New WiebeTech SATA products, contest
updated 12:05 am EST, Tue January 10, 2006
New WiebeTech products
allow users to attach SATA drives to a computer via either a single USB or SATA cable. The mini USBDock attaches SATA drive via a USB cable, and the mini SATADock attaches SATA drives through a SATA port. Both products will ship late March and retail at $75 each.
New SilverSATA Series storage units are available with 1-, 2-, or 5-drive bays that hold removable trays for SATA drives, making the drives interchangeable between units. The enclosure only requires that a single cable connect the unit to the host--even on the 5-bay model (which requires a SATA 2 host card). SilverSATA I serves as a single-drive enclosure with removable tray, USB2 port, and eSATA port. SilverSATA II works as a hardware RAID 0 or 1 for striping or mirroring and also features a USB2 port and an eSATA port. SilverSATA V works as a software RAID, offering a 200MB/sec transfer rate, a SATA 2 host card; it is compatible with both PCs and PCI-X Macs.
DriveBlock allows users to selectively enable and disable write-blocking on external WiebeTech storage enclosures. DriveBlock will initially be available as a feature on two different WiebeTech products: WiebeTech's shock protected ToughTech 800 enclosure; and WiebeTech's high-capacity field deployable RT-5 RAID. As a new feature, DriveBlock has been added to these products at no additional charge. Most ToughTech 800s shipping after January 23, 2006, will be DriveBlock-compatible, as will selected RT-5 configurations.
Video editing winners, new contest
WiebeTech also announced the winners of the G505 Video Editing Contest, Dinh Long Thai of Walnut, California and Cole Walliser (consolation winner) of Richmond, British Columbia. Thai received a WiebeTech G5JamPak, which bundles G5Jam+ and TrayDock eSATA. Walliser received $500 worth of WiebeTech products. Both winning entires will be shown at the Expo this week.
In addition, WiebeTech announced a new contest: G5 Bling. The challenge is to help the company develop its G5 Bling idea for the front grill of a Macintosh G5. WiebeTech has launched an essay contest where 10 of the best ideas will receive a prototype board for tinkering. The winning idea will receive $500 to spend on WiebeTech's web store.
