External hard drive basics? (enclosures?)

[John Prophet]

I often see external hard drive enclosures....you know, just the empty box where you put a standard IDE drive in it.

Lets say you buy one of those enclosures

Like this one just for example http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...145-702&depa=1

Ok, at that point, once I hook up my usb 2 cable and throw in a regular IDE drive.....would it then function exactly like a true external drive?

Also, maybe a dumb question but.....if you then take a 3.5 to 2.5 converter can you use a laptop drive in the ext enclosure (pretty sure u can)?


Lastly, just musing in my brain...wouldnt it be cool if there were an external RAID box...like a usb 2 RAID 1 external enclosure? Is there any such (I doubt it, unless seial ata)


Thanks, JP

[maface]

AFAIK the external HD should function as a standard drive.
I did find an USB Raid controller http://www.cooldrives.com/twodrusb20en.html

Also heres a cool external HD case
http://www.pctoys.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=972

[iNeb]

Go PCToys, i like that company, my friend used to know the owner so i got super cheap prices and free items.

Too bad they only relabel their products

[Wolfreakyn]

You're correct on the laptop drives, the extra pins are just ;
41- +5v logic 42- +5v Motor 43- Gnd 44- Rsrvd

[John Prophet]

Is there a reason then why I would buy a "pre-made" ext drive instead of just an enclosure and my own hd?? Cuz we all know hd prices are falling all the time etc...and if a pre-made goes bad....too bad..but with an enclosrue youre just out the drive cost..plus you can upgrade sizes later if u want etc

Thanks, JP

[John Prophet]

oh yeah..thanks maface..that usb raid thing is sorta cool.....now we need to find a review of it!! lol.

JP

[Wolfreakyn]

What's missing with just any box is the USB to IDE/ATA interface chip & logic. I know ScanLogic made a chip SL11R that was flash programable, I think some Linux people are using them.

[Wolfreakyn]

Sorry missed the "pre-made".