- 3.5"
- USB 2.0
- Aluminum
Works as advertised
01/17/2008
This review is from: APRICORN EZ-BUS-DT-KIT Aluminum 3.5" IDE USB 2.0 Backup & External Storage System
Pros:
This enclosure will takes an IDE drive. If you want an enclosure for a SATA drive, try this one: New Egg Item N82E16817362002
The first problem is getting the enclosure open to install the hard drive. The manual is in PDF format on the CD-ROM, but you’ll need read it from the disk in order to understand how you are supposed to install the drive.
I used this enclosure for a Seagate 75 GB hard drive that had been internal. My computer would no longer recognize it attached to the on-board IDE cable, but it works fine through the USB bus. Go figure.
There is no activity light, but the power indicator light on my unit flickers a bit when the disk is writing. I don’t find it objectionably bright, nor too dim.
Cons:
This unit sits on top of my computer case (Antec Sonata) which is under my desk beside me. The external drive is inaudible over the sound of the computer’s (quiet) processor fan. When I turn the computer off and leave the external hard drive powered, I can hear it, but it is not loud.
Windows XP will not boot from a USB hard drive. My computer won’t boot at all if the external drive is turned on while the computer boots. You can leave the drive hooked up all the time and turn it on anytime after Windows starts to boot, even after the computer has been running for hours.
I haven’t used the enclosed imaging software, but from the documentation it appears to be a variant of Acronis True Image, which I use and like. It allows you to image drives or individual folders and files. It will also allow you to “mount” an image to access the files as if they were on a disk in the computer. Very nice.
Overall Review:
The synchronizing software, Second Copy 2000, is a supposedly a trial version that expires after 30 days. It doesn’t. Mine has been running fine for at least two months. It creates a constant backup of whatever folders and files you set up, synchronizing the external files with your on-board files as frequently as every few minutes (user selectable).
It’s a fair price for an excellent enclosure. You should buy it.
Share this review:
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
- Loren B.
-
Verified Owner
-
Owned For:
1 month to 1 year
LOADING...
