Hard drive docks have become very
popular lately taking on many shapes and forms, they really are
useful especially if you’re in a hurry. With a dock you can just plug
the hard drive into it and you don’t have to worry about putting it
into an enclosure, docks are also great for tech people for the same
reason really, they’re easy and allow fast access to the hard drives.
Today for review I’ve got a very
interesting hard drive dock, this one support only 2.5” HDDs, it
can use either SATA or IDE, there’s one port on each side for either
style, and it also has a space on the top to be able to read and
transfer data to or from a CF or MD card. It’s called the 2.5″
SATA/IDE HDD and CF to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter and it’s from USBGeek.
It’s a well made device that is inexpensive, coming in at only $22,
for that price it’s well worth the money in just the time it can save
you.
2.5″
SATA/IDE HDD and CF to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter
Author:
Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor:
USBGeek
Tech
Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
2.5″
SATA/IDE HDD and CF to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter
SATA/CF/IDE to USB 2.0 Bridge
Adapter implements a bridge between USB port and IDE, SATA or CF hard
drive port.
It turns any standard IDE or
SATA drive into a convenient external drive. Easily transfer files
from PC, notebook, backup files or store large file archives on hard
drives.
-Features:
-2.5 inch IDE/SATA and Compact
Flash to USB 2.0 Adapter
-Fully support USB 2.0,
transfer rate 480Mbps
-USB Mass Storage supported,
Hot Swappable
-Support 2.5 inch SATA/SATA II
Hard Drive
-Support 2.5 inch IDE Hard
Drive.
-Supports ATA-4, ATA-6/ATAPI-6
Specification 1.0
-SATA <==> CF <==>
IDE file/data transfer
-Plug and Play, driverness for
Windows, Mac OS and Linux
-Support Windows Vista, XP,
2000, ME, Mac OS and Linux
-LED Indicator
-Dimension: 95 x 63.5 x 26.7mm
-Weight: 80g
Contents:
-SATA/CF/IDE to USB 2.0 Bridge
Adapter
-USB Y-Cable
Price:
US$ 22.00
A
Better Look at Things:
The USB Bridge comes in an easy
open plastic clamshell, with the device plainly shown on the front
along with specs and features listed on the back.
Included with the bridge is a dual
connection USB cable as well to provide extra power if need be from
another USB port.
The bridge itself is fairly small
really, and since it’s made of plastic it’s lightweight as well.
There are four LEDs on the unit, one to indicate power and one each
for the ports, with labels clearly identifying the ports.
On the left side is the SATA
connection, and the right is the IDE port for IDE hard drives.
On the front is a connection for
an optional power cable, but it most likely won’t be needed since it
includes the dual connection USB cable for extra power.
On the top is where the CF card
slides in.
Installation,
Testing and Comparison:
Using the 2.5″ SATA/IDE HDD
and CF to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter is easy, it’s plug and play so no
drivers are needed.
You can connect both an SATA and
IDE hard drive as well as CF card all at the same time and transfer
data between all of them, this feature makes it very useful indeed!
I connected my SATA hard drive and
CF card with no problems, I also had an IDE connected as well (just
not pictured), and it wasn’t until I connected the IDE drive did I
need to use the second USB connector to provide additional power. Of
course your results will vary as hard drives have different power
requirements.
The speeds while connected to the
bridge were comparable to using an external enclosure, no differences
there really.
Summary
and Comments:
This is a simple and great little
product that can be an invaluable asset in any tech toolbox of the
professional and non-professional alike.
The 2.5″ SATA/IDE HDD and CF
to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter is well made and it works great.
DragonSteelMods gives the 2.5″
SATA/IDE HDD and CF to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter a 5 out of 5 score.
Pros:
-Works great
-Easy to use
-No drivers etc
-Portable
-Very useful
Cons:
-None really
I
would like to thank USBGeek for the chance to review the 2.5″
SATA/IDE HDD and CF to USB 2.0 Bridge Adapter and for their continued support of DSM.
review# 493