2.5" USB Enclosures??

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

jj_bpk@bellsouth.net wrote:
> Shirley,, A round on my plastic..
>
> Well,, I've had my 600E a little over a month,, plunked in a
> couple 256 sticks,, I've connected with the internal modem,
> NIC card, & have 11g card running, all is well, I be happy,,,
> with one small exception.
>
> The 10GB drive has quickly filled,, stands at 70% this AM...
> I suspect this will last a long time, as this is not the prime
> machine. The TravelStar I have is quite, cool, and fast
> enough,, I'm not looking for the opposite..
>
> One thought is to get one of the Toshiba 5GB PCM/CIA cards??

Those are nifty; I have a couple of them. But they are much slower than a
regular notebook hard drive, and they hog the CPU when you're using them.
They are also much more expensive for the amount of storage you get. But
they are great for a backup you can put in your pocket.

A CompactFlash card in a PCMCIA adapter is even better for backup because it
is so rugged, if you can live with less capacity.

> Another, on eBay I spotted a nifty little USB 2,, 2.5",, 9.5mm
> enclosure.. Looks like an easy upgrade. I also read that some
> 2.5" drives might exceed the 500mAh current provided by
> the USB port..
>
> 1)Anyone want to venture a guess as to what size or rotational
> speed 2.5" will exceed the draw limit??
>
> 2)I know that the 600E is USB1,, might that force the drive to use
> less current as it will not be running as hard to pump data across?

It would have no effect at all on power consumption. The drive always spins
at the same speed. I guess it might not seek as often, so it would use a
teensy bit less power.

But as Dan mentioned, USB1 is much too slow. You would need a USB2 PCMCIA
card for your ThinkPad to get reasonable use out of an external hard drive.

A great option if you don't mind removing your CD/DVD drive is to use IBM's
second hard drive adapter. This holds a standard 2.5" drive and goes in the
UltraslimBay in place of the CD/DVD. The part number for your machine is
05K5336. They are a bit hard to find, but if you use an eBay "favorite
search" for that part number and have it email you when something turns up,
you should find one before long.

-Mike

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I bought the cheapest usb enlosure I could find of newegg.com and it
works fine with my old 12GB (from an IBM a20m). My t41p (USB 2.0)runs
the drive just fine, but my desktop at works (USB1.1) needs to have
extra power. My cable actually has 2 USB plugs for some extra juice.

My coworker got a 40gb usb external and it needs extra juice no matter
what computer you plug it into, even though it says it isn't supposed
to.

My guess is that you'll be safe at 4200rpm drives, but it's just a
guess.

BTW, buy and add-on USB 2.0 card if you don't already have USB2.0.
It's well worth the money (7GB w/USB1.1 took ~2hrs, same amount on
USB2.0 took about 10 minutes!).


<jj_bpk@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:<2jjvc.6228$SZ4.2974@bignews5.bellsouth.net>...
> Shirley,, A round on my plastic..
>
> Well,, I've had my 600E a little over a month,, plunked in a couple 256 sticks,, I've connected with
> the internal modem, NIC card, & have 11g card running, all is well, I be happy,,, with one small
> exception.
>
> The 10GB drive has quickly filled,, stands at 70% this AM... I suspect this will last a long time,
> as this is not the prime machine. The TravelStar I have is quite, cool, and fast enough,, I'm not
> looking for the opposite..
>
> One thought is to get one of the Toshiba 5GB PCM/CIA cards??
>
> Another, on eBay I spotted a nifty little USB 2,, 2.5",, 9.5mm enclosure.. Looks like an easy
> upgrade. I also read that some 2.5" drives might exceed the 500mAh current provided by the USB
> port..
>
> 1)Anyone want to venture a guess as to what size or rotational speed 2.5" will exceed the draw
> limit??
>
> 2)I know that the 600E is USB1,, might that force the drive to use less current as it will not be
> running as hard to pump data across?
>
> 3)Any experience and suggestions with either would be appreciated...
>
> There is no rush,, finish your beer 1st...
>
> Thanks
> Jim
> An Old Parrot Head,
> In the Conch Republic,
> Just South of Reality

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

<jj_bpk@bellsouth.net> wrote in
news:2jjvc.6228$SZ4.2974@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

> Another, on eBay I spotted a nifty little USB 2,, 2.5",, 9.5mm
> enclosure.. Looks like an easy upgrade. I also read that some 2.5"
> drives might exceed the 500mAh current provided by the USB port..
>
> 1)Anyone want to venture a guess as to what size or rotational speed
> 2.5" will exceed the draw limit??

