Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock Review

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Product: SATA HDD Multimedia Dock; UCABL005500
Manufacturer: Brando
Supplied by: Brando
Price: USD59/ RM211
Launch Date: NA

Last two weeks ago, we just completed a unique product review; Unitek SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock. Today here we received another interesting HDD docking from Brando as well called SATA HDD Multimedia Dock. This docking is not only can be used for 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDD for data transferring but also act as a media player where the files can be played on TV without connecting to PC.

Company Profile

usb.brando.com.hk, member of Brando Workshop, offers a wide range of special, useful and helpful USB products for our customers. We deliver happiness and convenience to everyone.

Features:

- Supports both SATA 2.5" HDD and 3.5" HDD
- PC connection: USB 2.0
- Video format: MPEG1/2/4, XVID, DIVX3.11, 4.X-5.X
- Audio format: MP3, WMA, WAV
- Image format: JPEG, BMP, GIF
- Filt type: AVI, VOB, DAT, MPG
- Compatible FAT32
- Compatible DivX subtitle
- Compatible Multi language
- Audio/Video output: AV OUT / S-VIDEO / YCbCr
- External port: SD Card
- TV system: NTSC, PAL.AUTO
- Temperature and Humidity: 5 ° ~ 55 °, humidity 10 ~ 75%
**This machine should be used in the operation range of the connected PC
- AC Power Adapter input: 100 ~ 240V, 50/60Hz, 1.8A
- AC Power Adapter output: 12V/3A
- Dimension: 130 x 120 x 68mm (approx.) (HDD Dock)
- Dimension: 40 x 75 x 6mm (approx.) (Remote Controller)
- Weight: 469g (HDD Dock)
- Weight: 11g (Remote Controller)

Package Contents:

- SATA HDD Multimedia Dock
- Remote Controller
- Universal AC Adapter
- AV Cable
- USB Cable
- CD Driver
- User's Manual

**Hard Disk Drive is not included
**The Media Player function is only supports FAT32

Packaging

This SATA HDD Multimedia Dock should be manufactured by one of the computer peripheral OEM as the packaging and the product itself doesn't come with any brand name at all. The packaging of this product is quite plain and the color is a bit gloom.

After open the packaging, all the accessories and docking are packed quite compact same with other Brando products. The accessories include remote control, USB cable, universal AC adapter, AV cable, CD driver and user's manual.

The user's manual is very detail where it shows the step by step on how to use this Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock. All the steps and instructions that are stated in this manual are only for TV mode as no special software is required for PC mode since it only works as external HDD. A universal adapter is provided to power up the Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock.

SATA HDD Multimedia Dock; UCABL005500

What is so special about this Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock compare with other external HDD enclosure? The answer is Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock is not only an external HDD enclosure just for data transferring but it is also works as media player where the movie, music and image can be played on TV without connecting to a PC.

The dimension of this product is approximate 130 x 120 x 68 mm and 469grams for the weight. It is a bit bulky for a HDD enclosure but since it works as a media player as well then this size should best still acceptable by end users. The design of this product is a bit plain and in black color.

Here is the back of the Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock. There are quite number of connectors but each of the connectors comes with some description and the further detail can be found at user's manual if you are not familar with it. ON/OFF switch and power connectors are for power up the docking, USB is for connecting to PC for data transfer, S-Video, composite video and component video ports.

Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock same with Unitek SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock which can support 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDD. This flexibility will definitely benefit the users. There is a door to cover for the HDD slot area whenever 3.5" HDD is not being used.

Unlike Unitek SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock, Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock comes with a HDD eject button to eject HDD from the docking. The eject force is not really strong but it is advisable to hold the HDD when pressing the eject button to avoid any damage to the HDD.

At the front of the Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock, there are few buttons for media playing purpose and one LED to indicate the HDD activity. This docking is not only support HDD but also SD card. The SD support is pretty good where SD card is widely used for digital camera so user can display or share the picture instantly on TV. If USB can be supported as well for this docking then it will be much better.

A mini remote controller with 18 keys is provided for Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock. This remote controller is very useful because mostly of the users will play this docking on TV from some distance area for media player function. The remote controller requires a 3V Lithium battery cell which is widely available in market.

Installation, Testing & Performance

Test Bed
Notebook : Dell Inspiron E1720
Processor : Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T7500
Memory : 2GB 666MHz DDR2 Memory
Hard Drive : 120GB 2.5" 5400RPM 8MB Seagate
Graphic Card : Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS
Optical Drive : DVD RW
Operating System : Microsoft Window XP SP2
Benchmark Software : HD Tech 3.0
Ambient Temperature : 28 Degree Celsius

This docking isn't really require any software installation as data transferring to external HDD from PC doesn't need any driver or software. Hence users just need to connect the Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock with HDD to PC with the USB cable for data transferring. For TV media player, users need to select the appropriate connection type; either S-video, composite or component to connect to TV.

During testing on this Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock, we used composite cable to connect this docking to a 27" LCD monitor. Once the docking is turned on, it will show the boot up screen as above where users can select Movie, Music, Photo or Games. The docking itself will separate all the files inside the external HDD into these specific locations.

Besides the files that are loaded into this external HDD, the docking is come with two preinstalled games; Box Man and Totric. Using the remote controller to play these games are still acceptable since these games are not really requires fast respond.

Some setting can be tuned for this Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock on TV; OSD, TV and system setup.

Besides that the testing on TV of this Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock, here are some HDD benchmarking results for 3.5" and 2.5" SATA HDD on the Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock.

Conclusion

Are you having problem for sharing some video clip, picture or etc with your friends or family? Or looking for something like such product? If yes then this Brando SATA HDD Multimedia Dock should be one of your choices as this docking comes with pretty good features where it supports 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDD, SD card and the most interesting feature is the media player on TV. Price for this product is not cheap where it will cost 59USD and plus 25USD for shipping so the total cost will be around 84USD. Due to limited available for such product in market, we can't really say it is expensive and if you having a hard time to get such product with cheaper price then maybe you should consider this product from Brando.

Pros:
* Support 2.5" & 3.5" HDD
* Support SD card
* Works as media player as well
* Comes with remote controller
* Support S-Video, component and composite video output

Cons:
* Not support USB
* Not cheap

Thanks to Brando for providing this sample for us to review.