Date: Monday, April 30, 2007
Author: Joe Di Figlia
Provided By: Cooler Master
Manufacturer: Cooler Master
Model: XCraft 250 (RX-250)
Purchase: C.O.D. Shopping
Page: 1 of 3

It seems like the more technologically advanced and the more connected we become, the bigger the burden of storage becomes too. I, for one, am a victim of the corporate policies and tightening budgets. My company issued laptop suffers from irritable storage syndrome! With the lackluster storage capacity and the incredible need for stored software in a position such as mine, there is a great need for portable storage solutions. Even though storage comes in varying flavors, I simply look for the most bang for my buck solutions, and Cooler Master claims that they can provide the ammunition. Enter the XCraft 250 2.5" external HDD enclosure.

For a long time, I was simply forced to store a ton of things on 6 different thumb drives to make my way through my daily routines. Customer's needs seem to be different but always the same. They always need something, but never give me the resources to get it for them. Therefore, carrying around everything I can possibly need on any given day really makes my job that much easier. I have the minimum required amount of space left on my internal laptop hard disk drive for stable functionality with Windows and a slew of thumb drives stacked to the gills with software and data.

The shear burden of fumbling through 6 different thumb drives searching for the 2MB application for reading HEX codes drove me over the edge. I couldn't take it anymore; I vowed to never "thumb" again (well, almost never thumb again).

I did what any simple minded Systems Analyst would do… I ripped apart a laptop I had sitting in my office, snatched the hard drive out of it, and stuck it in the cheapest hard drive enclosure I could find. This proved to be quite the solution, but I never thought style would end up being function also. At least until CM sent me their XCraft.

Along with proper packaging, CM really decided to take care of the customer by providing lavish accessories leaving nothing to be desired. Boxed up with this puppy is the cable for transfer/power, the installation CD, some instructions, a cloth for cleaning (you will need it!), and a really snazzy carrying case. The carrying case has to be the second best part of this package. It is really high quality stuff and gives you enough room to carry the drive and its cables without any problems.

If you have ever used an external enclosure, you would know that a monkey can install a drive in these things. I don't even understand why companies provide instructions with these types of items. Although they are nicely written and cleverly said, they are a waste.