The best basic external 2.5" USB enclosure

Hello

I am looking to buy some SSD to replace mechanical hard disks in a couple of laptops. Would like to have as nice as possible external enclosures to put those mechanical disks into.

Basically, USB 3.0 is fast enough. I'd like to have a case that is somehow rugged and has some design to it. Not just a piece of aluminium with a chip inside.

I prefer that the case be openable only using tools. The end users will not be installing or removing the disks and should not be able to access them without intending to.

The disks will probably be 9.5 mm thick, but if the case can take 12.5 mm then that is no problem. But it is not strictly necessary.

This whole thing may be a too simple question to ask. But I'd hate to go with just some generic piece of aluminium. Especially because this will be a gift.

I mean, I am asking for recommendations for a make and model. Preferably available in the German Amazon or eBay.

I'm going to go the other way on this one.
It's not aluminum.
It's not all that rugged or fancy in design.
It's toolless.

But, if you're going to have a USB 3 device sitting on your desk, why not make it a bit more useful? How about this one that has a USB 3.0 hub in it. I get good speeds with an SSD in it and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an external enclosure.



That being said, I have found one issue, but it's such a niche case that I don't think it'll affect even 1% of users: I bought it to turn my Mac into a Windows PC from time to time. I install Windows on a USB 3 SSD, boot off it to play games, and go back to OSX when I'm not gaming. Being able to do that and have a USB hub integrated for the keyboard, mouse, etc. was very appealing. Unfortunately, the Mac didn't like the chipset or something, and couldn't see that drive. It could within OSX, but not during bootup. I've had enough weird issues with USB 3 SATA (the adapter that did work on the Mac, doesn't work under Acronis True Image) that I won't fault it.

Realistically it doesn't matter a whole bunch anymore, they're just about commodity items. Having said that, Inateck is a brand i've used in the past. Look for one with USB attached SCSI. (UASP or UAS) Those perform better than your traditional ones.

As I said, I wanted one with 1) screws, i.e. not toolless, 2) rugged in some way. I found http://www.raidsonic.de/products/external_cases/external_cases_25/index_en.php?we_objectID=2702 (RaidSonic IB-276U3)

A good thing to know about UASP. Now I'm still looking for another case that likewise 1) is closed using screws, 2) is somehow rugged and 3) supports UASP.

I also need a few ordinary pieces of aluminium that 1) are closed using screws and 2) support UASP.

As I said, the rugged devices will be gifts to non-techie users. That is why the screws are a must.

I guess it depends on the non-techie user.
If I showed the ones I work with a big rugged drive that could withstand being knocked around, so be it.
If I showed the ones I work with an enclosure that lets them plug in one cable into their laptop when they're at their desk, and get an extra couple TB of space, keyboard, mouse, and printer, they'd be happier.

But, you know your users, and I know mine.

Found two for the latter category: Icy Box IB-242U3 and Macally M-S250U3 (screws, UASP).