Conclusion:
One nice feature the
Vantec Nexstar GX incorporates is an auto off function. When you power down your PC the Nexstar also powers down. When I first began using the NexStar GX I noticed that it was not powering down when the PC was shut off. Looking a little closer at the way I had my USB power jumpers set on the motherboard, I realized I had them set in the +VSB position. This keeps the USB ports powered all the time and therefore does not shut off the Nexstar GX. Keep in mind; if the Nexstar GX is powered down, by any method, the integral USB hub also loses power. Not a big deal, but might make for some confusion.
Taking a look on
PriceGrabber shows a few familiar stores carrying the Nexstar GX for just over $50 (US), including shipping. That seems to be the going rate for a decent drive enclosure, and the features and performance of the Nexstar GX definitely make it better than 'decent'.
I have had many cheap, flimsy, generic external enclosures of both the 3.5" and the notebook sized 2.5"varieties, and most were able to transfer data, but sure not look good doing it. The
Vantec Nexstar GX looks very good sitting on a desk, moves data faster than expected, and keeps a hard drive nice and cool. Given these features and the added bonus of a 3-port USB 2.0 hub, I award it a final rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars... "Highly Recommended".
Final Rating (4.5 out of 5 stars):
Pros:
• Looks Good
• Sturdy
• Faster than Expected
• Auto Off Feature
• Integrated USB 2.0 hub
Cons:
• Removing the Cover (if necessary)
Special thanks to
Vantec for providing the Nexstar GX USB Drive Enclosure / Hub to BigBruin.Com for review!
