OWC launches 1TB Data Doubler MBP optical drive replacemnt
updated 08:45 pm EDT, Thu July 14, 2011
New 9.5mm height disks allow 1TB expansion
OWC -- Other World Computing -- is adding a 1TB option to its Data Doubler series of MacBook and MacBook Pro expansion sets. Previously, 1TB 2.5-inch disks were 12.5mm in height, preventing them from being used in the Data Doubler bracket, which fits a second hard disk into the internal optical drive bay, replacing the optical drive. With the new 9.5mm height Samsung 1TB disks, spinning at 5400 RPM, the Data Doubler bracket can now expand the original storage by 1TB, allowing 2TB of hard disk capacity across two hard disks, assuming a 1TB disk in the main drive bay, or a 1TB storage disk added to a main-bay SSD operating system disk, balancing storage with speed.
The Data Doubler chassis holds other 2.5-inch, 9.5mm hard disks of smaller capacities and can hold SSD drives as well. It allows a number of combinations of hard disks within a given MacBook or MacBook Pro, in 7200 and 5400 RPM varieties, and SSD disks, with support for software RAID 1 and RAID 0 implementations as well as Time Machine functions. The second disk installs on the internal SATA channel and can be formatted by Apple's Disk Utility app.
The set works with unibody MacBook Pros, from Late 2008 models up to the present Thunderbolt models, or MacBooks from Late 2008 or newer. The Data Doubler bracket, install tools and 1TB Samsung hard disk are selling for $175, while the bracket alone is $75. OWC also offers an external drive case for the orphaned optical drive for an additional $50, or $40 when purchased with the Data Doubler.
