Conclusion:

The Kingwin Dock Master USB 3.0 hard drive dock would make a great accessory for anyone with the need to access data quickly... Which I assume is just about everyone. Some benefits include fast access to data on extra internal hard drives lying around, as well as making the upgrade and/or trouble shooting of hard drives a snap. Also, it is generally cheaper to buy internal hard drives than external hard drives, and a dock like this makes an internal drive usable either way.

As someone who is constantly transferring data from a PC to a hard drive, having the pleasure of easily swapping hard drives back and forth, as well as the luxury of the USB 3.0 speed is greatly appreciated. After seeing the speed results with Kingwin's new dock, as well as backwards compatibility to USB 2.0, there is no longer a need to consider a USB 2.0 dock.



It would be nice if there was an eject button to allow the hard drive to be softly removed from the dock. As it stands, the drive is removed while it is at full power which might make some people nervous. Also, it would be helpful if Kingwin offered a model that included a USB 3.0 card for those that do not already have a USB 3.0 connection. However, a model that included a USB 3.0 card would obviously cost more than the unit without the card.

Shopping around finds the Kingwin Dock Master for sale at Meritline.com for $35.45. Compared to other storage docks, this is very reasonable. The Thermaltake BlacX is currently listed at a few popular retailers for $29.99, meaning that for just $5 and change more you can have a nice dock with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectivity.

Considering how easy the Kingwin Dock Master USB 3.0 hard drive dock is to set up and use, and how reasonable the pricing is, it receives the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" and "Good Value" awards.



Pros:

» USB 2.0 backwards compatibility
» 2.5” and 3.5” HDD compatibility
» User friendly
» No software to install
» USB 3.0 speed
» Reasonably priced

Cons:

» Drive is exposed leaving it open for damage
» No eject button to disconnect the HDD

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