MaximumPC 2007 H

F

inally, somebody gets it right.

Although it seems impossible, we have reached an apex of technology in

the exciting world of external storage. Icy Dock’s MB664US-1S hard drive enclo-

sure is an absolute dream come true. It’s a marvel of functionality and form, a

shining beacon that serves as an example to every competing product we’ve

come across. It is the steel-colored Lancelot of your storage needs, the kind of

friend you hope your hard drive keeps for the entirety of its life span. With the

MB664US-1S, your data will stay safe, speedy, and easily swappable.

The MB664US-1S connects to your computer using either the nigh-

antiquated USB protocol or fresh and speedy eSATA. Speeds for the two are

just as fast as they could be. We tested the device using a 150GB Western

Digital Raptor drive and found that the hard drive utterly fills the pipe. The

MB664US-1S doesn’t hamper performance in the slightest, as eSATA speeds

were nearly identical to the figures we

received when we connected the drive

directly to the moth-

erboard. That’s the

kind of performance

we like to see from an

external enclosure.

But eSATA and

USB are hardly new

features for an external

device. We love the MB664US-1S for its fringe benefits, like its totally screwless

design. To mount a hard drive, you simply push on the front of the unit—the front

bezel slides up and you insert the drive into the device’s hot-swap-style bay. Push

the bezel back down and you’re good to go; it’s that simple.

This might seem obsessive, but we adore the MB664US-1S’s feet. The rub-

ber-tipped mechanisms do an OK job of keeping the device vertical by default,

but you can get better balance by swinging them out to the sides to create a sort

of landing gear for the enclosure. Indeed, Icy Dock has left no stone

unturned when it comes to useful-

ness. And for that, we leave no

Kick Ass unrewarded.

—DAVID MURPHY

Icy Dock MB664US-1S

The coolest external enclosure we’ve ever tested

T

here are so many iPod speaker systems these days that we’ve resolved to

cover only the most interesting devices. Boring, me-too products need not

apply. Griffin’s Journi made the cut by virtue of its stylish industrial design.

When closed, the Journi looks every bit like a stylish woman’s clutch.

Unfold the rigid outer shell, insert tab A into slot B, and you have a convenient

speaker stand with a built-in iPod docking port.

An ingenious dial on the back of the speaker adjusts a rubber support

disc behind the iPod, so you can mash any model iPod’s buttons without put-

ting undue stress on its dock connector. You can keep the iPod ensconced in its

dock when you take the speaker system with you, too. A magnetic catch holds

the assembly securely closed. The Journi’s shell offers genuine protection,

but take care when you unwrap it: The top of the iPod can flop around, putting

strain on the docking connector.

Another set of magnets holds a small infrared remote control inside a

well on the back of the Journi. The remote lets you skip tracks forward and

back and play and pause songs; it also switches the speakers on and off and

controls their volume.

The Journi’s Lithium-Ion battery can be recharged using either A/C

power or a USB connection (you can sync a docked iPod to iTunes in the latter

scenario). You can measure battery strength by pushing a button on the left

side and counting how many of the four LEDs light up.

After giving the Journi all those style points, listening to it was a bit of

a letdown. We typically shun post-processing audio tricks (Creative’s 24-bit

Crystalizer being a notable exception), so we were disappointed to discover

we couldn’t defeat the Journi’s SRS Wow circuit. The amplifier, meanwhile, is

noisy enough that we heard its hiss above our PC’s fan, and it distorts badly

when pushed. Finally, the 2.5-inch passive radiators offer little bass compen-

sation for the small 1.97-inch active drivers, resulting in a rather

shrill audio experience.

—MIcHAel BRown

Griffin Journi Mobile

Speaker

This Journi is not the reward

90 MAXIMUMPC holiday 2007

reviews Tes Ted. Reviewed. veRdic Tized

If only the Journi sounded as drop-dead sexy as it looks.

6

griffin journi

$130, http://www.griffintechnology.com

icy dock mb664us-1s

$80, http://www.icydock.com

9

MAXIMUMPC

KICKASS

Best scores are bolded. HD Tach Benchmarks were run using a 150GB Western

Digital Raptor drive.

Burst speed (MB/s) 35.2 125.9 132.2

AverAge reAd (MB/s) 33.0 78.0 77.8

Cpu usAge 9% 1% 4%

rAndoM ACCess (Ms) 8.2 8.0 7.7

UsB esAtA sAtA

benchMARks

A light on the bottom of the front bezel lets you know when the

drive is up and running.