It's not determined by formula. You have to read it on drive label how
much current it consumes. Typical 30GB at 4200rpm drives may need 0.7A,
60GB at 5400rpm requires 0.9A, and fast Hitachi 60GB at 7200rpm is 1.1A
(and gets quite hot).

BTW, laptop USB port limit is not 500mA, it is 480mA.

ADS (adstech.com I believe) had an extra USB-to-5V cable (to power their
Firewire 2.5" enclosure). Using that you'll have a combined power with
USB data cable total 960mA - enough to run most types of 2.5" drives
(except for really hungry ones).

They still have it:
http://www.adstech.com/products/accessories/accessories...

It does not have a picture. The price is $15. I use it extensively with
various other enclosures - apparently the 5V plug is unofficial standard.
Do a search, you may find one with picture someplace else. Maybe even
cheaper.

Or something like this:
http://www.addonics.com/products/power_adapter/usb_powe...

Note that it requires an extra USB connector, and I remember that 600E is
quite limited in that area. So you may be out of luck.

Yet an enclosure with external power adapter is still a very much viable
solution.

Finally, one more idea. There was a 2.5" enclosure with builtin battery
- AMS25K. It's Firewire though. But you may find something similar with
USB interface.

Alexei

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Thanks for the info,, As I said, I have plenty of time,, guess I'll spend it looking. I already have
a 512mb microdrive for the camera and have already use it to move some files over from the desktop,,
it is slow,, but all I need currently..

Thanks again
Jim
An Old Parrot Head,
In the Conch Republic,
Just South of Reality

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Alexei, Thanks for the 20ma correction,, I tend to round,,,

I looked at a couple USB 2.0 pc cards,,, they all use fat connectors,, meaning the 11g card(w/fat
antenna) would have to be out...

This whole thing is to get some additional space for my digital camera picture back-up on the road,,
the email is a nit,, so IF i need it:

1)the Toshiba 5gb pc card seems right,, you can find them under $100 and they can be moved to other
machines.

2)buy a new faster 30gb as the primary system HD 1..

I currently have a 30gb and a 80 gb in my desk top,, only use about 25gb with some 5K in pict's..

Thanks Again,, grab a new cold one on me..

Jim
An Old Parrot Head,
In the Conch Republic,
Just South of Reality

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

<jj_bpk@bellsouth.net> wrote in
news:sVrvc.1549$F2.1307@bignews6.bellsouth.net:

> I looked at a couple USB 2.0 pc cards,,, they all use fat connectors,,
> meaning the 11g card(w/fat antenna) would have to be out...

That's tough indeed.

> This whole thing is to get some additional space for my digital camera
> picture back-up on the road,, the email is a nit,, so IF i need it:

Here's one more thought: Creative MuVo 4GB at $200. Requires USB only
connection, no extra power source. 4GB Compact Flash inside (or so I
hear). No drivers required. Can be used as MP3 player as well. Very
portable.

Most of shops are out of stock on it - people buy it for 4GB CF alone (well
worth the money).

Cheers

Alexei

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

If you're comfotable with replacing the HDD in your laptop then do
that! Buy a 2.5 enclosure and stick your old 10GB drive in it. That
way way you have a bigger primary drive and an inexpensive, light
mobile USB solution!

FYI: The toshiba 5GB and the Muvo 4GB will both much slower than your
internal drive (duh!, I know).

