Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

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!)

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.

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!

I have had no problems with this product, or with the 2.5" enclosure. I use it exclusively with USB. It is very fast, and very easy to use. I love it.

Opened the enclosure, plugged in my hard drive, connected it to my PC, and it worked. Simple as that.

I spent a whole 10 seconds realizing that the instructions provided showed that I had to remove a single screw from the back panel when I really had to remove two screws, but that was the only (very minor) problem.

There is no fan in the case, which means the only noise is from the hard drive itself. I am assuming the case itself acts as a large heatsink, but I havent yet monitered temperatures on the hard drive itself.

I am pleased with the enclosure, and would happily recomend it to anyone.

I did a lot of research before buying an external drive case, mainly because there are so many out there, and I had a bad experience with a name brand case some time back due to failed eleectronics, not the case.

MacAlly came up time and time again in both online reviews as well as discussions with fellow Mac users. I bought my first MacAlly case (A PHR-100) nearly a year ago and it is still going strong. When I first opened it up, the thing that impressed me the most was the construction. The case is extruded aluminum and very solid. The instructions were clear and concise, and within 5 minutes of opening the box I had my external drive up and running.

I would add that a few months later, MacAlly found a problem with power supplies not being adequate for the newer, high capacity SATA drives that were coming out. They replaced my power supply, no questions asked. Nice!

With my previous experience, I had no doubts about buying another MacAlly external drive case, in this case, the FW 400/USB case. As with my original purchase, this case was equally well built and easy to assemble. Within 5 minutes I had my new 300G drive installed, running and connected to my new CoreDuo iMac.

Without a doubt, MacAlly makes a great product, and does an equally good job supporting it. I would not hesitate to buy any of their products in the future!

Bought largely due to positive reviews (and because my old external HD enclosure, while working, is slightly damaged.

With my Maxtor HD installed and the unit powered on, both the unit and power supply lights flash rythmically -- and that's as far as things go. My HD, from an old Mac desktop G4, couldn't be more standard. It works fine in other enclosures, yet can't draw enough power from this one to spin up.

Uninterested-sounding Macally tech support guy said the first unit was obviously damaged and should be replaced. Amazon quickly sent a replacement -- same problem.

Another round with Macally's World of Apathy tech support dude. He couldn't have cared less -- what energy was directed toward the problem seemed to be directed at demonstrating just how much he wasn't paying attention and didn't care. He asked twice what kind of product I was calling about, and requested the model number three times.

I'm not going for three strikes. I don't know why this unit can't power a garden-variety 40GB Maxtor drive that functions happily in every other environment it's put into -- but it can't.

Kudos to Amazon's fast, easy and cheerful return policy.

I'm having the same power related problems as other reviewers.

After going through 2 units with Amazon it appears that the power adaptor they are shipping with it does not supply enough power to run high-capacity drives.

According to Macally the problem is only with 300gb and larger drives, but I am having the issue with a 250gb seagate.

Apparently they have been shipping a larger power supply for the last couple months, so perhaps amazon has some old stock.

Otherwise the enclosure seems well made and I expect it to perform well once the new adaptor arrives from macally.

Do not buy this enclosure if you intend to use a Seagate 300 GB Barracuda drive and probably similar drives. Macally doesn't tell you this in advance. To make matters worse, I contacted tech support and was told that I could return the power supply at my own expense and THEN they would send me a replacement. This exchange would require weeks. I might have been willing to accept a replacement if they had offered to send me the power supply immediately. I'll return the Macally 100AC and look for a more reputable company.

I've been using this drive for more than a year now and hasn't cause a single problem yet (unlike my older external enclosures which all of them are discontinued)

Highly reccomended