Thinkpads Forum

I just (finally) ordered one yesterday, I'm hoping it will get here within 3 weeks...

It looks really cute... I've 2 "normal" external boxes, but I would not mind to substitute one of them with this one.

Some questions for who bought and received the item.

Which kind of material is used for the box? Plastic? Alluminium? Another metal?

Looks/feels solid?

How long did it take the shipping?

since It looks weird and won't accept credit card directly.
this website always keeps asking you to input paypal username and keyword, which means, they will get the access to your paypal account?

thx

Which kind of material is used for the box? Plastic? Alluminium? Another metal?

Looks/feels solid?

How long did it take the shipping?

It appears to be some sort of plastic. It looks quite spiffy and professional. If memory serves, it was around two weeks between ordering and reception.

This is my first 2.5" external enclosure, so I don't know if this is typical, but my only mild complaint is that the tiny slide switch to power the guy up and down doesn't exactly look like an industrial-quality entity.

I'll observe that it apparently draws too much power to use it plugged into two of the USB ports on my Dell desktop LCD monitor, so I have to grovel down on the floor when I want to use it with my desktop box. There are no issues using it with my Thinkpad (T42) or a Dell C610.

In a nutshell, it has been a quite acceptable purchase.

Art

Thanks a lot for the reply and the infos.

I guess I'll have to think well about this thing. The case is very nice, but I was hoping that the material was not pure plastic.
The 2 boxes I've are both full aluminium, and will ensure that the hds' heat will dissipate.

I fear that a plastic enclosure, instead, would not dissipate so well the heat.

Well, so far I paid for mine on the 15th, and they just sent me an email saying that it's now been shipped with Hong Kong Post. According to HKP, it should be here in 7 business days, which would most likely be the 30th.

I hope it's worth the wait!

I've bought this a while back and asked about it back in this thread:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 81&start=0

Apparently the seller from www.fifthunit.com separated from his partner and created a new website, which is the current www.dealextreme.com.

The enclosure seems genuine to me, as all the details have already been discussed in this thread. It works with a hard drive I salvaged off a broken laptop, so I'm not complaining. The enclosure is plastic, so I don't know how well it dissipates heat, but I only use it for a couple of minutes at a time just to backup files so that's not a problem for me. The enclosure includes a data cable as well as a power cable that also connects to USB. I have been able to use the drive with only the data cable attached, so I'm not sure whether the power cable is absolutely necessary. It might be needed for hard drives that draw more power.

duhmask wrote:i was just able to pick-up the two enclosures that was ordered last Feb 6 from the Post Office but was reprimanded because DealExtreme declared the package as a LED penlight instead, everything was as what was described above and was very happy with the purchase. the only downside was when i asked the P.O. person if when was it sent to the HK post office, she said that it was received by the HK P.O. only on Feb 23 instead of the Feb 10th or 16th date DealExtreme advised me when i mailed them about the package taking soooo long to arrive.

Philippine Post Office and Fedex are famous for being the most corrupt in the planet. They gave you a hard time simply because they want you to pay and the pay varies depending on who's in charge at the moment. The folks who work there (customs) are also the richest in their country.

Neways, thanks for dealextreme I'm also picking up a few of these.

Alright! Mine came yesterday, and I just took pics (WARNING: they're large files):

http://cinemafia.net/stuff/IBM_Drive_Enclosure_1.jpg
http://cinemafia.net/stuff/IBM_Drive_Enclosure_2.jpg
http://cinemafia.net/stuff/IBM_Drive_Enclosure_3.jpg

Overall, great little case for about $23. It's all plastic, but oh well, it looks good. I like how it has an on-off switch, and how tightly the usb connector fits into its port. It actually took me a few minutes to figure out how to get the thing open, though...I kept thinking the bottom tray slid out! Also, I ended up attaching the larger, sticky foam piece directly to the drive and then gently pushing it in under the lip on the inside of the case until it all fit nicely...I just found this easier than any other method of getting the drive in.

Anyway, it's up and running with a 40GB, 5400rpm drive in it.

Are these usb2.0?

Yep, they're USB 2.0.

Happy to report I finally received the enclosure I ordered several weeks ago. After loading it up with a 40gb hard drive and taking it for a spin, I was so impressed with the unit, I ordered two more. If this is not a genuine IBM product, it's close enough for me. I really could'nt tell the difference. Right from the IBM labelled box, packaging material and instructions/warranty info that was included, it all looked authentic to me.

Once I installed the hard drive, I connected it to myT60 using the included usb cable and it worked perfectly. I then tried it with my X31 and again it worked without a hitch or without the need to use the included usb power cable. All in all a very nice package for the price,considering it includes the enclosure, 2.0 usb connector cable, usb power cable (which I did not have to use) and a nice IBM labeled storage pouch.

Definately a great product at a great price. Having several other hard drives kicking around, I am looking forward to receiving the two others I just ordered.

