14 DAY TRIAL // The most common means by which an external and portable storage device can connect to a PC is the very much omnipresent USB 2.0 technology. Unfortunately, this interface hasn't exactly held the title of fastest I//O solution for some time now. The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard is one of its betters, possessing a ten times higher transfer limit, with the other being the somewhat older but not very widespread eSATA. In seeking to allow extra HDDs to be connected to a PC through this interface, Sharkoon Technologies has unwrapped its latest HDD dock, known as the QuickPort Combo eSATA.
Sharkoon manufactures a variety of products, but its lines of HDD docks have been getting attention because such products can be easily updated and, thus, are generally up to speed with current storage needs.
In this particular case, after having already launched a USB 3.0 HDD dock, the German company has now offered one using the second fastest external storage connectivity technology. The QuickPort Combo eSATA, as its name implies, has both a USB 2.0 port as well as an eSATA connector.
Consumers interested in the actual specifications of the device will be interested in knowing that the new QuickPort measures 71 (H) x 133 (W) x 95 (D) mm and weighs 545 grams. Also, the dock will support hard drives designed both with an IDE interface as well as for the SATA 3Gbps.
Compatible form factors include both the 2.5-inch as well as the 3.5-inch. Finally, in addition to supplying HDDs with a means to connect to the PC, the QuickPort Combo eSATA also has an IDE front connector, through which not only storage units but also optical drives can be connected.
Currently, the device carries an MSRP of 36.90 Euro and comes bundled with the necessary IDE cables and power adapter.