The Hornettek Defender is one of the newer models in their 2.5 SATA enclosure. This model new flair is the anti shock material. Can this enclosure withstand the punishment and keep the hard drive away from harm? Read on to find out.

Introduction

Since their start in 1999 Hornettek has been one of the leading companies in computer accessories and external enclosures.  Next in line to their 2.5 SATA enclosures is the Hornettek Defender.

The Hornettek Defender is a 2.5 SATA to USB enclosure. It is similar to the Rhino series and Traveler Series which are created with a simple USB design attached to the enclosure for easy portability. In addition, the Defender is made with quality materials to help keep the hard drive safe. The new construction consists of thin metal to keep the hard drive cool, and an anti-shock rubber casing to keep the hard drive secure from accidental bumps knocks and drops. Can this enclosure take all the punishment and prevent the hard drive from breaking? Read on to find out.

Specifications

Impressions & Assembling The Defender

The Hornettek Defender comes in a small black cardboard box.  It has a picture of the product and the more specific details about the portable enclosure in about six languages. Upon opening the box, we see that enclosure covered in a plastic bag to protect it from any scratches that may come during transportation.

Inside the package includes:

• The enclosure
• A bag of four screws
• A manual

The enclosure is made up of anti shock rubber and solid metal. The metal is a good sign, for it should keep the hard drive cool. The enclosure does not have any fans so the sheet metal aids the hard drive from overheating. The anti shock rubber covers the metal body which helps prevents damage of the hard drive if it is accidently bumped, knocked or dropped.

The top of the Defender has a green LED, indicating the power once plugged in. Also at the top is where the USB cable is located as well as a groove to tuck the attached USB cable into the enclosure.

The back has the sticker of the Hornettek brand and the name of the enclosure. The rubber on the edges of the enclosure it helps prevent scratches on the metal as it is laying on a surface. 

The enclosure opens up like a book, and reveals the PCB lying on the back of the enclosure. Installation is simple, as all we need to do is slide the SATA hard drive into the connectors and then screw in the four screws, locking the enclosure into place. There is little space to shift the hard drive into the connector. On the top of the case is a rubber mold which keeps the hard-drive in place and prevents it from moving. It can be a bit difficult to remove the hard drive from the enclosure. Luckily the metal backing can be unscrewed to place the hard drive in the right area, so users can easily remove the hard drive this way as well.

Testing & Results

We placed a 320GB Western Digital Blue Scorpio 5400RPM hard drive inside the enclosure.

Click Image to Enlarge

Click Image to Enlarge

Click Image to Enlarge

The USB enclosure offered a fairly equal speed in transfer rate, and the performance was capped at the ~35MB/s limit of the USB 2.0 standard. The Defender dropped in speed by just 2MB at times. However, results may vary depending on what hard drives are used, and also upon the chip controlling a system’s USB ports.

Physical Durability Testing

This is where the Hornettek Defender really shines.  Because of the construction of this external enclosure it can be dropped and take a fall but still run just as smooth. During testing we dropped the external enclosure from heights of 1 foot, 2 feet, and 3 feet off the ground. After the drops we plugged the enclosure back into a system and watched it transfer data repeatedly as if nothing happened. The speed stayed the same and the drive’s performance was not affected.

Conclusion

The Defender Hornettek 2.5 USB enclosure has a simple yet sleek design. The thin metal construction is nice to keep the hard drive from overheating. The rubber cover ensures that hard drive will stay safe. Like many other 2.5″ enclosure the speed of the Defender was very close to its counterparts, and its performance under USB was great. However, we would’ve liked to see USB 3.0 compatibility folded in so it could have a higher transfer rate.

The best feature of Hornettek Defender is the great exterior that keeps the hard drive from harm. The construction allows the hard drive to be abused and still run at its full potential. All in all the Hornettek Defender is a great enclosure if a hard drive travels a lot. It’s also a perfect enclosure for students, as it can take a beating in a backpack or bag, and doesn’t require a separate power adapter. With its innovative construction and protective covers, it is a sure choice for computer users on the go.