Looking for a 3.5" enclosure for my Mac Mini - any ideas?

[COrocket]

The connector on my older WD 3.5" mybook external is acting up, so I am looking to swap out my enclosure for a new one. I'm willing to pay a few extra dollars for a nice aluminium one that looks good sitting next to my mac mini. I looked at OWC Mercury, and Macally enclosures so far. I also checked out G-Drive and Lacie, but they dont sell empty enclosures. The OWC Mercury were pretty expensive compared to the Macally ones, and I really like the look on the Macally. So I'm considering this one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938811&pf_rd_i=507846

Am I missing any other brands for consideration? Does anyone have any experience with the Macally enclosures? I like the fact that it has the larger (sturdier?) USB 3.0 plug instead of the micro connector like some other drives.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Giuly]

How about the Newertech ministack?

 

[Fishrrman]

"The connector on my older WD 3.5" mybook external is acting up, so I am looking to swap out my enclosure for a new one. I'm willing to pay a few extra dollars for a nice aluminium one that looks good sitting next to my mac mini"

Have you considered using a USB3/SATA "docking station" instead?

It will give you the same speeds as a USB3 external enclosure, it's bootable -- BUT -- the big advantage is that you can swap drives as necessary, both 3.5" and 2.5".

I would give my highest recommendation to either of these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APP6694...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00APP6694
or
http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Dock...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B003UI62AG

I use the first one with my 2012 Mac Mini (as my external boot drive with an SSD mounted) -- works great.

No -- these gadgets don't look as snazzy on your desk as would an aluminum external case. But they can be 'WAY MORE useful...

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Have you considered using a USB3/SATA "docking station" instead?

I like the docking station for my Time Machine drives; with Mountain Lion you can add multiple disks and Time Machine will simply figure out which one is mounted at any one point & back up to it. Excellent for rotating out off-site backups. I use the Plugable dock linked in the prior post & love it.

However if the OP is looking for additional primary external storage (not something that will be swapped out) I like the Newertech. It looks great & the cost isn't a whole lot more than the Macally.