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Smallest FireWire Enclosure?
waffffffle asks: "For my job, I need to carry a bag of tech gear around with me all day. I've been able to cut down on the cables I carry by using only retractable cables, but my other devices are still bulky. I'm looking for the smallest FireWire 2.5" drive enclosure on the market. It seems that many of the sites selling enclosures don't list their dimensions and some of the slimmest enclosures are USB-only, but 6-pin FireWire is a requirement. What is the slimmest enclosure you know of?"
I have a ADS Tech - Dual Link 2.5 and I love it. It does both Firewire 400 and USB 2.0.
This is a boring sig
Since you didn't specify a capacity (or you did and I didn't notice, bygones...)
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Check out the FW->Dock Connector adapter to avoid another specialty cable. Pocketdock http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pd_combo.h
If you can do less than 6 gigs, the iPod Mini is way small.
Now, if you want small and CHEAP, well...
the future is here, it is just not evenly distributed - w. gibson
I use my iPod more for data than music. The PO for it listed it as a 'bus powered firewire hard drive' :)
Essential if you are a mac admin who works on client machines.
P
-- My dog can beat up your dog.
Kirby
so based on your ambiguity i'd say the ipod mini.
if you're going to ask the
Why does some lazy fuckers quest for a small firewire enclosure even begin to qualify as news?
It's metal, so fairly durable. It's only marginally larger than the 2.5 drive that goes inside the enclosure. It's bus powered, with two 6 pin fw ports, so that you can run pass throughs as well. (external adapters are available)
Wiebetech sells it, rebranded. I got one from Small Dog, which you can google for.
-- This and all my posts are in the public domain. I am a lawyer. I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
They may be a little pricy, but the MicroGB+ (USB and FireWire 400) or the ComboGB (USB, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800) are likely to be the smallest enclosures for 2.5-inch drives that have the features you're looking for.
Go google it - two six pin connectors and the smallest 2.5 inch drive I have seen
Without a doubt the Coolmax 2.5" at newegg was the smallest, lightest, most-powerful I've seen, for under $20.00.
It came with all of the cables (usb and firewire), extra screws, a screwdriver, a faux leather carrying case, and it runs entirely on bus power. One of the cables has two usb ends so you can draw power from two usb ports to drive it, instead of using an AC adapter, but you'll only need one.
Its so small and light, I actually keep it velcroed to the lid of my laptop as a 3rd IDE drive when I need the storage.
Absolutely amazing purchase.
One thing though, STAY AWAY FROM COOLDRIVES.COM!. I bought a drive enclosure from them, they shipped me the wrong product, and a broken AC adapter. Their website is useless at finding contact info, so I called the manufacturer of the drive, and they said I was out of luck.
I gave them negative feedback through Yahoo's feedback mechanism and within MINUTES, someone from the company called me and was using profanity at me and calling me all kinds of wonderful names (details of the libel and slander on my blog).
Stick with newegg and partners, amazing service, fast shipping, and superior products. I couldn't be happier with my purchase of this drive enclosure. The vendor included everything I could possibly think of, and priced it very aggressively.
Small enclose and a free HD! Oh, and it plays music too, or something. USB 2.0 and FireWire.
Can You Say Linux? I Knew That You Could.
Check those out - their mobile hard-drives come in USB 2.0 and FW/USB2.0 flavors. I own a USB2.0 drive, but I saw the FW model in my local Apple store - looks identical, utilises 6-pin cable, light and gorgeous.
Also, on their web-page you can find all the dimensions and other specs - check it out, highly recommend.
Macally offers the PHR-250CC with both USB 2.0 and a pair of Firewire 400 ports. Choose any 2.5" drive, can I suggest the Hitachi E7K100 or the E7K60, and you're set. The case is just a little thicker than a deck of cards. I've had a pair of these for the past year, alot of miles on them, and no problems to report.
http://www.g-drive.com/Products/G-DRIVE-mini.cfm
The G Drive mini. Supports Firewire 800. Beat that!
Check out Cool Drives, that's where I got the smallest USB 2.0/Firewire drive enclosure I've ever seen. Unfortunately, they no longer have the enclosure I have. Never had a problem with them.
Do all firewire adapters supply power or is this only available on newer computers?
iomega makes a combination USB/Firewire hard drive that's not too much bigger than the 2.5GB. It can be bus-powered by either USB or Firewire. I have a 40GB model and it works great with my iBook.
Humourless fucks should never be given mod points.
Why are the iPod recommendations modded up like crazy, while comments that actually answer the question left untouched? The poster didn't ask for a portable hard drive but for an enclosure. Unlike many Ask Slashdot requests, the question was very specific. The probably already has the 2.5" drive(s), or he's using it to house 2.5" drives for his job, and just looking for a small $20 enclosure, not a $200+ hard disk music player.
Here is where I found their G-Drive-mini line of portable drives, completely bus powered, and optionally powered with AC adapter for when you're low on laptop battery. The 40 GIG FW 400 model is priced at $149 and the 100 gig FW 400 is priced at $299
I baught one at my local computer store and let me tell you - they are crap. Don't waste your money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82 E16822161822
Iogear 40gb 1.8" external hd 4pin firewire 400, 5pin usb 2.0. ext power adapter. Metal casing
Physical Spec
Form Factor 1.8"
Dimensions 0.6" x 4.8" x 3.1"
Weight 0.5 lbs