2 External Enclosures ?

Which should I choose between these 2 external enclosures. What are your thoughts about these 2 external enclosures, which would you choose. Or if you have another you would recommend to me, I'm looking for a USB 2.0 // power on-off switch // AC Adapter, external enclosure. Thanks

*VANTEC NexStar NST-350U2 Aluminum Alloy 3.5" USB 2.0 External Enclosure Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145125

*Powmax EMV35BK Aluminum 3.5" USB2.0 External Enclosure - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163035


Thanks Storm

 

Thanks for your input ddp. Any perticular reasons for that one over the other?

Thanks Storm~

 

True somewhat, its not always about money tho. Sometimes a few bucks doesn't matter when it comes to quality difference and what is gonna work better for your needs even tho there pretty much the same thing. But there built by 2 different companys thats the difference.

Anybody else got any comments or suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks Storm~

 

I have had three of these, as well as just a cable.

Here are some things that I have learned about them:

1. There seems to be no relation between quality and selling price.

2. Don't go and pay extra for gimicks like software to automatically backup.

3. I think a major key is handling the heat dissipation.

4. I would get the 2nd one (the Powermax) because:
a) I have more confidence that it will handle the heat dissipation
better, especially since right on top of the features on their
web site it says : "High Thermal Heat Dissipation". So that we
know that at least "Powermax" views this as a high priority.
b) It is a newer model
c) I like the "Tool-Less Design"
d) I also like "Placed Stackable or Vertical with Stand"

5. Something I cannot see, that is very important is how you can change the size internally to allow it to fit different size drives or CD/DVD units. I have had some break on my (including the $50 one), because it was rigid how it was designed to move to make sure that you drive fits the case.Once set, you would want it to be a sturdy setting, but very easyh to move to another position. That is where I got to real cheap designs and which might make a unit fragile.

6. I have better confidence in the 2nd vendor, especially with handling heat.

7. Some advice. A XP USB port seems to pick up the drives a lot easier if the drive being inserted is pre-formated. Doesn't matter so much if it is full or not, but putting in a unformatted drive can be a frustrating esperience. Exven if you need to install the drive directly as IDE to format it.

8. I really wish External enclosers would come with some extra "little plastic switch covers". I have lost some on my older IDE drives and for some of them, they need to be removed, on some, they need to be changed.

9. What is the warantee on both and the support from the vendor. Are the instructions clear.

10. I like that the second one comes with "Placed Stackable or Vertical with Stand "

11. I think getting a 3.5" give you a LOT of flexibility.

Jon

 

[bold] I just saw this enclosure that looked really good at the same price point as the others. [/bold]

http://www.dealsonic.com/pl52usb20enf.html

 

Thanks for all your input jolo. Does anyone have any experience with a external harddrive Maxtor 100gb, the one on-sale at bestbuy.com. I just got one, I was just wondering if there is anything I dont know and I should know. I'm knew to the external hd's.

Thanks Storm~

 

My personal experience with Maxtor has not been pleasant. I have had 3 die on me in the same server (not mission critical..just a linux PDF server) over a 3 year period. I switched to a fujitsu drive and have not had an issue in over 2 years. At home, I have had several Maxtor drives die as well. Most of the time without warning. I tend to stick with Western Digital and have been happy with them. Only one failure on an old 40 gig, and SMART warned be about it so I had time to backup my data. That drive still ran for another year or so before I finally replaced it.

Just my $.02

~Rich

 

storm1234,

It sounds like you are looking at an already enclosed disk drive, which you can enter directly to your USB 2.0 port, NOT an external enclosure that allows IDE drives or CD-Rs or DVD-Rs to be placed into and, the Enclosure than "turns" the box into a USB drive?

I will assume that you are going to the BEST BUY retail store and not ording this drive online? I hope so. Make sure you ask BestBuy, but one of the real advantages of getting something at a retail store is that you probably about from 7 - 30 days for a full instore refund. If so, just try it out.

I first have to tell you a bias I have, in which I think of Rebates as ripoffs and NOT sales. I don't know which unit you are looking at.

[bold]Are you looking at this 100GB external drive?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat33200050002&id=1134698319231
[/bold]

$69 isn't bad and I don't see the word "rebate" anywear. This is an external, so it is not meant to swap drives in, but I am not saying that is a bad thing. Just so you know that it is NOT an enclosure, but a External USB drive, already enclosed.
With best Buy, I would always call first to make sure it is in stock and see if one can be reserved. If it is available at your local store, youi can but it online, then pick it up from the customer counter later.
I used to buy a lot at bestbuy retail. I don't anymore because of lack of inventory, high prices, lack of sales and increase of rebates and the Online store is not "related" to the retail stores. So, if you purchase something on BestBuy online, I would pay taxes because there is a BestBuy Retail store in my Town, BUT if I go to the store because the item has a problem, they will not help me. They will tell me to mail it back.

Really important to look to maike sure that the price reduction is NOT a rebate in disguise.
Is 100MBs all you need ? It is really handy to have something like that.
Do you intend to use it as a normal drive, or a backup/archival drive?
or To transfer data between units?

Jon