nice FW+USB+SATA drive enclosure
 

Just as an FYI, I've run across a single-bay external drive enclosure that'll accept either a SATA or an IDE drive, and has FW400, USB 2 and SATA 150 outputs - all three on one enclosure - for $70.

http://www.cooldrives.com/combo-sata...e-and-usb.html

This gives us future SATA capability (when SATA express/34 cards are available for the MacBook Pro) while offering FW400 & USB 2.0 for current MacBook compatibility and offloading onto your clients' systems, etc. It's the first one I've seen, and was exactly what I'd been looking for.

I thought I'd share my experience. I have this drive, and the FW400 port reliability is questionable. Could have been a bum unit, but overall, the build quality on this unit is pretty shabby. I bought it anyway since I needed some way to access SATA drives on my Quad G5 until a PCIe card came out. I had to prop the Firewire cable up to ensure proper contact with the Firewire jack, and watch file transfers carefully.

Now I have the Sonnet PCIe card and all is well. I'd still think FW800/USB2.0 drives would be a speedier way to go, and there are lots of high quality solutions out there.

Any problems with your CoolDrives unit or did I just get a bad egg?

yikes. Thanks for the review!!

I just wish they didn't use a powerbrick.

I am reminded of standing in the living room, holding rabbit ears with aluminum foil... <g>
FW800 wasn't an option, since I have a MacBook Pro.
As for mine, I'd already placed an order by the time I read your post, but they haven't arrived yet. I'll follow up when they do. As soon as the Vydeo express/30 card comes out (supposedly next month), I'll be switching to SATA.

BTW, thanks for all the posts, Steev. They're really been helpful to me.

Here's what the doctor ordered.

www.barefeats.com/hard71.html

It's not FW800, but I'd imagine that's coming real soon. Anyone have any updates from NAB? Of course, with the new 17" MacBook, if you haven't bought a MacBook yet, the 17" has FW800 built-in.

why do they call it "coolgear", where there is no fan to keep the hdd cool?

i don't even see any vent holes to circulate the air inside.

The Real Thing
 

Here's a SATA enclosure that has FW800 and USB connectors; made from a reliable and quality source - MacGurus:

http://www.macgurus.com/productpages...ire/U6SATA.php

I like the look of this 'system' -- a swap drive with multiple interfaces that can also function as an external ...

http://www.addonics.com/products/Saturn/

GB

MacGurus Burly SATA Enclosure Kits
 

Robert--

What do you think of this unit as a solution for storage and backup for large HVX 200 video files (rather than the FW 800/USB enclosure you linked to)?

http://www.macgurus.com/productpages/sata/satakits.php

If I don't have to have this storage portable, doesn't this make sense?

Thanks for any help!

Well, my original post is now moot...they're out of stock and have no anticipated restock date. At this point, I'm pretty impressed with the look/idea of Granite Digital's aluminum enclosures. Anyone want to comment on personal experience with them?

Stay away from CoolDrives
 

Scott,

Be Warned:

"CoolDrives.com" is not a reputable dealer. They have multiple unresolved complaints against them at the BBB, they have no direct contact phone number (they even state on their website "no phone communication") and they have poor and in some cases aggressively nasty and argumentative customer service. Basically, they're a rip-off con-artist shop who sometimes actually delivers what they sell but most often lies to it's customers and has less than honorable business tactics. Godzilla would squash them - if he had time.

Bill,

I'm using those exact enclosures from Mac Gurus for my original clip storage/archiving/project backup solution. My working files live in (2) of the Burly 5-bay enclosures for a 5-TB RAID-0 array on my G5 with the Sonnet E4P card.

I spent 2 weeks researching all the SATA enclosure manufacturers with info from Bare-Feats to AMUG and my own direct communications with the companies; Mac Gurus is by far the best made products, the best live-person helpful customer service and, the best supported devices.

Outside of Mac Guru's I'd trust either Sonnet, Addonics (assembly required) or Wiebetec - the latter being high quality but very, very overpriced.

Wiebetech also has some quality stuff. They were one of the first to offer FW800 enclosures.

-gb-

http://www.wiebetech.com

Hey Greg,

I did mention Wiebetech in my post, however it's important to point out that while they make great stuff they charge exactly double what the other reputable competitors do - with no added value. Example:

Wiebetech makes a 5-bay Port Multiplier SATA enclosure that's built like a tank (which I like) that sells for $1000. MacGurus makes a similar bay with or without the LCD status panel for almost exactly half that. The Sonnet and Addonics bays are also in the $500 range for the same bay arrangement. Same build quality, same ultra-quiet fans etc.

It's the same dollar-for-value arguement that we've had about the current HD cams: Why would you pay $10k for an H1 when the Z1, HVX and HD100 are all half the cost - or less?

I'm not knocking WBT's products, just their pricing concepts.

Ooops, that was meant to add to your post, not ignore it. I stuck the word 'also' in that sentence out of habit. Yes, they are pricey and I would just ask them where their justification is should I order from them.

-gb-