Diskspeed:

IDE 2.5" Drive

USB 2.5" Drive

   Here you see very comparable performance results. The Linear Read are actually better via the USB interface - if only by 0.2452 MB/s. In Random Reads the USB lags by only 0.0501 MB/s. Access times are very comparable with a 0.17 difference for a final overall score within 18 points.

Diskbench:
Real-World Performance

IDE 2.5" Drive

USB 2.5" Drive

     We take that infamous 1.54GB file again and put it through the time trials. Real-world performance rates the IDE interface at 29.705 MB/s and the USB 2.0 interface at 27.622 MB/s. English you ask? - You are going to wait about 3.7 seconds per 1.5GB with a brand new 5400 RPM 2.6" drive. With any older drives - expect no difference in performance. If you are the proud owner of a new-fangled 7200 RPM 2.5" drive you might get to wait up to 5 seconds per 1.5GB of data.

Conclusion:

    Ok, I have two problems with this product. The first being that it was not created and marketed nine years ago.

   Secondly - the molded Molex plug on the external independent power supply does not mesh well with devices due to it's design and rubber housing. This isn't a major problem as with a bit of extra care it works perfectly. Any serious modder worth his solder will whack the end off for substitution with a REAL Molex plug anyway. To answer the riddle of this review (middle picture below); the BT-200 will not adapt a 2.5" drive and a 3.5" drive at the same time. Yes - I tried it. No - I didn't consult the directions first. It doesn't work.

   This product gets a 15 out of 10 from me. Oh - and I saved the best for last. To my absolute delight the unit has a red HDD activity light built into the USB 2.0 wire - it illuminates the adapter-end of the USB 2.0 wire when active. The light does not flash when accessing or burning CD/DVD devices but does offer activity indication when using 2.5" or 3.5" hard drives (picture below).

    I was raving to my acquaintance about the BT-200, who happens to be an high dollar IT/IS consultant. He told me of his dreams to one day be able to reach inside a server or traditional box and access the units hard drive via his laptop without any screwdriver or hard drive removal hassles. I told him that day had come. (when using a 6ft USB 2.0 extension cable - of course)