HddEnclosure
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HyperMac's external hard drive enclosure for iPad hands-on
HyperMac is known more for its power-extending solutions than its other peripherals, but this still-unannounced iPad external hard drive enclosure we spotted at the company's booth is certainly interesting. Capable of accepting a standard 2.5-inch hard drive, the brushed metal box has two miniUSB ports around back -- one to connect to your computer, and another to connect to your iPad. Unfortunately, unlike other iPad storage solutions like the AirStash, because it interfaces through Apple's USB camera adapter, you're limited to photos and video content only. On top of that, it only works with the iPad because the iPhone and iPod touch don't support that particular accessory. The target price point is around $100 without any physical drive -- yes, it's a BYOHD affair -- which is definitely steeper than we'd like, especially given the limited functionality. Still, if you've got more content than space to spare, you might want to look into picking one of these up when it drops in sometime later this month. %Gallery-113113%
Thermaltake's Max 5G dual-fan USB 3.0 HDD enclosure cools your platters with style
We know what you were thinking: my external hard drive enclosure is nice and all, but why is it so quiet? Well, Thermaltake is here to fix that with its new Max 5G dual-fan enclosure. Outside the fans and the fancy LED lights (which can be switched off, if you're feeling unextreme one particular morning), the enclosure is pretty great itself, with a smokin' USB 3.0 plug and support for high-end 3.5-inch SATA 3.0 drives. The fans are to promote long life on your hard drive and "data integrity" and all that, but pretty much they just say to your SATA drive: "I care." And isn't that all that matters? The enclosure is available for pre-order right now for $52, no word on release.
Brando begins deluge of anonymous USB 3.0 hard drive enclosures
Hey Brando! You're awesome for being your usual self -- $49 isn't too bad for this next-gen product (also the first USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure sans drive we've seen; 2.5-inch here, by the way), and it doesn't burn our eyes either. Now, maybe those drive manufacturers can start sorting out those extortionate SSD prices? We've seen the numbers and not even the 7200rpm 3.5-inch hard drives have made it over half the theoretical speed of USB 2.0, let alone reaching ten times that on 3.0. Still, there's no harm in making the early jump -- it is backward compatible after all, and if you don't mind paying for juice you can't use, who are we to stop you?
UMAzone UMA-ISO drive enclosure takes the sting out of mounting disk images
Hey, man -- aren't you sick of all the pain and expense of mounting disc images from the desktop? OK, we weren't either -- until we saw this: UMAzone's UMA-ISO is a drive enclosure (supply your own 2.5-inch HDD) that features a small display and jog wheel for scrolling through CD / DVD image files. Simply select the file of your choice and plug it into your machine via USB or eSATA and the disk will be mounted, the same as if you'd inserted an optical disc. It's that simple! There is also a mode for mounting as a standard external hard drive. Be forewarned, however: this guy is only compatible with a few flavors of Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7), and it's only available in Japan -- for the princely sum of ¥9,980 yen (about $111).
Ask Engadget: Best external hard drive enclosure?
No need to check your LCDs, folks -- this is happening. This is this week's rendition of Ask Engadget, and if you'd rather your own question be in this space next week, shoot us a good one at ask at engadget dawt com. "Like any good geek, I have upgraded my MacBook's hard disk many times, and have all the old 2.5-inch SATA disks sitting in a pile. I'd like to put them in a case, but the enclosures I see are either very expensive or look hideous and unreliable. I'd love to get some recommendations for dependable, fairly-priced portable enclosures; USB's a must, but FireWire 400, then FireWire 800 then eSATA would be bonuses, as would any extra features."So, HDD upgraders -- what kind of case (or cases) did you procure in order to keep using those displaced drives? Any great stories of success / failure? Let us know, would ya?
A-DATA launches XPG Dual SSD RAID enclosure
So yeah, the easy part about getting the SSD RAID setup of your not-so-lofty dreams is the acquisition of A-DATA's newest XPG Dual SSD RAID enclosure. The tough part is smuggling enough cash in through untraceable means to procure a few 256GB SSDs. For those who don't mind living dangerously, the aforesaid chassis is compatible with twin 2.5-inch SATA SSDs and / or HDDs mounted on a standard 3.5-inch form factor drive cage. Users can connect it to a PC via SATA or USB once those drives have been acquired and installed, but you'll have to wait until the end of this quarter to see it ship.[Via Slashgear]
Datamore Port HDD enclosure gives your data funk and flair
The handsome devil pictured above is the Porté, available in Korea from Datamore. This sleek, stylish HDD enclosure is sure to make you the envy of your neighbors and a hero to your family -- not only because it allows you to increase your storage options via handy USB or eSATA, but because it looks so sleek and sexy doing so. And who could resist an enclosure that offers such easy access to the hard drive? Of course there's a catch: this bad boy is not currently available Stateside. Sorry to break your heart. If you hit the read link, however, there are plenty of large, colorful glamor shots to help you ease the pain.
HDD enclosure wedded with multi-function dock -- has to be Brando
We're still torn on whether we'd have this or one of those always-evolving HDD Stage Racks at our desk, but really, you can't go wrong either way. Brando's 2.5-inch SATA HDD Enclosure with Multi-Function Dock pretty much explains itself, but if you struggle with piecing things together, we're here to help. The unit holds any 2.5-inch SATA drive you care to insert, and the base doubles as a 2-port USB hub and multicard reader. The whole thing is just $25 -- the tough part is choosing between red or black. Hmm.
Onkyo MP-1000J portable multimedia player
If you're a proud portable media player owner, or you've got some fancy schmancy streaming media setup in your living room, the Onkyo MP-1000J might not do a whole lot for you, but if you're searching for a simple way to get content from PC to TV, you may want to listen up. The MP-1000J is a sweet new middleman, designed to store your fav shows, clips, etc. on its 2.5-inch hard drive (which you're responsible for providing), and then play them back (presumably hassle-free) on your living room set, in-car LCD, or dusty hotel television. The trick here is the self-contained GUI that shows up on your monitor, allowing you to select the file you want to see; it's akin to having a (very) "light" version of Windows Media Center Edition running the show within the relatively small device. With native support for DivX, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, AVI, VOB, XviD, MP3, WMA, OGG, and a few more, this thing will play back just about any file you toss at it. The unit gets a plethora of extras, including a USB cable, AC adapter, 12v car adapter, a trio of display connectors (including support for 1080i over component and Dolby / DTS passthrough), and a svelte remote control to manage the action from afar. While we can't adumbrate just how much this little hard drive / screenless PMP hybrid will cost, the MP-1000J will add yet another alternative to getting PC content to the TV (sans any confusion) when it drops on September 1st.[Via Impress]
