out ?

[morbo @ Jun 18th 2008 10:07AM]

@KarlW Thanks! Thats a goooood tip. I ordered one. I have a contico filled with 3.5" IDE drives.

[Conor Maher @ Jun 18th 2008 10:13AM]

Support for IDE / SATA 2.5" / 3.5" with a PSU for $16 shipped?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.474

Thank me later :p

[Conor Maher @ Jun 18th 2008 10:16AM]

It supports and IDE drive and a SATA drive at the same time too \o/

[Dave-o @ Jun 18th 2008 1:21PM]

I'll thank you now.

So, um...

Thanks!

[bonedog73 @ Jun 18th 2008 2:27PM]

Wow! You totally pwned Engadget with that one.

[Asgiov @ Jun 19th 2008 4:07AM]

Jesus christ,
some of you guys are a bunch of Cheap skates...
How much does it cost for a drive enclosure?
At least 30 bucks in most places...

For something that seems EXTREMELY handy, I'd say it's the right price.
I have something similar by another company, but it doesn't support the flash drives, though it'll support all Sata and IDE type drives, including DVD drives and the like.

It's been beyond useful and convenient and well worth the $20+ I spent on it.

[frappe987 @ Jun 19th 2008 6:59PM]

IM IN FOR ONE!!! sorry I thought this was Woot!!! .......but i really did buy one. best Ive seen actually.