>> The single (or even 2) little bases and a drawer full of 2TB drives
>> is much more elegant and simple. Now if it could be made a little
>> 'safer' for the data and electronics...

Apparently, such a cover exists.  Other World Computing (long time
Macintosh accessory store whose items work just as well with PC's;
web site URL is http://www.macsales.com) has an 0.080" thick, molded,
flexible silicone rubber sleeve for disk drives -- it has enlarged
bumpers on all 4 corners plus a solid cover for the printed wiring
board.  Comes in sizes for 2.5" and 3.5" disk drives.  Each is $9.95.
Newer Technology is the brand; they call it ProtectaDrive.  See

    http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/HDANTISH35/

They also have the desktop dock for "bare" SATA disk drives.


> You used to be able to buy a "bay" that would mount right in a
> 5.25 inch drive bay in your computer and then buy multiple "sleds"
> that would hold 3.5" drives and slide into the bay. I haven't seen
> such in quite some time.

I have not seen the 5.25" drive bay variant in a while.  Carrier
trays tended to be complex because IDE drive data connectors were
not sufficiently standardized and 4-pin Molex power connector did
not lend itself to easy insertion/removal.

But it's fairly common to be able to get tray style mounting in
external multi-bay drive storage.  OWC has enclosures with 2, 4, 5,
or 8 slots with interfaces of eSATA (majority), FireWire, or USB;
come in either desktop or rack mount form factor.  SATA drives mount
on trays.  You plug tray in slot -- hardware is hot-swappable;
software issues may limit how well hot swap actually works.  Look
in OWC's "Internal Storage" category under "0GB Enclosure Kits".

Drobo uses a hot swap concept with no tray.  Slots in enclosure
are exactly sized for 3.5" SATA disk drive.  You plug drive itself
into each bay; latch holds drive in position.  Only possible because
SATA drives have both power & data connectors highly standardized.
See http://www.datarobotics.com.

						Lee

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