14 DAY TRIAL // In many cases, hard disk drive docks have two slots where drives can be installed, but this is not the case for the latest creation from Icy Dock. Instead, the company settled for a single-drive bay.
The newest HDD dock from Icy Dock might be a bit more complicated than others of its kind. Not by much, but still a bit more complicated.
This is because of the power requirements. Icy Dock wanted for this to be a product free of need for power plugs.
Sadly, it only partially succeeded, due to how much energy different storage devices need in order to function.
So, 2.5-inch drives will be able to run on just the power provided by the USB port, 3.5-inch drives will need the extra juice from a wall power supply.
It shouldn't be too hard to store the power supply plug in a laptop case or briefcase. Which leads us to the second main feature.
Icy Dock designed the EZ-Dock MB981U3-1S to be easier to transport and use than others. It's not advertised as a mobile device per se, but it should be easier to cart around than others.
In any event, ease of use was emphasized upon, since the USB 3.0 interface features UASP support, which ensures high transfer speeds.
It is still backwards-compatible though (USB 2.0) and the tool-less plug & play design for both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA hard disk is always good to have.
In the end, you'll only need to plug the USB connection in your PC and hit the power button for everything to be ready to go. No driver needed.
Then again, that's more owed to Microsoft's Windows operating system covering all the bases, including removable storage, than anything Icy Dock did.
Still, Icy Dock did put effort into making it “a perfect tool” for gamers, designers, IT professionals and even normal users that have HDDs lying around and don't want to let them go to waste.
Finally, the newcomer is equipped with a 2-part cover, which lets you choose between 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives and still protect the interface from gathering dust.
Other features include a power button that doubles as status LED, a large drive eject button and support for Apple's Mac operating system.
Sadly, while Icy Dock did reveal all the specs of the EZ-Dock MB981U3-1S, even the 3-year warranty, it did not disclose the price. You'll have to check with your local retailers for that.
