MOTUnation.com

Is there any difference between a $97 USB 3.0 3.5"SATA single enclosure, and a $21 Airlink (Or others at that price)? I do know my current OWC has been working fine for three years so that's one point in it's favor. I saw a test on four cheap ones and they all worked at the same speed, but that doesn't say how solid they are.

Personally I like the OWCs very much and find them very high quality. You can find them even cheaper in open box or refurb. OWC also runs frequent sales on items like these.

I would imagine that the power supplies and/or regulator quality would be the determining factor.

I don't have any OWC enclosures, but I have other things from them, and have no doubt all their stuff is very good, and peace of mind is worth a lot. I have to assume the cheaper enclosures have less robust power supplies and may be compatible with fewer drives and OS versions.

I used to buy $100 enclosures from ICE, but recently, I've bought three of these for $24.95 each

http://www.ncix.com/detail/mediasonic-p ... -64231.htm

and had no problems with them over 18 months. I use one for DP project backup on my audio Mac, one is used as a media server on a TV, and one is connected to an Airport Extreme and is used to back up three other Macs via wifi and Time Machine. They're quiet, and work with USB 2 or 3. I guess if I dropped them on a hard floor, they'd break, but they don't get moved around.

By contrast, I bought a LaCie FW external and a Iomega USB external both sold through the Apple retail store at the usual Apple prices. Both are a PITA. The Lacie won't mount reliably at startup, and the Iomega insists on spinning down and takes forever to wake up when I want it.

I'm reluctant to recommend cheap stuff, but the cheap stuff from Mediasonic has worked for me.

I have different kinds, but this is by far my favorite. It supports different HD sizes, and you can use it with SSDs as well.
Like a bread toaster.... Just pop your drives in!
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/NewerTec ... Drive_Dock

FMiguelez wrote:I have different kinds, but this is by far my favorite. It supports different HD sizes, and you can use it with SSDs as well.
Like a bread toaster.... Just pop your drives in!
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/NewerTec ... Drive_Dock

+1. I own several which I use via eSata card in my MacPro. One has a sample library SSD. Drives run quiet and cool.


Frank Ferrucci

It depends, I suppose. The ones from OWC are good, I've had few problems with the generics I bought from my local Fry's.

Thanks all!

I picked up a four bay swappable drive enclosure from OWC a couple of months ago, and it is excellent.