Transcend has just introduced its new StorageJet 35 Ultra hard disk drive enclosure with eSATA connectivity and active cooling. The external storage solution comes in a sleek aluminum case that acts like a huge heatspreader, carrying the residual heat to the exterior.

According to the company, the dual eSATA / USB 2.0 connectivity maximizes compatibility across platforms and at the same time keeps the data transfer rates above the average values for an external storage unit. For instance, while the USB 2.0 port can deliver peak data rates of 480Mb/s, the eSATA connector delivers data bandwidth levels of about 3Gb/s.

The hard disk drive enclosure works with any SATA drive on the market, but maximum efficiency is achieved when paired with a SATA-II device. Transcend's enclosure is extremely interesting, as it comes with a fully-fledged active cooling solution. While other enclosures only rely on passive cooling or come with a miniature, inefficient fan, Transcend rigged the StoreJet 35 with an 80-millimeter high-flow fan.

When running hot, hard disk drives are less reliable and are prone to data loss or even permanent physical failure. Good ventilation keeps data safe and significantly extends the unit's lifespan for a minimum price premium.

Transcend claims that the StoreJet 35 Ultra has been tested to work on any commonly used operating systems, including Windows 2000 / XP / Vista, Mac and Linux. However, Mac and Linux users will have to format the drive using the FAT 32 or even FAT 16 for cross-platform compatibility.

The external HDD enclosure ships with Transcend's StoreJet elite intelligent backup software that allows users to schedule backup tasks (compression algorithms included) and add an extra layer of security to their mobile data.

The drive is available immediately through Transcend's retail channel partners. The company ships the enclosure either with a pre-installed 500GB SATA hard drive, or without it. The company did not disclose pricing information yet.