Hard Disk Enclosure Advice

[amjedm]

I'm after an enclosure for 3.5 hard disks and would like some advice please. Would like to have SATA and IDE connectors as I may be using it with both types of hard disks.

Main use is data transfer from computers I'm fixing (so don't intend to use the enclosure permanently with one hard disk).

Scan have some offers on Today Only and I have a shortlist (v2)

AKASA P2 Series 3.5" e-SATA/USB-Quad Int. Combo Ext. Silver Aluminum SATA/IDE Encl - £20.56

Sharkoon DriveLink 2.5"& 3.5" IDE & SATA to USB 2.0 Adapter Inc Rubber enclosure for Drives 2.5, 3.5 - £17.61

The Sharkoon kit appears to be the best one for the job but I'm worried about static killing the drive.

Any advice?


Following are no longer on the shortlist.

Newlink Aluminium 2 In 1 SATA1/2 & or IDE 3.5" to USB 2.0 Enclosure - £15.86

Newlink NL-HD29 Aluminium 2 In 1 SATA or IDE 3.5" to USB 2.0 + eSATA Enclosure - £17.61

[Mossy]

Myself and my collegue both use the drive link and it is an excellent product for data transfer easy to use and we have never had a drive die on us yet.

[Funkstar]

That DriveLink looks pretty good.

I've got a few of the Akasa ones and they are good too, although not a handy if you are changing the drives often.

[peterb]

I have the Akasa - looks good and works well (and has an Esata socket on the back as a switch selectable option when a SATA drive is installed)

[smargh]

For when I next need an external HD, I have these two bookmarked. They both have fans inside. They were recommended by Odie, the HD repair guy who posts to usenet.

3.5" Combo Firewire & USB 2.0 Silver Enclosure with fan |Specialtech.co.uk -
Ambros Direct UK Ltd - Venus External 3.5 HDD SATA hard drive enclosure

[amjedm]

For when I next need an external HD, I have these two bookmarked. They both have fans inside. They were recommended by Odie, the HD repair guy who posts to usenet.

3.5" Combo Firewire & USB 2.0 Silver Enclosure with fan |Specialtech.co.uk -
Ambros Direct UK Ltd - Venus External 3.5 HDD SATA hard drive enclosure

Thank you for the links but both are over my budget.

I've now narrowed choices to the Akasa or the Scythe

[Biscuit]

i really like the look of that drivelink, might get one of them myself would save a lot of time

[wiak]

meybe something like this
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8099

[Mithrandir]

I have the Akasa USB/esata, just to let you know the max HDD capacity that can be used is 400gb.
I tried a 500gb HDD on both usb and esata without success.

[Funkstar]

Not true.

I currently have 2x AKASA USB/eSATA cases with 400GB disks and one with a 500GB Samsung. I have also used 500GB Seagates without issue and 1TB Hitachi Untrastars. Never had a hickup from them with any of the drives I've used.