14 DAY TRIAL // SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is steadily becoming more widespread and, with the new products that are set to debut at this year's CeBIT, adoption of this next-generation standard should accelerate. Aiming to propel the interface in its own way, Vantec has decided to expand its USB 3.0 product lineup with a couple of new additions, namely a new adapter, a newcomer to its HDD dock family.
The NextStar SATA-to-USB 3.0 adapter is, as its name implies, a converter of SATA signals into USB 3.0. This device is meant to allow any SATA HDD to be used externally, without the need for a drive enclosure. This product trades the security of an enclosure for the high portability of a product that can work on any storage unit, making it quite suited for technicians.
The NextStar Hard Drive Dock is not exactly portable, but is easy to use and can interface with hard disks of either the 2.5-inch or the 3.5-inch form factor. When plugged into the dock, the hard disk will instantly be recognized by the host computer to which the NextStar is connected.
As for more detailed specifications, the device is compact and light and supports hard drives with storage capacities of up to 2TB. In addition, the product supports hot plug-and-play, which means that reboot will not be necessary in order for the drives to be recognized.
The new product supports the USB 3.0 standard's already well-known transfer rates of up to 5Gbps. It is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1, has an eject button for easy removal and a blue LED that indicates HDD activity. Furthermore, the NextStar dock features Hi-Quality Shielded USB 3.0 cables, which ensure data integrity and speed.
All the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 products from Vantec can be seen in detail on the company's official product page.
