Looking for removable drive drawers that don't change to continually force new purchases

[Larry Alkoff]

I'm looking for removeable drive drawers from companies that don't
change the physical configuration to force new purchases.

Typically after a year or so when I need more the manufacturer has
moved the socket location 1/4" or so ensuring the old drawers won't
work with the new. There is no reason for this except to force
hardware upgrades and it really sucks.

The IDE drive connectors hardly change at all. There is no reason to
change the location of the slide-in connector.

I've used one no-name brand of drive drawer that seems to change every
year or so. When I buy a bunch to support my home computers (about
10) I always run out and by that time the new drawers don't fit the
old enclosures. This forces me to keep buying new drawers/enclosures
on a never ending upgrade cycle.

What I'm looking for is a company that doesn't change the physical
drawers simply to force upgrades. Anyone know of such?

Larry Alkoff

 

[Davide Bianchi]

Typically after a year or so when I need more the manufacturer has
moved the socket location 1/4" or so ensuring the old drawers won't
work with the new. There is no reason for this except to force
hardware upgrades and it really sucks.

I've always *built* myself my drawers, isn't difficult, just a matter
of twisting some piece of metal and drilling some hole. The lock/
release mechanism can usually be adapted or 'improvised'.

Davide

 

[Justice Gustine]

What I'm looking for is a company that doesn't change the physical
drawers simply to force upgrades. Anyone know of such?

I've found the same bay inserts on eBay, probably being unloaded by
someone else who had to go out and but a set of new ones.

 

[Larry Alkoff]

I've found the same bay inserts on eBay, probably being unloaded by
someone else who had to go out and but a set of new ones.

Ebay is a good idea but two problems:

The box they came in has no company name - just Mobile Rack.
It's made in Taiwan.

Although there is a label that says
Removeable HDD Mobile Rack
IDE 40 pin, 2xLED
Keylock only
the label gives no indication which series it is.
I know of 5 different racks, each slightly different.
Sometimes the drawers will slide in but not mate with the other series
connector and sometimes not in at all.

That's why I'm looking for a good company that takes care it its
customers instead of screwing them.

Larry

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Ebay is a good idea but two problems:

The box they came in has no company name - just Mobile Rack.
It's made in Taiwan.

Although there is a label that says
Removeable HDD Mobile Rack
IDE 40 pin, 2xLED
Keylock only
the label gives no indication which series it is.
I know of 5 different racks, each slightly different.
Sometimes the drawers will slide in but not mate with the other series
connector and sometimes not in at all.

That's why I'm looking for a good company that takes care it its
customers instead of screwing them.

The best known name in the removable drive tray market
seems to be Kingwin. All their racks and trays are made of
aluminum (not plastic), and they probably have what could
be called the "quality" product. But the photo of their packaging
shows "Mobile Rack". Check out their website:
http://www.kingwin.com/pdut_Cat.asp?CateID=25 for racks,
http://www.kingwin.com/pdut_Cat.asp?CateID=35 for trays .
But since Asia is the counterfeiting capital of the world, what
you have might be a counterfeit Kingwin. Is it plastic by chance?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Larry Alkoff]

The best known name in the removable drive tray market
seems to be Kingwin. All their racks and trays are made of
aluminum (not plastic), and they probably have what could
be called the "quality" product. But the photo of their packaging
shows "Mobile Rack". Check out their website:
http://www.kingwin.com/pdut_Cat.asp?CateID=25 for racks,
http://www.kingwin.com/pdut_Cat.asp?CateID=35 for trays .
But since Asia is the counterfeiting capital of the world, what
you have might be a counterfeit Kingwin. Is it plastic by chance?

*TimDaniels*

Hello Tim and thanks for your informative post.
Yes both the rack and tray are plastic.

Kingwin seems to make both plastic and metal racks but only metal
trays so mine is probably a knockoff.

I couldn't find any prices but will take a gander at the local Frys.
Perhaps I'll email them for some guidance how often they "obsolete"
their products.

Thanks, Larry