Conclusion

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Macally PHR-250OTG
(Using Fujitsu 80GB 2.5" 5400RPM 8MB Cache HDD)

Conclusion

Introduction | External Overview & Prep | Removing The Back Cover | Installing the Fujitsu MHV2080AH Installing The Software & Drivers | Conclusion

Pros

Transfer files such as photos from your digital camera or card reader
Low-profile design
Very durable enclosure
AC Adapter when you want the battery to keep its charge
One-button press and file transfer begins
"Anti-Slip Grips" keep the enclosure where you put it
3 LEDS (2 with dual-colors) give the user all the status information of the enclosure
Built-in 1200mAh Li-Ion battery for at least 2 hours of use where no power or computer is available
File transfer compatible with any USBMS or PTP digital device
USB 2.0
Very quiet operation
Accepts FAT 12/16/32 as well as NTFS and NTFS5 (Windows XP)
Perfect as a small USB 2.0 external drive

Cons

None

I have to say, it was a pleasure to use the macally 250OTG. Yes, $69 is a little more than your average enclosure, but considering the design and features it supports, price becomes a non-issue. Just as an FYI, larger electronics stores sell the 250OTG for around $45. If you're going to purchase a performance 2.5" drive with your 250OTG, you want an enclosure which has the same high quality standards.

While not technically considered a "Con", I did have some minor issues with using SwissKnife, but after a work-around was figured out, I had no issues thereafter. The battery life lasts at least a few hours while "On The Go". In my case, file transfers lasted well over the 2-hour rating (3.25-3.5 hours). Portable battery life will depend on the file sizes you're transferring, and possibly even the type of drive you buy. In my particular case, files ranging in size from 500KB-10MB were transferred.

Finally, as a consumer who owns a digital camera, this could be a tremendous timesaver for you. CF cards are great, but just think of how many cards you would have to buy, to match an 80GB drive (just imagine carrying 80-1GB CF cards). The 250OTG is also perfect for those situations where you don't want to carry along a 5lb notebook.

I will be using the 250OTG on many occasions, and certainly in the future, so expect updates.

So, after some rigorous testing, I give the macally PHR-250OTG, a rating of:

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Using The Fujitsu MHV2080AH

As to the drive itself, I had no problems at all with the Fujitsu MHV2080AH and it performed flawlessly, and was especially quiet during heavy use and transferring of files. For those interested, there is a separate review of the MHV2080AH coming soon, which will deal with an in-depth look of how well it performed.