Macally PHR-100AC FireWire/USB 2.0 3.5-Inch ATA Hard Drive Enclosure

by Macally

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.7 x 2.3 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000B3ALF
• Item model number: PHR-100AC
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 3, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Features and Benefits

• Solid Aluminum body for protection and excellent heat dissipation
• Shock absorbent rubber strip on top and bottom
• Supports any capacity 3.5" ATA Hard Drives
• Works with both Mac and PC computers
• Supports both USB2.0 & USB1.1 connection
• Supports IEEE 1394A FireWire connection
• Dual FireWire ports for daisy chain
• Stackable design
• Supports hot plug and play
• Active LED to indicate power and data access
• AC adaptor included

Product Description

MacAlly Storage Cabinet PHR-100AC Drive Cabinets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made my Mac upgrade very smooth!, February 4, 2005

By 

James M. Fitzwilliam "Pianist/Composer" (Staatsburg, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Macally PHR-100AC FireWire/USB 2.0 3.5-Inch ATA Hard Drive Enclosure (Personal Computers)

I bought this enclosure so that I could use the drive from my old Mac (beige Powermac G3 desktop) as an external HD on my new Mac (iMac G5). Compared with networking the two computers together and using file sharing to transfer my old data to the new machine, using Firewire for the transfer was MUCH faster and much easier. Plus, as an added bonus, I now have a 30G external hard drive that I can use for whatever -- a backup device, or a portable drive in case I need to move large files from home to office. (In case you are wondering about the "30G", I had earlier upgraded the G3's hard drive! Its original drive was quite a bit smaller. [grin] If you are buying a new hard drive mechanism specifically to put in this enclosure -- rather than rescuing an old drive and transferring files like I was -- you would almost certainly want a much larger current model of hard drive.)

The process was just as smooth and painless as I had hoped. Pop the old Mac's drive in the enclosure, hook it up to the new iMac, and voila. No drivers needed (though the enclosure does come with driver software for less-forgiving operating systems), and the old Mac OS9-format drive and its files were immediately recognized.

When I was shopping for an external enclosure, I preferred Firewire for best performance. Well, I found some units that took both 5.25" and 3.5" drives, but I wanted a more compact 3.5" only case. I found plastic USB-only units which were a bit cheesy-looking and rather expensive. And then I found this MacAlly one: USB 1.1, 2.0, and Firewire, all in a nice aluminum case, for less than other companies wanted for plastic enclosures. And Amazon's price and shipping options were both better than the computer catalog I originally discovered the MacAlly enclosure in!

I have used other MacAlly products in the past, by the way, and have always been satisfied with them. This hard drive enclosure more than keeps up their reputation in my book.

Pros
--
* It just works, no fuss (on Mac! Your mileage may vary on other platforms)
* Easy to install hard drive, just four screws (with rubber shock mounts) attach it
* Quiet. The hard drive you put in will determine overall noise, of course
* Decent speed. Again, limited by the oomph of the hard disk you use
* Nice aluminum case (they say it helps heat dissipation, it probably does)
* Rubber STRIPS, won't peel off and get lost as easily as rubber feet
* USB *and* Firewire
* Includes USB and 6-pin Firewire cables in the box
* Cool blue LED power light, blinks red during drive access

Cons
--
* Powered by a "wall wart" AC adaptor. (Since they don't know what drive mechanism you will use in it, I guess it wouldn't be safe to offer bus powering)
* The case screws (to open up the unit before installing your HD) are a bit on the small side. You will need a fairly small Philips screwdriver for them. (And don't drop any of them, you might never see them again!)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good concept, but lacks proper power supply, August 22, 2005

By 

Kel "Mac Boss" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Macally PHR-100AC FireWire/USB 2.0 3.5-Inch ATA Hard Drive Enclosure (Personal Computers)

MacAlly makes a quality product. Unfortunately, the power supply that comes with the unit is insufficient to spin up larger harddrives such as Seagate's 250G Barracuda. After several weeks of trying different drives -- even sending back the 250G drive as defective (come to find out it was fine) -- we finally discovered that the problem was with the enclosure. Or more specifically, the power supply.

After an email to MacAlly -- followed by a phone call -- the support person grudgingly agreed to send a more robust power supply. It never arrived. When I called to follow up three weeks later MacAlly denied ever hearing from me.

Again, they requested an email with the particulars and said that "if" it was approved I would receive an email response.

I'm still waiting. The tech person was not very friendly nor customer service oriented. I've wasted over five weeks due to MacAlly's product deficiency and their terrible customer support.

Too bad. A power supply which matched their claim to support "any size drive" -- or even a prompt addressing of the problem -- would have resulted in a glowing review.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHECK DATES ON POOR REVIEWS!, December 7, 2007

By 

Robert Stone (Midwest / Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Macally PHR-100AC FireWire/USB 2.0 3.5-Inch ATA Hard Drive Enclosure (Personal Computers)

I have purchased total of 4 of these to serve as backups and video storage devices, 3 at Amazon. Quality seems good, no problems; better made than a couple of Adaptec enclosures I had before (one of which has failed).

My title line refers to fact that a lot of the reviews (which I read before buying) note insufficient power supply to spin up large drives - but check out the dates on those reviews (mostly 2005, I think). I saw references in other posts to this being corrected by the company and it has been; I have been using 320 and 500 GB drives (Seagate) with these enclosures with no problems. Easy installation, and they work great. A great way to get a large capacity drive with less cost. In fact, I'm on this page since I'm buying another today as a Christmas present!