14 DAY TRIAL // NewerTech announced a new USB 2.0 drive adapter to connect any type of drive to the computer via a USB 2.0 interface. The company has a long tradition in producing performance upgrades and accessories for the popular Macintosh, iPod and iPhone devices.
The first time I saw the USB adapter, I mistook it for a sophisticated portable media player that can handle a SATA hard-disk drive. Much of my confusion is due to the fact that the adapter comes with a plethora of connection status LEDs that visually confirm the operation of the plugged-in device.
NewerTech's USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter is a fully-fledged connectivity solution that allows the user to connect an external hard disk or optical drive (either a standard IDE/ATA/ATAPI 40 pin or Serial-ATA) via a spare USB 2.0 port.
The connected devices can be used as if they were internally integrated. This spares the user the pain of removing the case panel each time they need access to their hard-drives. The adapter is easy to use, as all the connected hard drives are automatically recognized and installed, thanks to the Plug-and-Play features of the USB.
The USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter has been tested with all hard drive brands, such as Maxtor, Seagate, IBM, Hitachi, Samsung, Western Digital, and Fujitsu. Optical media units have also been tested, including major manufacturers such as LG, Lite-On, Panasonic, Pioneer, Plextor, Sony, Teac, and Toshiba. Removable media drives have also scored great results while connected to the adapter.
Based on the USB 2.0 specifications, the Universal Drive Adapter can reach a maximum transfer rate of 480Mbps, while maintaining the USB 1.1 backwards compatibility. This "Swiss army knife of connectivity" is available for retail sale at an estimative price of $29.95. The device comes with a full year of warranty and is compatible with Mac OS 9.2 or higher including Mac OS X, Linux 2.4.X, and Microsoft Windows 2000/XP operating systems.