The Basics:
Everything included with the Eagle Tech ET-CS2LSU2-BK is shown in the images below. In the below left image we see the User Manual, Installation Disk, and USB extension cable. This cable makes it possible to place the enclosure farther from your PC than the built in USB lead would allow, as well as providing a second connector in case you need to draw a bit more power from your system.
The above right image shows off the disassembled enclosure. You have a leather flap, bottom cover with two screws taped to it, and the main housing which features the internal drive connections and the external USB connection. You line up the holes in the leather flap with the holes in the bottom cover and the main housing to hold everything together with the two screws. The drive itself does not require any screws to hold it in place, as the compartment is barely big enough for the drive.
The below left image takes a closer look at the "business end" of the open enclosure. A simple blue PCB features one black connector which slides onto both the SATA data and power connections of a 2.5 inch hard drive. The built in USB cable is shown at its full extension, which is only about two inches long. This cable tucks into the end of the ET-CS2LSU2-BK when not in use, and is a very convenient feature as you might eliminate the need for you to carry any extra cables. It is rather short, though, and if you want to connect it to something like a front panel USB port on a tower case, you will need the extension cable.
The above right image shows a Western Digital Scorpio 320GB 2.5" SATA Hard Drive installed. As you can see there is barely any room around the drive, and to get it connected you have to come in at a slight angle until it is far enough on the SATA connectors to drop into the recess in the enclosure. As mentioned, there are no screws required, as once this is assembled, there just isn't anywhere for the drive to go.
The next step in the installation process is to align the bottom cover onto the main body as shown in the below left image. There are a few tabs on the end opposite the USB connector which hold that side in place, while the two screws secure the other end. The below right image shows everything all put together and just about ready for action. The leather flap is lined up and the two screws hold everything in place.
With the fully assembled Eagle Tech ET-CS2LSU2-BK flipped right side up, we are presented with the views shown below. The appearance is unlike any other drive enclosure I have used, and it could honestly be mistaken for something else. Whether the flap is opened or closed, without the USB connector showing it looks a bit like a rugged PDA case, some sort of snooty cigarette holder, or maybe even a flask. While I wouldn't count on it, this unique styling may help protect your data from theft, because if someone is looking for a hard drive they might not expect this to be it.
Looking under the flap in the above right image reveals two dark, oval shaped marks on the steel portion of the top. While they don't look like much when the drive is not connected, these are the LED indicators. When powered up the one shown on the left glows green, and when the drive is active the one shown on the right flickers red.
With the drive powered up and connected to Windows XP, I was happy to see one item in the list of official specifications was wrong. It states that the ET-CS2LSU2-BK "Works with 2.5"hard drives up to 250GB", but I was able to access the full formatted capacity (298GB) of the installed 320GB drive.
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