Cooler Master's Ingenior are ms-fan-boys, and absolut newbeez.

Their stuff is just unable to run on Mac Os X or Linux, wheras the cheapest external HD box is able to do it.

That's mean that this hardware is badly programmed and even if you are using Windows, you musn't buy it.

Just buy a better and cheaper Box.

I have this and i used it on multiple linux boxes on a daily basis. Both eSATA and USB work in every linux distro I have tried (over 10). I really like this case and would highly recommend it...but i only paid about 30USD for mine brand new :)

Your article on the X-Craft 360 omits the fact that it only works on Windows. I tried it on a variety of Linux and MacOS boxes (plus a USB-enabled Linux-based SAN device) and just got USB address errors and timeouts. I'm waiting to hear back from Cooler Master, but I expect I'll chalk this one up as a waste of money.

Just to mention that X craft 360 dont work with Mac osx on eSata only Usb.
If anybody knows why please let me know.
I used two hidden sata ports on mac pro motherboard to connect eSata drive,with no luck.


True there are a number of pre-assembled external drives that are cheaper, but they don't have the warrantee of the roll you own. I could make a 5 year guarantee setup instead of by a 1 year guarantee pre-built. Do compare apples to apples and not pears. I do think that cooling is an issue and my vote and money goes to Antec.

Some of us invested alot on p-ata ide hd's that are large, alot of people going laptop can find this very usefull, and not dump the drive or let it rot in a non used desktop case... I've got a couple 250's that could use the cooling alone with a laptop as long as the upnp works fine without reformats...

Just grab yourself a P-ATA to SATA adaptor and you can use your P-ATA drives on your SATA motherboard. I have my P-ATA drives in P-ATA enclosures so all I need is one adaptor that fits on the back of the P-ATA enclosure.

Before I get into this, I have an external hard drive enclosure, and it did come in handy. But over time the main purpose of getting one of these is slipping away. It used to be cheaper to "roll your own" external hard drive by buying one of these and the drive. Now, though, I see external drives on sale for prices that are the same if not lower than the price of a drive and a decent enclosure. It fits a need, but I think that need is becoming more niche as the external drive prices drop more and more.

Does this unit have a fan? Does the cooling seem adequate in general?

I'm using a Macally aluminum enclosure now which has no fan and gets quite warm. The drive hasn't failed yet at least, so maybe the aluminum conducts enough heat away to keep the drive happy.

Too bad about the lack of Firewire. It would be more attractive to the growing Mac user base with that interface.