Conclusion:

Vantec has manufactured a top notch 2.5" hard drive enclosure with an innovative twist. The EZ Swap EX 2.5 Inch Hard Drive Enclosure was a breeze to install into its enclosure, and use with the internal 3.5" chassis posed no problems. The SATA connection allowed the drive was able to operate to its peak performance, and it was able to push the USB 2.0 connection to its fullest extent.

The unit was able to operate without any additional power, although this functionality will vary from computer to computer depending on your USB port. Most should be able to provide ample power for this unit to operate using one USB 2.0 cable. When connecting to a external SATA connection, the USB power cable was necessary.


The first device of this type I had the opportunity to look at was the Tagan Icy Box. While these two devices operate in a similar fashion, the Tagan version is slightly longer than the one from Vantec. Another significant difference between the two devices is how the hard drive is attached. With the Icy Box enclosure you simply slide the drive onto the SATA connections and push it into place. The drive will not flop around, but it is not really secured to anything. The Vantec enclosure has designed it so you can secure the hard drive to a tray, although there is a little movement when you slide the tray into the enclosure. Vantec's solution is slightly more secure than the Icy Box solution, but I don't believe that either would be damaged through normal day to day usage.

A search of PriceGrabber shows this model of the EZ Swap EX 2.5 Inch Hard Drive Enclosure available at several e-tailers for around $36.30. Add your choice of 2.5" SATA hard drive and you can have yourself a fast and reliable internal/external hard drive.

Given the performance and high quality features I award the Vantec EZ Swap EX 2.5 Inch Hard Drive Enclosure the rating of "Highly Recommended".


Pros:

» Very compact
» Supports a 2.5" SATA hard drive
» Connects via USB 2.0 or SATA
» Very portable
» Can be used externally or internally

Cons:

» Slightly loose fit of drive inside enclosure

Special thanks to Vantec USA for providing the Vantec EZ Swap EX 2.5 Inch Hard Drive Enclosure to Bigbruin.com for review!