Rocketfish 3.5 Hard Drive USB Enclosure

[dixieflash]

Looking to make a inexpensive hard drive backup from an existing working hard drive. Need an enclosure. This one on ebay looks like it will work. Says it will operate with Win Vista, which is what came on my new Dell laptop. So far I'm not overly excited with Vista but maybe it will grow on me. What do you think of this Rocketfish thingie? Is there something better? Is it obselete? Help.

BTW, someone told me yesterday that all Windows systems will go obselete in the near future. True??

Thanks. Dixieflash

[Dusty]

You didn't link the EBay page so can't tell if you are lookin' at PATA/Eide or SATA and what price is being asked/bid, new or used, from a reputable dealer or private. 

This one on ebay looks like it will work.

  Sure it does...

BTW, someone told me yesterday that all Windows systems will go obselete in the near future. True??

  What's the 'near future'?  MS still supports W2k and will support XP until 2014, Vista till ?  The quote below is extracted from this site...

Microsoft's support road map currently says that extended support for Windows XP ends in April 2014. You need to be on the latest service pack within one year of its release for continued support, which at this point means you must be running XP Service Pack 2.

So the earliest date that XP SP2 support will end is 2014, but history has shown that Microsoft often gives customers a reprieve as these dates draw near. For example, support for Windows 98 was to be dropped in January 2004, but Microsoft extended it by two and a half years to July 2006.

XP's life would also be extended if Microsoft were to issue an XP service pack on or after 2013. Microsoft has a tentative date for XP Service Pack 3 in the first half of 2008. If SP3 is released anywhere near on schedule and turns out to be the last service pack for XP, it won't affect XP's 2014 end-of-support date.

Ask your 'someone' to quote the source of their info.

[dixieflash]

The ebay item is  290269594284. Thanks for your response. The bin price is $17.90 delivered. What do you think? DF

[patio]

Your'e better off going to the store and buying a brand new unit...

[Dusty]

Open Box from major USA Retail Store Not Refurbished and NOT OEM

This makes me think it's been returned to the store by a buyer, for what reason - who knows.  There's 9 available, 9 returns?  Specs seem to indicate it's usb2 only.

But hey, for less that $18 you might just be getting a bargain,

# USB cable
# power adapter
# foot stand
# cleaning cloth

These four items might cost that.

ALL SALES FINAL, NO return except DOA within seven days after received date

Reading about the experience of others is always worth while.  Click here..

Caveat emptor.

Good luck

[dixieflash]

Dusty, will USB 2 work with my new Dell laptop, win vista? Tnx. DF

[Dusty]

Sorry, my crystal ball isn't cleared to make the runway in Dixieland so I can't have a look at your new Dell laptop to find out which model it is so that I can look up the specs somewhere.  However, usb2 has been around for a while and even Dell wouldn't be still providing usb1 on new gear so I guess you're hot to trot on that one.

[dixieflash]

Dusty, didn't mean to stress your crystal ball! The new Dell laptop is an Inspiron 1525. Does that help? DF

[patio]

Your'e better off going to the store and buying a brand new unit...