Almost precisely a twelvemonth ago , I told you about Newer Technology ’s USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter , a cagey mathematical product that let you promptly and easy access data on bare operose driving force — specifically , 2.5 - inch and 3.5 - inch IDE / ATA and SATA drives , as well as 5.25 - inch IDE / ATAPI drives , that are n’t hold in in an enclosing . Essentially a connection and a hardening of cable , the Drive Adapter let you link up a bare parkway to a USB port on your computer . It was a ready to hand tool , especially for testing and troubleshooting ; it was also utilitarian for simulate datum from an old hard driveway to a new one before swapping them , and for on occasion using an former concentrated drive without take to buy an external enclosure . And at only $ 25 , it was astonishingly low-cost .
At last calendar month ’s Macworld Expo , Newer Technology announced a fresh , updated version of the Drive Adapter , technically still call theNewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter ( ) but price at $ 30 and offering a raw invention and a routine of improvements .
The large variety is that the Adapter itself is now only 2.7 by 1.7 by 0.6 inches in size and leave four condition lights : office , USB , IDE / ATA , and SATA . The lights indicate that the Adapter is cause business leader , is colligate to a USB port on your Mac , and is successfully connected to an IDE / ATA or SATA drive , respectively . These indicators , though simple , help you troubleshoot connection problems . For instance , I had a picky 2.5 - in SATA cause that was n’t appearing in the Finder when connected via the Adapter . The USB index was lit , but not the SATA light , telling me that the connection job was on the SATA side . After removing the SATA cable system and reseating it , the movement worked as anticipate .
Newer Technology’s original Universal Drive Adapter (left) and the new version (right).
Newer Technology ’s original Universal Drive Adapter ( left ) and the new variation ( right-hand ) .
On the other hand , in my testing , the brightness do n’t behave as expected . For example , the big businessman and USB lightsbothilluminate whenever the Adapter is connected to your computer via USBoris connect to the power cable ( see below ) . As another example , when connected to an SATA driving , the SATA light glows steady , while theIDE / ATAindicator lights up whenever the crusade is accessed . This is utile information , but I would have expected the SATA light to indicate data point transference in such a scenario . Another modest payoff is that there ’s quite a bit of “ bleed ” between the lights ; for example , when the USB and SATA indicators are lit , the IDE / ATA index in between them also appears illuminated , if a bit dimmer . Although , to be fair , this light bleeding never led me to misread the indicators .
Two other changes to the Drive Adapter itself relate to connexion . Although the Adapter still has SATA and IDE / ATA interface , it now has a mini - USB port instead of a captive USB cable ; the new Adapter unite to your information processing system using a removable USB cable ( a 27 - column inch cable is included ) . The update Adapter also has a power port that permit you use the admit AC power adapter foralldrives , including 2.5 - column inch IDE / ATA drives . ( With the original , 2.5 - inch IDE / ATA drives were powered altogether by your computer ’s USB embrasure . ) This latter change resolves one of the issues I had with the original mannikin : a 2.5 - in driving force that did n’t get enough magnate when using the Adapter .
Finally , the new packet includes a 2 - column inch ATA extension service cable for employment in position where you ca n’t connect the Adapter directly to the back of a 3.5 - inch or 5.25 - inch IDE / ATA ride .
As with the original interlingual rendition , the kit may take care like a jumble of cable television when you open up the boxful , but an included flier tells you which assemble to apply , and how to connect them , for each type of compatible drive . basically , you connect the Drive Adapter to your private road ( either directly or via the appropriate line ) ; join the power adapter to the ride ( either directly or , for 2.5 - inch ATA drives , via the Adapter itself ) ; and then use the USB overseas telegram to connect the Adapter to your computer . The drive should come out in the Finder just like any other outside USB tough cause .
A minor outcome I had with the new version of the Drive Adapter software package is that its connectors did n’t correspond at tightly as those of the pilot . For exercise , the IDE / ATA connecter on the side of the Adapter unit jibe my 3.5 - in drives generally , and the include USB cable television service fit the USB larboard on my information processing system loosely . Once during my examination I act a 3.5 - inch drive a couple inches , without much force out , and the Adapter miss its connection . But if you are n’t move effort around during use — which you should n’t be anyway — this wo n’t be a major concern .
I also bid the Adapter ’s AC power adapter was smaller . Everything else in the package is light and compact ; if the mogul transcriber was n’t so large , you could easily befuddle the outfit in your locomotion dish .
In terms of functioning , the young Drive Adapter is interchangeable to the original . Which is to say that it is n’t as fast as a FireWire connection ( or , of class , a verbatim IDE / ATA or SATA joining ) but it ’s competitive with an inexpensive USB 2.0 envelopment .
When review the original Universal Drive Adapter , I wrote :
The Drive Adapter is with child for those who bring in IT and have to do a tidy sum of drive swapping and maintenance . It ’s also a pragmatic tool for the end - substance abuser who ’s purchased a hard drive upgrade for a background or laptop Mac ; you’re able to plug the new driveway into your Mac using the Drive Adapter , imitate your files from your current hard drive to the new one ( using a service program such as SuperDuper [ or Carbon Copy Cloner ] ) , and then switch the drives to be up and running .
That sum-up hold true with the young variant , and the Modern feature article — provide king to all drives for better compatibility , and the new position light — are nice addition , even if the latter do n’t quite function the room I expected them to .
ProtectaDrive
I mentioned last year that the Drive Adapter is designed for temporary use ; you do n’t want to be frequently handling strong drives sans enclosures . However , if youdowant to on a regular basis utilize an unprotected drive , Newer Technology has introduced an cheap alternative to traditional drive enclosures . The party ’s new ProtectaDrives , available for3.5 - inch hard drives($10 ) or2.5 - in gruelling drives($8 ) are essentially silicone “ skins ” ; you drop off your drive into a ProtectaDrive and its bottom and sides are protect ( the top is go forth bring out so the parkway can cool by rights ) . The turning point of each ProtectaDrive boast slurred , silicone polymer bumpers for added auspices , and the rubber material helps shield the enclosed driveway from electrostatic and other electrical damage .
In my examination , these cagey coverings work and fit out well . My only charge is that although the 3.5 - inch variant provide a flap that protects the drive ’s IDE / ATA connector when not in use , this flap fell off my run unit the first time I lifted the fuss to get to the connector . fortunately , the flap is n’t necessary . ( In fact , until I see Newer Technology ’s official image of the 3.5 - inch ProtectaDrive , I thought the fluttering wassupposedto come off . )
The prayer of a ProtectaDrive is that it ’s a very cheap accessory that , when combined with the Drive Adapter , lease you get good use out of older drives you have sitting around .
The USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter requires Mac bone 9.2 or higher or any translation of Mac OS X.
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