Has anyone here ordered more than 1 of these drive enclosures? I would love to have one but their shipping is really expensive.

Thanks.

Got mine today, along with a replacement battery for my Nano.

Nice unit and everything, but this is definitely not IBM product. There are too many errors and inconsistencies in the packaging to make it a genuine IBM product.

The rendering of the logo on the case, as well as the CD, is way off. It would never pass IBM standard. The included CD has glaring Engrish typos on it as well.

I just wish it were aluminimum.

Fairly quick turnaround thou, ordered April 7th, arrived New York City April 23rd. Additionally, I had ordered a cheap pair of earphones for the Nano, those have been backordered apparently.

All in all, I'd give it a 7.5 out of a possible 10

Thanks for the update. I was tempted to order the enclosure as well but I don't think I am too keen after hearing about the build quality issues and the plastic material. Power dissipation during long usage might be an issue and can potentially harm the drive's life. Nowadays the price of the drives isn't much but potentially valuable the data can get lost.

Firstly, I only just thought to search here about these cases here now (slaps forehead). I should have realized someone else here must have seen them already.

I've considered ordering one back since AxShop (The predecessor to FifthUnit). Now, DealExtreme and (former business partner run) Kaidomain.com both still have the cases, and I'm still tempted. I've always thought they were legit, but just some mislaid units that "fell off the back of a truck" being meeting up with their drives to be. (Geddit? Brides=Drives?)

Erm, anyhow, I was wondering if anyone could repost cinemafia's pix, or pix of their own. I'd love to know if the case logo and disc logo look ok or not. I do wish they were at least $5 cheaper (even though shipping is now free from both sources)

tfflivemb2 wrote:I'm not sure if the same applies here, but back when I was looking for a cable for my Audiovox phone for connecting and DLing my pics, there was discussion in one of the Audiovox forums about making sure that the USB cable had to be one that has a "bump" in the cable, instead of a perfectly straight cable. I assume by "bump" they mean some kind of fuse, regulator or something. This might be related to the power issue, because the cables that have these "bumps" can handle more power going through them....but, this is just a poorly speculated guess....

Just out of sheer curiosity, was this on HowardForums? (If so, can you point me at your post?)

gator wrote:hmm, this itnerests me. I just checked the cable I got with the enclosure, and it does have a "bump" bear the base of the connector on the computer side. I also see that my mouse and keyboard connectors DO NOT have the bump. Can somene check the cables and verify this?

Just to clear this up, the "bump" in that cell phone data cable was meant for an IC and switch to transfer Serial impulses to USB. The actual "bump" was usually unpopulated and just held a pc board that allowed the crossover of each end. Those are the cheaper versions that weren't as compatible as the ones with the chips.

The bump you usually see in USB cables is just a ferrite loop added to prevent interference, unless they are PC-to-PC transfer cables. (Those are labeled as such)

kevinZ wrote:since It looks weird and won't accept credit card directly.
this website always keeps asking you to input paypal username and keyword, which means, they will get the access to your paypal account?

thx

The payment process always has https://www.paypal.com in the address bar for me, so it should be secure if you see it too.

losmeme wrote:Got mine today, along with a replacement battery for my Nano.

Nice unit and everything, but this is definitely not IBM product. There are too many errors and inconsistencies in the packaging to make it a genuine IBM product.

The rendering of the logo on the case, as well as the CD, is way off. It would never pass IBM standard. The included CD has glaring Engrish typos on it as well.

I just wish it were aluminimum.

Fairly quick turnaround thou, ordered April 7th, arrived New York City April 23rd. Additionally, I had ordered a cheap pair of earphones for the Nano, those have been backordered apparently.

All in all, I'd give it a 7.5 out of a possible 10

Again, I'd really love to see pics.

Also, there IS one or two generic/counterfeit aluminum cases bearing the IBM logo (seen one in gold, another in blue), as well as VAIO ones on eBay. I don't see as many now as the unbranded ones. That may be the result of a crackdown, or just them selling out quicker.

OK, Here are links to some some very detailed pictures I took of what I received. The carrier box is all dinged up as it was only shipped in a bubble envelope:

Carrier Box
Label
Disk
Leaflet
Pouch
Product
Logo - Close Up
Enclosure - Front
Enclosure - Back
Cables
Cables - Expanded
Disk - Back
Disk - Front
PC Board & Base
PC Board Chip - Close Up
Enclosure - Exploded
PC Board - Back
PC Board - Front
Leaflet
Leaflet - Close Up

The product info page at IBM.com shows that this item was withdrawn 28 Oct 2003, but the label on what I received clearly states a manufacture date of 2006-07-01.

The enclosure has sat in it's box since received, as I really prefer my cheapo aluminum one better. The cheapo one has a single cord as well.

THANKS! (Talk about thorough!)

