14 DAY TRIAL // With the advent of the USB 3.0 interface, end-users have been looking for ways to employ the new standard in order to provide their systems with extra storage. Sharkoon has already launched a number of devices meant to either provide this functionality or directly connect USB 3.0 devices to a home or small office network (USB LANPort). More recently, the company expanded its QuickPort HDD dock line with a new model that would allow two SATA hard drives to simultaneously connect to a PC via the USB 3.0 interface.
The Sharkoon QucikPort Duo now comes in a version with USB 3.0 connectivity and has two chambers for SATA hard disks of 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch form factors. Both chambers are equipped with a hinge mechanism that enables the use of smaller notebook hard drives or desktop units, depending on user choice. The dock also boasts an eject button and a separate power switch with two distinct LED indicators.
These lights reveal if the drive is being accessed or if it is idle. The new QuickPort Duo also permits two data medians of the same or of different formats to be accessed by the host PC at the same time. All that end-users need to do is plug the HDDs into the table adapter, at which point the PC instantly recognizes them. Each chamber comes with its own USB 3.0 port.
The HDD dock measures 132 x 148 x 72mm and comes with two USB 3.0 cables about two meters long each. The company also mentioned that its device had passed Gigabyte's functional and compatibility tests, earning the "Compatible with Gigabyte USB3.0 Motherboards" certification. The product is available immediately through authorized retailers and carries a price tag of 59.99 Euro.
The company will keep developing new solutions for the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology, with future devices scheduled to be demonstrated at CeBIT 2010.