Hi David,

Enclosure only solution tends to be the remit of the Chinese/Taiwanese - the Brands deliver quality solutions but with HDD included. For universal interface (USB-FW-eSATA) there are solutions just becoming available - WD has launched a product which will also support the Fast version of FW (FW800) which is now standard on MACs. Other brands are likely to be launching soon. For future proof I would go with FW800 - especially if you are an Apple user - the new Time Machine functionality in the Leopard OS is great for easy backup but is better if you can connect to the external HDD by FW800 ~2xFW400 speed and ~3x real USB data rates. eSATA is a very new interface with few machines which support it and quite some compatability issues - if you want to use that interface I would definitely go with a recognised and reliable brand for your external storage solution.

Thanks for your reply. The problem with Western Digital is that I yanked this drive out of the My Book enclosure cause it was a POS and it failed on me. The drive still works, at least when I stuck it in a desktop awhile ago. But I want to get an enclosure for it.

I got a Seagate FreeAgent, and it seems to do very well so far although you have to swap the modules, but it has all 3 interfaces. (5 year warranty!!!!!!)

Anyway, I really do need a recommendation for an enclosure though. I don't want to have to buy another external drive for awhile, and enclosures are pretty cheep.

This product looks like it got good reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145657

However, the problem is that the drive I have is SATA and none of the enclosures by that manufacturer are SATA->FW & USB. Is it possible to get a SATA to IDE adapter and fit it in there?

Thanks!

Hi David,

I have gone thru many external FireWire boxes for work and home and I personally like the higer end products at Other World Computing (OWC) in the States. They have any configuration of USB, FW400/800 and eSATA with plastic or aluminum cases. They also have great tech support and a liberal return policy. The "Oxford 9xx" FireWire interfaces are more reliable than LaCies or others I have used (I mean do not fry after six months).

Here's a link to their best quad interface case:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEFW924AL1K/

Their products have always rated at the top of any reviews that I have seen them included in.

Good luck,

Philip

Hey Philip!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the info!!!!!!!!!!! I bought this:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEFW924AL2K/

Looks like the best one there is!!!!!!!!!!

It really is hard to find a quality enclosure with all the specs you want!!!!!!!!