When I saw how offset the M on the case logo was, I almost cried. Short of these being seconds (is that possible?) that couldn't possibly be authentic. The label on the IC looks like it's not from a big ODM company, although the board lists Apricorn, and they have been known to make quality aftermarket TP accessories. IIRC, they made an aftermarket Zip drive for my 760XD TP back in the day.

Maybe this is an IBM-rejected batch of seconds?

IBM/Lenovo regularly have multiple vendors produce the same item to spec. and assign a FRU. (Usually separate ones, but I think there have been cases where there was one for more than one ODM/OEM) Maybe Apricorn lost out, and had to liquidate to closeout distributors? I'd guess that IBM would want such products destroyed if that happened, but who would want to take the loss?

Apricorn is still around. Maybe this is one of their dirty little secrets they don't want IBM or Lenovo to know about.

I see that there's some pretty specific, and official looking, serial number stickers on the box. I guess if someone else still has theirs they could compare to see if those were duplicated exactly as well. That could be conclusive evidence of it being counterfeit, I guess. (Could still be seconds that were reboxed deviously, though)

Thanks again.

EDIT: Btw, was the aluminum one you got the IBM-labeled one I mentioned?

Tholek;

The aluminum one I have doesn't have the IBM logo on it, but it appears to be the exact same enclosure. I ordered it last year from someone off eBay for like $15 delivered. Has worked like a champ with many different drives I have thrown in it. (Toshiba, WD and Hitachi)

My concern when looking for this originally was sufficient power to the drive through the USB ports. The cable is split with two USB male ends converging into one USB male end. The split just fits the two usb ports of my X31. Have had 4200, 5400 and 7200RPM drives in it with no problem.

When I saw the two separate cables on the DealExtreme one, I knew I wouldn't be using it. Alot of money, but I reduced my exposure by ordering several other items from them, including a new battery for my Nano, which really paid for the entire lot.

This plastic one is eventually going up for sale in the Marketplace.

losmeme wrote:Tholek;

The aluminum one I have doesn't have the IBM logo on it, but it appears to be the exact same enclosure. I ordered it last year from someone off eBay for like $15 delivered. Has worked like a champ with many different drives I have thrown in it. (Toshiba, WD and Hitachi)

My concern when looking for this originally was sufficient power to the drive through the USB ports. The cable is split with two USB male ends converging into one USB male end. The split just fits the two usb ports of my X31. Have had 4200, 5400 and 7200RPM drives in it with no problem.

When I saw the two separate cables on the DealExtreme one, I knew I wouldn't be using it. Alot of money, but I reduced my exposure by ordering several other items from them, including a new battery for my Nano, which really paid for the entire lot.

This plastic one is eventually going up for sale in the Marketplace.

It's changed now, though. Shipping is free no matter the order quantity or cost, so it's not as if it's really making up for it. The other items cost as much as they sell for.

As for the cable, I have a few of the double ended type, and most 2.5 drives I've used seem to run on one alone. I guess it depends on how many devices are on the USB controller, or hub at the time.

I too picked up one or two of those aluminum cases (Two squarish gold ones) from a seller called by ynoshk who also had some different IBM ones than the ones I see on eBay at the moment. They are great, even though the LEDs are insanely bright.

Well, the power problem is in a big part also depending on the chipset on the mb and/or mb design.

I've a Gigabyte mb (athlon based) where I need to plug the 2nd cable to operate the usb hd.
The asus mb in another pc instead doesn't force me to do it (same cpu in both, same age), as the X31, too.

Some makers operate the usb with slightly lower voltage, I guess.

I need an enclosure for a Seagate 7200 drive. I do not see a power adapter so will the USB cable for enough to power this unit. I do not see a photo of a Y cable either.

Seems a few of you already own this unit. Is it a good investment or should I look elsewhere for an enclosure?

House Kitten, I have one of these and they are pretty nice for the price. You don't need a Y cable if youa re going to use this with a thinkpad, even older ones recognize the drive ... In case you need one, they do give a USB-to-power cable that you can plug into another USB port (apart from the data USB cable). I have never had one trouble with this enclosure till now - it seems to be an imitation, but it is a pretty good product and goes nice with thinkpads.

Gator, I don't need a Y cable if using with a 7200 RPM drive? I thought I would need the extra power.

If it is an imitation thats fine. Looks nice and matches well. I plan on cloning my old drive and I need an enclosure for the new drive.

house kitten wrote:Gator, I don't need a Y cable if using with a 7200 RPM drive? I thought I would need the extra power.

If it is an imitation thats fine. Looks nice and matches well. I plan on cloning my old drive and I need an enclosure for the new drive.

I tried using a 7k100 and it worked fine on thinkpads (T41/T60)- not sure about other brand laptops. In case you need it, you can always use the cable they give ... the carry case included is also nice.

Thanks Gator.