<jj_bpk@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:<sVrvc.1549$F2.1307@bignews6.bellsouth.net>...
> Alexei, Thanks for the 20ma correction,, I tend to round,,,
>
> I looked at a couple USB 2.0 pc cards,,, they all use fat connectors,, meaning the 11g card(w/fat
> antenna) would have to be out...
>
> This whole thing is to get some additional space for my digital camera picture back-up on the road,,
> the email is a nit,, so IF i need it:
>
> 1)the Toshiba 5gb pc card seems right,, you can find them under $100 and they can be moved to other
> machines.
>
> 2)buy a new faster 30gb as the primary system HD 1..
>
> I currently have a 30gb and a 80 gb in my desk top,, only use about 25gb with some 5K in pict's..
>
> Thanks Again,, grab a new cold one on me..
>
> Jim
> An Old Parrot Head,
> In the Conch Republic,
> Just South of Reality

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On 2 Jun 2004 11:33:00 -0700, xanthinine@yahoo.com (G Tom) wrote:

>I bought the cheapest usb enlosure I could find of newegg.com and it
>works fine with my old 12GB (from an IBM a20m). My t41p (USB 2.0)runs
>the drive just fine, but my desktop at works (USB1.1) needs to have
>extra power. My cable actually has 2 USB plugs for some extra juice.
>
>My coworker got a 40gb usb external and it needs extra juice no matter
>what computer you plug it into, even though it says it isn't supposed
>to.
>
>My guess is that you'll be safe at 4200rpm drives, but it's just a
>guess.
>
>BTW, buy and add-on USB 2.0 card if you don't already have USB2.0.
>It's well worth the money (7GB w/USB1.1 took ~2hrs, same amount on
>USB2.0 took about 10 minutes!).
>
>
><jj_bpk@bellsouth.net> wrote in message news:<2jjvc.6228$SZ4.2974@bignews5.bellsouth.net>...
>> Shirley,, A round on my plastic..
>>
>> Well,, I've had my 600E a little over a month,, plunked in a couple 256 sticks,, I've connected with
>> the internal modem, NIC card, & have 11g card running, all is well, I be happy,,, with one small
>> exception.
>>
>> The 10GB drive has quickly filled,, stands at 70% this AM... I suspect this will last a long time,
>> as this is not the prime machine. The TravelStar I have is quite, cool, and fast enough,, I'm not
>> looking for the opposite..
>>
>> One thought is to get one of the Toshiba 5GB PCM/CIA cards??
>>
>> Another, on eBay I spotted a nifty little USB 2,, 2.5",, 9.5mm enclosure.. Looks like an easy
>> upgrade. I also read that some 2.5" drives might exceed the 500mAh current provided by the USB
>> port..
>>
>> 1)Anyone want to venture a guess as to what size or rotational speed 2.5" will exceed the draw
>> limit??
>>
>> 2)I know that the 600E is USB1,, might that force the drive to use less current as it will not be
>> running as hard to pump data across?
>>
>> 3)Any experience and suggestions with either would be appreciated...
>>
>> There is no rush,, finish your beer 1st...
>>
>> Thanks
>> Jim
>> An Old Parrot Head,
>> In the Conch Republic,
>> Just South of Reality
I bought the Plumax 2.5/3.5/5.25 enclosure that has its own built in
power supply and fan. Sould also accept CDRW or DVDRW, but I'm using
it with a 120GB drive. Cost about $24 at Dealsonic. Seems to work OK
on either a USB1 or USB2 connection. Only had it a week so reliability
is unknown.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Alexei Boukirev wrote:
> Here's one more thought: Creative MuVo 4GB at $200. Requires
> USB only connection, no extra power source. 4GB Compact Flash
> inside (or so I hear). No drivers required. Can be used as MP3
> player as well. Very portable.
>
> Most of shops are out of stock on it - people buy it for 4GB CF
> alone (well worth the money).

It's a 4GB Microdrive (same form factor as Type II CompactFlash, but a hard
drive). The MuVo sells for less than you would pay for the Microdrive alone,
so people sometimes buy it to pull out the Microdrive. Then they can put a
smaller CompactFlash card in the MuVo and still have a decent MP3 player.

-Mike

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

jj_bpk@bellsouth.net wrote:

> Thanks for the info,, As I said, I have plenty of time,, guess I'll spend it looking. I already have
> a 512mb microdrive for the camera and have already use it to move some files over from the desktop,,
> it is slow,, but all I need currently..

also, see www.fatwallet.com/forums/ -> hot deals on the MUVO2
threads. lots of users have been pulling out the 4GB Microdrives from
these Creative Labs MUVO2 MP3 players, selling the case on ebay.com, and
keeping the 4GB cards for their digital cameras.

easy way to get a 4GB card that usually sells for $400+ for $199, and
works very well for lots of people.

also, see www.dpreview.com -> forums thread on this topic as well.