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Many of you already know, ICY DOCK are currently planning to launching a brand new external single bay removal enclsoure that use either SATA I/II or IDE Hard Drive and make it compatible to eSATA/USB 2.0 outputs using MB452 housing design.
Would do you think about this idea and product? Do you think the there is a similar product like this out in the market now? What would be a sweet spot on MSRP or reseller price?
I think a single drive enclosure to be able to store either IDE or SATA drive is a great idea, able to use one output depending on either ports. Genius! I would have thought that the real world throughputs would have been a little higher on the USB 2.0. but can see many applications for this. Especially when dealing with both newer and older systems.
ReplyDeleteI think it looks like an excelent idea. I've yet to see one that supports both formats let alone converts IDE to SATA.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see it.
One more comment, or as an addition to previous comment:
ReplyDeleteWould there be an optional external SATA port on a backplate to motherboard connection if that is the option route taken?
In that case, you could sell as a configured SATA/IDE to USB port.
Optional package for x amount of dollars would give you the SATA-eSATA cable AND external port backplate and cable to MB.
Optional package would be a big extra seller, IMO for those who want the speed.
OK. Just talked with Jack. Erase last addendum and put this in it's place.
ReplyDeleteWould there be an optional external SATA port on a backplate to motherboard connection if that is the option route taken?
In that case, you could sell as a configured SATA/IDE to USB port.
Optional package for x amount of dollars would give you the SATA-eSATA cable AND external port backplate and cable to MB.
Optional package would be a big extra seller, IMO for those who want the speed.
So you see my point? You sell the housing, but not the tray or the cable. Then sell specific "Packages" for the customers needs. You include the tray, the specific cable, and if the SATA "package" is wanted, you also include the eSATA to motherboard cable with a backplate.
Of course this is for the largest markets, PC. You could do the same thing for MAC, just with the tray you include the USB cable, since there is no way of adding a eSATA option on most Macs.
OK, I'm sorry, product development and everything is your guys jobs, I thought maybe I might throw in a couple fresh ideas in case you hadn't thought of it.
Wayne
I think you ICY DOCK should include a eSATA adaptor that will route the internal SATA to the back of the case in case people who do not have eSATA on the mobo (although it's gaining popularity, you only see eSATA on high end mobo.. Since you plan to release the enclosure primary take the advantage of eSATA's bandwidth, having the adapter really will help out to bring the performance instead of relying on usb).
ReplyDeleteI really love the idea of converting an IDE to SATA there aren't many solutions for this that are in an enclosure format, but I am wondering here, the eSATA means External Storage, I thought the enlcosure was going to be the in-bay type like a Modiflash.. In other words will I will able to hook this straight to my motherboard? as for a price I would pay around $50 for it if it had the extras like the LCD display, key lock etc... The MB452 is an external setup only, it would be nice if you offered a combo package that had the 5'25" bay enclosure and the portable enclosure all in one so you could swap them out if need be, just slide it out and slide it into the other one...
ReplyDeleteI am not aware of a product that uses the same
ReplyDeletehousing for both IDE and SATA hard drives with
eSATA and USB2 connectors.
It sounds like a good idea. As you know there are
a vast number of SATA external enclosures. WiebeTech
has a new ToughTech that provides SATA, FW400, FW800
and USB2 in a single SATA enclosure for $119.95. I
think this will be popular among Mac users.
http://www.wiebetech.com/products/toughtech.php
While being able to use both IDE and SATA hard drives
is a nice feature the different trays typically cost over
$20 each making the unit expensive to setup for both
platforms.
Most of our readers are only buying SATA hard drives
as they can be used internally in new computer systems
and PATA hard drives are typically a little slower. I
am not sure how much demand there is for PATA
hard drives in a SATA case. The only segment of the
market I can think of is technicians and those that
have FW cases with IDE hard drives and want to use
eSATA interfaces instead.
If the unit could sell for $60 plus $15 per tray
that would provide a competitively priced product.
I have no interest in IDE drives at this point... have been using SATA for years and no plans to go back.
ReplyDeleteAs the last poster said, the only use for this would be troubleshooting a friend's IDE drive, but I wouldn't spend extra money myself for that.
I bought one. My only complaint, you can't use this chassis in a single 5.25" internal enclosure. I'd like to be able to do that, as I have a couple test machines with internal bays for this purpose.
ReplyDeleteI would be more interested in a cartridge which can be used as an external enclosure (no tray needed) and can be inserted into an internal tray. The tray would pass through the eSATA port from the catridge to the system. The cartridge would also include USB. Power supply would be external in this case or cartridge would connect to eSATA/power bracket that is already offered.
ReplyDeleteThe cartridge could be available in two models: either supporting IDE or SATA I/II. A single combo cartridge would be even better, IF this would not compromise size. The SATA version could be thinner than the IDE version.
This design shouldn't prevent ICYDOCK from offering external trays (with built in power supplies) if demand warrants it.