| Tagan Icy Box IB-266StUSD-B 2.5" Drive Enclosure
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Conclusion:
After using the Tagan Icy Box IB-266StUSD-B 2.5" Drive Enclosure for several weeks, it really makes me wish this same design was available for the larger (and cheaper) 3.5" hard drives. The option to run a drive internally, and then be able to remove it for use with an eSATA or USB 2.0 connection on another system, is a great idea!
Utilizing both USB 2.0 and eSATA (as well as an internal SATA option) makes the Tagan Icy Box IB-266StUSD-B 2.5" Drive Enclosure ultra portable and future proof. eSATA is quickly becoming available on many systems, and will become more widely available in time. Including a USB 2.0 interface ensures it is compatible with today’s typical systems. During my use of it, the drive never became hot, however it was a little warm. Even so, it was still cooler than a 3.5" hard drive can be. The speed and portability make this enclosure one of the best I have used.
There are two drawbacks to this enclosure. The first is that the USB connection requires you to use two USB ports with two cables. While I can see the need to use two USB ports for connection and power, I would like to see one cable. The second issue is that you cannot secure the hard drive to the chassis. While I did not have an issue, the drive could potentially move, and I would prefer to have some way to hold it in place with some certainty. But, it should be noted that the drive does go in very tightly, so there is little chance of it moving.
A search of PriceGrabber turns up nothing for this enclosure, and a broader Internet search doesn't do much better for people in North America. Most results on Google are for European vendors, and even if you convert the pricing it doesn't mean you would expect to pay the same amount. Hopefully we will see this product on shelves in the US soon, and with a competitive price.
Given the performance and features I award the Tagan Icy Box IB-266StUSD-B 2.5" Drive Enclosure the rating of "Highly Recommended".
Pros:
» Small and ultra portable
» Internal and external mounting options
» USB and eSATA external connections
Cons:
» Need two cables for use via USB
» Should be packed better
» US availability?!?
Special thanks to Tagan for providing the Tagan Icy Box IB-266StUSD-B 2.5" Drive Enclosure to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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