I've owned a few other hard drive enclosures but this one is simply the best I've had so far.
I'll begin with installing your drive in the enclosure which is really easy. First you remove 2 screws from one of the end plates so you can slide out the internal board which you attach your drive to. You then lay your drive onto the board, slide it into the SATA connector, and use 4 screws (which are included with the enclosure) to secure the drive to the board. Lastly, you slide the board with the drive back into the enclosure and screw the end plate back on. Securing the drive to the board like this is a fantastic feature. One of my other enclosures did not have this which meant the drive would move around inside of the enclosure. The drive I used in that enclosure ended up failing on me. Since hard drives can be susceptible to shock damage, securing the drive to the board like this is a big plus.
Using this enclosure is also really simple. It comes with a USB 2.0 cable or you can buy an eSATA cable if you want higher transfer speeds. (I use this cable with mine: eSATA to eSATA Cable) If you use USB 2.0, keep this in mind: you need 2 free USB ports. This unit comes with a mini-USB to USB Y-cable. As in, one end has a single mini-USB connector and the other end has 2 USB connectors. You connect the mini-USB end to the enclosure and the other 2 USB connectors to your computer. I believe one connector is used for power and the other is used for data. Also, if you use eSATA, you will still need the USB cable!! The drive will not power itself off of the eSATA connection, so you will still need to connect one of the USB cables to power the drive. (This is how I have to do things with my laptop. Whether or not this is true for desktops or other laptops I don't know.)
I'd also like to note how well-built this enclosure is. The hard drive fits snugly in the enclosure and stays put. Because of how the drive is mounted (which I mentioned above) there aren't any rattling noises or any movement of the drive within the enclosure. The metal housing of the enclosure is really tough and hasn't scratched or chipped at all after being jostled around in a backpack for a few months. The markings on the case are also perfect and haven't scratched or chipped.
Overall I would say this is a fantastic enclosure, especially given the low price. The cabling situation may be a bit tedious at first but I wouldn't let it discourage you from buying this product!
Average Rating:
Brand: Acomdata
Color: Black
Model: TNGXXXUSE-BLK
Languages:
Original Language: English
Product Description:
Make your data more nimble with Tango. Transform an idle 2.5" SATA hard disk into a high-performance portable drive. The daring yet graceful Tango features a precision-extruded aluminum case in a seductive, satin finish. Tango's smart chassis design and fully illustrated guide make installation as easy as step-and-slide. Tango's fanless, hot-plug, bus-powered operation will help you stay in the rhythm while you kick in tons of music, photos, video-and all your digital files. And with Mac and PC compatibility, you're ready to dance on either platform.
Features:
- Acomdata TNGXXXUSE-BLK Tango Portable 2.5" Enclosure USB 2.0 & eSATA - Black Enclosure
- Hard drive enclosure takes a SATA hard disk Hi-speed USB 2.0 and eSATA 48-bit logical block addressing Silent operation Hot Pluggable
- Mac and PC compatible Easy installation and setup
- Three-year limited warranty Free tech support forever Contents of box Acomdata Tango portable drive enclosure USB cable Installation guide
- model#TNGXXXUSE-BLK only houses SATA 9.5mm thick 2.5” hard drives
Available at Amazon
List Price: USD 19.99
Lowest Used Price: USD 13.99
Lowest New Price: USD 18.79
Customer Reviews
Acomdata 2.5" Tango USB/eSATA Hard Drive Enclosure Kit
When the motherboard on my old laptop quit working, I thought I had lost everything on that computer forever. My husband did some research and found this enclosure kit for my old hard drive to connect it to my new computer.
The actual installation of my old hard drive into the enclosure was difficult because the instructions sent with it are EXTREMELY vague. I went online and was able to find someone else's instructions to follow and it was a breeze! Once I connected the enclosure to my new computer, the necessary driver was automatically installed and in a very short amount of time, I was able to access the information that I thought I had lost when my old computer died. This device has been a wonderful asset to me because I highly valued the pictures, documents, and presentations that are on my old hard drive. I am now using it as a back-up drive for my new computer. I have been very satisfied with my purchase!
Great! High Quality, but watch the instructions :P
I got this HDD enclosure for my old laptop HDD and I must say it is very good. The main body is made of aluminum, while the two ends, sturdy plastic. It's very sleek, and if you look closely on the plastic ends there are small metal ventilation holes, which I found to be both aesthetically appealing as well as good for keeping the HDD cool. My only complaint is the incorrect instructions - a previous review had mentioned this before, so follow his/her instructions - the included installation guide is completely incorrect :P Very good for the price and I'd recommend it to anyone in need of a giving a HDD a new life :)
does what I need it to do
Does what I need it to do. I was able to access files off the hard drive from my dead computer and am now using it as a backup for my new computer.
