Thoughts
For numerous reasons this review has taken a long time to write, but that has given me a chance to thoroughly evaluate the products and come to a conclusion based not just on benchmark results and some intensive testing, but on genuine experience of the products.
First, let's take the 3.5" enclosure. While it performs satisfactorily and functions without issue, I find myself using my Icy Box still. The Ultra enclosure doesn't feel like a product I want to entrust with a 200GB hard drive. Perhaps it's a bit of a misjudgment, given that the solid structure of the Icy Box will do less to protect it from drops. However, in terms of build quality, the Ultra enclosure's got nothing on the Icy Box. When you factor in prices too, the Icy Box can be had cheaper, sealing the deal for most.
Ultra's 2.5" Portable Disk Enclosure however, is a different story. Granted, we haven't had another 2.5" enclosure to compare it with, but unlike the 3.5" model, it has a metal casing. This immediately makes it look and feel ten times better. Couple this with its size, which makes it ideal for carrying in a pocket or laptop bag, and Ultra have a much more appealing product on their hands.
We can also gleefully state that the price of the 2.5" enclosure is roughly ten pounds less than that of its bigger brother - or comparable to that of a 3.5" Icy Box. Storage capacity aside, between a 2.5" Ultra enclosure and a 3.5" Icy Box, we'd go for the more portable device any day.
To sum up, then. The 3.5" Portable Disk Enclosure proved itself a product that works as advertised, but there are alternatives out there that perform as well and have a better build quality. However, Ultra have got the 2.5" Portable Disk Enclosure pretty much spot on. It's compact, it looks good and it does exactly what you're likely to expect of it. To that end, we're recommending to you the 2.5" model as an ideal portable storage and backup solution.
HEXUS Where2Buy
Both enclosures are available from Misco.co.uk.
