I’ve been wanting a USB adapter that could make any SATA, PATA, or ATAPI device available to my computer without any enclosure. This type of device is handy because you dont need to open up the computer. You wouldn’t even need to reboot the machine because the device would be considered removable. But up until recently, this adapter wasnt available. Enter NewerTech with their ‘USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter’ that came out a few months ago. I had to have one (or two), so I looked online, and eventually purchased them from Other World Computing @ $24.95 a piece.

There are two sides for PATA and ATAPI connections. One is for 2.5″ drives, and the other is for 3.5″ or 5.25″ drives. On the smaller end, there is the SATA connector. The included power brick has a 4 pin connector that plugs straight into the device. If you need a SATA power connector, there is an adapter included as well. The power brick also has a small cable that plugs into the USB adapter to supply more power when connecting laptop drives.

I am quite happy with the device, and I’ve been using it ever since I got it. I do wonder if there is a long term effect when leaving a hard drive on, not in a case, all exposed, all the time.