14 DAY TRIAL // Given the fact that the number of external storage solutions currently available on the market is absolutely huge, the only thing that can help one product really stand out from the crowd is the inclusion of some really exciting and useful features not available in other devices, and that's exactly what Zalman is offering with their brand-new ZM-VE200 external HDD enclosure. ]So, the main selling point the new enclosure from Zalman has to offer is the fact that it actually incorporates a virtual drive application, meaning that it can replace an existing CD/DVD drive or player with the use of ISO files.
So, practically, what users have to do is simply convert their CDs or DVDs into ISO files and then load on ZM-VE200’s ‘virtual drive,’ making their entire collection a whole lot easier to access.
Now, moving to the more “standard” features the enclosure has in store, we'll have to point out that the device has been specifically designed in order to work with 2.5-inch SATA HDDs, featuring both 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM speeds, while also delivering a very good level of portability, since it measures 135.3 x 78.6 x 13.1 mm and weighs around 98.5 grams, while also being bus-powered.
And speaking of the USB interface, it's important to mention that both USB 2.0 and eSATA connectors are available, data transfer rates reaching a maximum of 480 Mbps in the first case and up to 3Gbps in the second case (sadly, Zalman has not made the move to USB 3.0 in this case, although we sincerely hoped it would).
As Zalman reveals, their enclosure is bundled with a carrying case and should hit the shelves at some point in March for around 34.50 Euro, but the company's also offering a cheaper version (sans the virtual drive function) that only sells for around 12 Euro.