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Smallest FireWire Enclosure?

Posted by Cliff on from the mini-diminutive-tiny dept.

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?"

31 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. ADS Tech by Marillion · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have a ADS Tech - Dual Link 2.5 and I love it. It does both Firewire 400 and USB 2.0.

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    This is a boring sig
  2. iPod! by zygote · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since you didn't specify a capacity (or you did and I didn't notice, bygones...)

    Check out the FW->Dock Connector adapter to avoid another specialty cable. Pocketdock http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pd_combo.ht ml>

    If you can do less than 6 gigs, the iPod Mini is way small.

    Now, if you want small and CHEAP, well...

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    the future is here, it is just not evenly distributed - w. gibson
    1. Re:iPod! by threephaseboy · · Score: 1

      Seconded on the PocketDock. Bought one right after I got my mini, never used the dock cables again (I always carry retractable usb/fw cables). A little pricey ($28 shipped (from Germany!)), but worth every penny.

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  3. iPod? by olcrazypete · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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

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    1. Re:iPod? by forkazoo · · Score: 1

      I don't have any music on my 60 GB iPod. I do have some audio, but it is mostly language lessons, and a series of physics lectures by Feynman. I have the last three Doctors of the classic Dr. Who series. All the episodes from like 1981 to the end of the show about ten years later. and, some Samurai Champloo. And, a bunch of other stuff that won't fit on my iBook, and I like to have handy wherever I might be.

      My only complaint... finding drivers for a decent filesystem for Windows is almost impossible, (except for NTFS). I just naturally assumed i would be able to get an HFS driver for the PC's I deal with. Linux isn't a big deal, though. You can't even get an XFS driver for Windows, or anything else. It makes me sad. Not really an iPod specific complaint, but it made me greatly annoyed when I realised that I couldn't have a modern Filesystem which runs well under Mac OS, various *nixen, and Windows.

  4. Never used it, but try this one... by ComputerSlicer23 · · Score: 2, Informative
    This is a FireWire/USB 40GB drive. I believe they have larger ones, but they get fairly pricy. With this you should be able to carry just one drive. It does have dimensons listed. The picture appears misleading (something just looks wrong about the perspective, I can't tell if it's just my brain misfiring, or the picture).

    Kirby

    1. Re:Never used it, but try this one... by rekrutacja · · Score: 1

      They do have larger ones in terms of hd capacity, they also have much smaller ones in terms of external size. Check all their product line, with smallest Data Bank:
      http://www.lacie.com/se/products/range.htm?id=1003 6
      I get a chance to touch it, and this is really beatifull piece of hardware, i would choose just because of great esthetic value.

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      This Is Not a Sig
    2. Re:Never used it, but try this one... by balance+one · · Score: 1

      http://www.meritline.com/ultra-slim-external-enclo sure-accessories.html

    3. Re:Never used it, but try this one... by rekrutacja · · Score: 1

      Ooops! Data Bank is USB only...

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      This Is Not a Sig
    4. Re:Never used it, but try this one... by zerkon · · Score: 1

      We have 3 or 4 lacie devices in my office, free gifts from CDW I believe for screwing up an order in the past or for us being such a valuable customer or whatever, regardless they're all broken. All of them. The drives inside still work, and I've ripped them all out of the enclosure and have placed them in computers, but all the enclosures are broken.

      YMMV, but thats my expirience

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      The Answer
  5. it would help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    if you were clearer and indicated stuff like minimum drive volume needed read write etc. etc.


    so based on your ambiguity i'd say the ipod mini.


    if you're going to ask the /. cover all 5 sides.

  6. A Daisy Cutter by cpt+kangarooski · · Score: 2, Informative

    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.

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    -- 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.
  7. WiebeTech by ASCIIMan · · Score: 1

    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.

  8. Firefly by Goyuix · · Score: 1

    Go google it - two six pin connectors and the smallest 2.5 inch drive I have seen

  9. iPod by macemoneta · · Score: 1

    Small enclose and a free HD! Oh, and it plays music too, or something. USB 2.0 and FireWire.

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    Can You Say Linux? I Knew That You Could.

  10. LaCie drives by ilyaa1 · · Score: 1

    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.

  11. Re:Without a doubt... by rthille · · Score: 1

    Needs '-1 answers wrong question' mod.

    The original ask-slashdot was looking for a firewire enclosure, not a USB 2.0 enclosure. He even went so far as to say that it needed to be a 6-pin firewire (by which I assume he meant bus-powered).

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  12. Re:Without a doubt... by hahiss · · Score: 1

    I read the details on your blog---sounds like quite the unhappy experience.

    However, I found the contact info on their website in just a few seconds:

    http://store.yahoo.com/cooldrives/info.html

    The address, phone, fax, and URL are listed after the warranty info.

    Have at 'em.

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    "Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." - H.L. Mencken
  13. Re:Without a doubt... by hacker · · Score: 1
    The original ask-slashdot was looking for a firewire enclosure, not a USB 2.0 enclosure. He even went so far as to say that it needed to be a 6-pin firewire (by which I assume he meant bus-powered).

    Perfect, so my reply answered exactly what he asked. Good, thanks for the reminder.

    All sarcasm aside, did you even READ my reply? The Coolmax enclosure has usb2 and firewire (1394b), so it is not only EXACTLY what he was looking for, but even more, because it has greater functionality in a smaller form factor.

  14. Re:Without a doubt... by hacker · · Score: 1

    This is interesting... and it looks like they changed it (probably after numerous complaints).

    The local copy of their website I have archived does not appear to contain any of this information. Still no contact number for support or warrantee information (just the "pre-sales" number). Their feedback form does nothing, I've tried using it to resolve the problem I had with my order.

    Thanks for the link though, I just hope my experience can help others make a well-informed decision if they choose to buy from this vendor.

  15. Macally PHR-250CC by hardreset · · Score: 1

    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.

  16. Re:Without a doubt... by jackmakrl · · Score: 1

    I think you linked to the wrong product, perhaps you meant to link to this?

  17. Re:Without a doubt... by rthille · · Score: 1

    Like the other reply said, the product you linked to was USB only. I guess my reply came off harsher than I intended (didn't notice your mention of 'firewire' in your reply either).

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    Awesome furniture, accessories and cabinetry in Santa Rosa, CA: http://humanity-home.com/
  18. Re:Without a doubt... by hacker · · Score: 1

    Yep, my bad. Thanks for catching it.

  19. Enclosures of all types: by ibullard · · Score: 1

    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.

  20. Re:stupid question by justforaday · · Score: 1

    6-pin firewire cables can supply power. The micro, 4 pin connector (aka iLink on Sony stuff) does not.

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  21. iomega by penguinboy · · Score: 1

    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.

  22. Stop the iPod commercials already by adam1101 · · Score: 1

    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.

  23. Well here's a small bus powered one by LargoSensei · · Score: 1

    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

  24. I have one - dont waste your money by apachetoolbox · · Score: 1

    I baught one at my local computer store and let me tell you - they are crap. Don't waste your money.

  25. I found this... by notyourmom · · Score: 1

    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