inateck USB3.0 & e-SATA HDD (and SSD) docking station for 2.5 "and 3.5" drives

In this review I would like to address the FD1004E HDD dockingstation Inateck.
The review is aimed at tech-savvy people, who appreciate the technical details, but also to all other, that I will endeavor to express myself understandable to the layman.
Product and Accessories
The docking station comes well packed in a sturdy box, which includes the following accessories:

- Power supply (12V / 2.5A)
- USB 3.0 cable (1m)
- E-SATA cable (1m)
- English manual

Overall, the accessories for the docking station is very generous. Of course, with a USB 3.0-enabled docking station should be accompanied by a USB 3.0 cable, therefore more a matter of course, but I've seen it from other producers, that this cable is then only about 30cm long. The dimensions of these cables are completely made for normal use. The unit can be easily placed on the desk and connect to the PC. When a user with the notebook the cable is almost too long, because you can aufgewickelt.Die English manual is not stingy with pictures it simply, it is also for those who do not have the English language very easy to understand why it from me this is no deductions. The product is actually so easy to handle that it hardly needs this guide. However, an additional fee of all technical information contained therein.

The dock itself is made of black plastic, in piano black finish. The support surface for the hard drive is kept matt and thus less prone to scratches, at least they are there not as quickly visible. In addition to the on / off switch is still a LED on the docking station, which indicates the operating status and data transfers indicates by a flashing LED. The connections for electricity, USB and e-SATA are mounted on the front, so that the cables can be perfectly carried away from the device (unlike some USB hubs).
Test the Docking Station

The docking station is suitable for both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch HDDs and SSDs for. This is hardly surprising, since the normal SATA port and the corresponding power pins are used (must). That is normalized. But well resolved is the design of the docking station. Hard drives really dock (cut response at the terminals) and are, insofar as it concerns by 3.5 inch drives, to flush. Slipping out of the plate does not have to be feared, even though the device has been designed for horizontal operation and is also explicitly pointed out to use it that way. That is quite a good idea, if so disks are operated, which always lay in the computer. With SSDs yes it does by eliminating the actual plate is no longer relevant, since there are no mechanical components more that could suffer damage.
The 2.5-inch drives fit perfectly in the dock. They are at the upper right edge to flush. Overall, then, however, the dock seems a bit empty and oversized. This could have been solved by a fancy cover, would lead to a heat problem. With a continuous load (read / write access) are also HDDs (with SSDs untested) very warm. The dock will be heat from passively good, since it is open at the top. Otherwise, it has no great cooling properties, as the housing is just plastic. However, this does not heat up much.
I tested the dock with several 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch hard drives and SSD on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

As announced in the instructions, you need the docking station no (additional) driver. It is a pure Plug and Play system that works perfectly. Plate insert, connect cable, press Power On and off you go. The computer recognizes the hard drives as such (also via USB), and you can deal with them directly, as if they were installed internally. Or as if you connected an external hard drive.
Something hard to use the power button because it merges flush already in the off state to the housing frame. If you want to switch on the docking station, it must be recessed into the device. For thick fingers may not so easy. A pen may help here. Who now thinks: How annoying !, will perhaps be comforted that it will be relatively difficult to turn the unit off by accidental contact. What could well have fatal consequences for a HDD. In this respect, I give here for this switch no deduction because it integrates perfectly into the frame and I ask him this protective function.

The read and write rates are as soon as they were installed internally with my hard disks. Of course, depends on all sorts of factors. If you operate the device to a USB hub and copied at the same time still all sorts of other data or has active USB devices attached, the power will probably break something.
However, it was observed that both eSATA and USB 3.0 provided the same quick results. In test files (individual small files as well as a multi-gigabyte movie file) after all constant 130MB / s read speed and between 100-130mb / s write speed. With the SSD I've done no speed test, but hardly anyone will use an SSD as an external hard drive.
Of course, the docking station is also backwards compatible with USB 2.0. Then these values, however, one must not expect more.
There were no dropouts or strong fluctuation rates in several hours of testing.
Meaning a docking station

Who has to constantly deal with hard drives, it may be suffering, his PC constantly OPEN and screw it. I went anyway so. A docking station provides a remedy here. Of course, it should be as soon as the connected hard drives were installed internally at least approximately. This creates the FD1004e. Priced seen it is no more expensive than an external hard drive enclosure (if you do not buy cheap grade scrap, which could no longer be compared to the features of this dock).
Hard drives can be used thanks to the docking station such as USB sticks. Of course they take away more space and you should be more careful when turning off while you can simply remove the stick, without having them wearing a damage normally. Nevertheless, the docking station is ideal for connecting hard drives without much effort. However, anyone who owns a computer, has enough internal memory and which otherwise only works with external hard drives, will probably not be convinced of the device. However, since it may meet the functionality of an external hard drive enclosure thoroughly and here no installation of the hard disk is more necessary, I would prefer this device due to the USB 3.0 and e-SATA port.
Conclusion

The FD1004E docking station for 2.5 and 3.5 inch HDDs and SSDs provides with the USB 3.0 and e-SATA port, a great value for money. Can easy to handle a hard drive are connected in seconds to your computer. Troublesome installation is eliminated. They met when needed, the function of an external hard drive enclosure and provides a real added value for all those who frequently have to work with hard drives and they do not ever want to expand, and in the computer.
An excellent plug and play system that takes advantage of because of the designs on the desk well.

In summary, a subjective, Abbreviated Pro / Contra List:

+ USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with UBS 2.0)
+ E-SATA port
+ Easy handling
+ Packaging and accessories
+ Functionality ensures continuous, fast transfer rates
+ Is an external hard disk enclosure in every way
- (Only) English manual [but well illustrated]
- On / Off switch with thick fingers difficult to use [protection function?]

PS: Note for the purpose of copyright!
Publication of my report on Ciao and Ebay under my local profiles