I have not used that particular adaptor, but I have used a couple of the ones that have boxes around them, like the Mad Dog Mega Vault. Quite often I find myself just using the part of the enclosure that has the connections on it, and not putting the drive in the accompanying box. If I have a large amount of transferring to do, the heat build up seems to be quite a lot, and I only have the drives connected during the transfer. I don't store them with the adaptor attached.

My only recommendation on this, is you might want to look for one that does both IDE and SATA. I've a couple advertised in the US20 range and then you'd be covered for any kind of drive transfer.

I've been using one of these from http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?productID=12598Vantec[/link] for several months with great success. No problem having the bare HD lying on a non-conductive surface during transfers. This same unit has been seen at lower prices elsewhere, do a search.

Here is the item I bought from NewEgg a few months back. It's a universal unit, able to connect to IDE 3.5" (desktop), IDE 2.5" (laptop), and SATA drives.

I wouldn't want to use it as a permanent fixture, since the drive is a bit vulnerable without any kind of protective cover, but it's great for a quick data transfer or for imaging purposes.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the information and the link to the Sata/IDE combo connector. I think I may go with the one that riredale pointed to.

j razz

It's the same one, but as promised, at the lower price. What I did to improve it, was to replace the Molex connector with a quick disconnect replacement connector. Don't remember where I got them a few years back but they're the standard 4-pin molex form factor with two additional flexible appendages. And they were dirt cheap, something like $3 for 10, including a tool for ejecting the pins. When you squeeze them the ends push against the drive and eject the connector. No need to pull on the wires or break fingernails on the tiny nubs.