The Newertech “Voyager Q” will surely make an amazing addition to your Mac or desktop in case you frequently use multiple internal hard drives for backing up your data. This device supports both 3.5-inch as well as 2.5-inch SATA hard drives and is perfectly compatible with virtually all the possible external storage connectivity technologies. NewerTech guarantees delightful experience for anyone who wishes to use the low-cost SATA hard-drives in a plug-and-play manner. It’s not just straightforward to use, but also delivered an impressive performance during our testing.
Design, Features and Functionality
The Voyager Q has a top loading slot, that is used to load the internal hard-drive. The slot has an opening that includes a spring-loaded latch for automatically securing a hard drive, irrespective of its thickness (2.5-inch or 3.5-inch). On the front side, it has got a blue coloured on-off button that also functions as an activity indicator by flashing red whenever the device is working. Right on top of this button is the release -latch which is used to eject the hard-drive.
There are various connection ports on the back side of the Voyager Q for supporting USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 connections. The package also comes with cables for all these connections. Simply insert any typical 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch SATA I/II/III hard-drive (maximum capacity of 3.0 TB) into the docking base. Go for any of those connection interfaces supported by the Mac (or PC). That’s it! No need to configure or install anything.
Testing Results
With Voyager Q connected with the test machine, there were no problems linking several hard-drives, one after another. There was no need to install any driver, and all the hard drives we used while testing could easily be “hot-plugged”, right away. This added functionality, also known as “hot-swapping”, meant that we could insert or remove the hard drive while the system was still running. The data transfer rates were totally as expected when we tested each of the four available connection modes. Sliding in the hard drive (via. hot-swapping), copying the data and then ejecting the hard drive took minimal time and was a breeze.
Saving Money And Time With Voyager Q
Any typical internal (SATA) hard drive with huge storage capacity could be conveniently used as flash memory disks along with quick access to the data. While external hard drives are expensive, there’s no need to purchase an external enclosure for the internal ones as well. It also eliminates the need for the Macbook Pro hard drive upgrade. The Voyager Q even saves a lot of time by eliminating the hassles of installation of a new hard drive into the system.
Final Thoughts
Easy-to-use, compact size, multiple interfaces, silent operation and durable build-quality make the Voyager Q an excellent companion for your Mac or PC. However, it might not be the cheapest device available in the market, but it supports every useful interface for connection and has a decent feel to it. The “Voyager Q” is definitely a versatile solution as an hard-drive docking-station for anyone who works with multiple internal hard drives and switches them frequently.