GoFlex, GoFlex Desk, GoFlex Pro, GoFlex Slim, & GoFlex Turbo

[Alpha Whisky]

+1 more for an eSATA dock.

I have realised the reasons why Seagate isn't making an eSATA dock for the GoFlex Desk.

1. It would be so trivially easy, there would be no active components required beyond maybe a voltage regulator so it would be difficult to justify charging $50 for a single plastic moulding and a PCB with less than 10 tracks on it.

2. It would be hard to put the stupid pointless "used capacity" lights on it, as there would be no drive controller chip.

Suggestion:

1. Make an eSATA dock

2. Don't put the stupid lights on it (okay maybe a power light),

3. Sell it for a sensible price, $10 would allow for a huge markup.

4. ????

5. Profit!

[ntpntpntp]

+1 for eSata dock. 

My laptop (bought last year) has eSata/usb combo port but only usb2.  The potential is there to have higher transfer speeds, I just need a suitable dock!

[PhilJ]

I agree... I'm in the same boat with a laptop that would really benefit from the esata connection.

[AskTheLeaf]

Please take a look at part number STAE103:

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/accessories/

[Alpha Whisky]

Er, no, YOU take a look at STAE103, particularly the bit where it says

"Works with: GoFlex and GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drives"

It isn't compatible with the GoFlex Desk. A GoFlex Desk eSATA dock would be trivially simple but there isn't one. The excuse that is trotted out is that USB3 is "faster", well:

1. Very few of YOUR customers actually have USB3

2. The processor overhead for USB3 is much higher than it is for eSATA even if the raw data rate is a tiny bit faster on paper, would you want your processor pegged near 100% just to talk to a hard drive?

3. eSATA accesses the drive controller directly and "cuts out the middle man", what comes out of the USB3 dock is translated to SATA anyway, how is that going to be faster than talking directly to the drive?

[cmoses]

I have to agree with everyone else. I was just online looking for an adapter to utilize my eSATA port for my laptop... but of course there isn't one! I seriously don't understand that one AT ALL!

I am trying to move 80GB of data from my USB3.0 3TB drive over via my 2.0 ports, and it is utterly killing me. I have deleted unnecessary data and seriously considered how badly I need the other data because it is moving so slowly! (hours now and still no headway) Serious design flaw, and a very easy problem to rectify! Who do we need to talk to about getting a cable/adapter made? This is ridiculous!

Dell doesn't even offer USB 3.0 ports for their laptops, so what is one to do in this situation? This drive should have that option NOW! Otherwise, I feel taken, just as a few of the posters above. I have alot of room to store data, but I have to trade off space for time now... Not sure, I may be returning this thing.

[nindra]

+1 more for an eSATA dock for the GoFlex DESK. Like STAE105 but with eSATA!

[toke_lahti]

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Chammy wrote:

It's totally illogical to have an eSATA(p) for portable drives and not for Desktop drives because eSATAp port is by far more common than USB 3.0 port and will remain so for at least next 2-5 years.

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I guess the problem with eSATAp with 3.5" drives is that laptops usually only offer 5V power from the port and 3.5" drives need also 12V.

Nevertheless offering at least eSATA without p(ower) should be sensible offer from Seagate.

Oh well, according Seagate's commitment to make goFlex to work fluently with Macs, making any improvements for present product line will take years.

I can't understand why they can't tweak goFlex's firmware to behave any better. Cutting the connection after 15 minutes of idle in the name of Green is just stupid. If goFlex would just spin down and keep the connection after 15 minutes, it would be Green enough and there would be no problems with any computers...

[AskTheLeaf]

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Alpha Whisky wrote:

Er, no, YOU take a look at STAE103, particularly the bit where it says

"Works with: GoFlex and GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drives"

It isn't compatible with the GoFlex Desk. A GoFlex Desk eSATA dock would be trivially simple but there isn't one. The excuse that is trotted out is that USB3 is "faster", well:

1. Very few of YOUR customers actually have USB3

2. The processor overhead for USB3 is much higher than it is for eSATA even if the raw data rate is a tiny bit faster on paper, would you want your processor pegged near 100% just to talk to a hard drive?

3. eSATA accesses the drive controller directly and "cuts out the middle man", what comes out of the USB3 dock is translated to SATA anyway, how is that going to be faster than talking directly to the drive?

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Hey sorry, you're right. I'll pass your requests along to our design team, it'd be nice to have an eSATA connection for the non-portable versions.

[GretPO]

I too am disappointed there is no eSATA adaptor options with the Go FLEX Desk.

I just received delivery of a new 4TB Go Flex desk (my first Go Flex) to use with my Macbook Pro, which has Firewire 800 or eSata via the Express Port. These drives are marketied on their supposed flexibility and adaptability to multiple transfer fomats.

I was sold on this due to the large disk space plus the flexibility of the Go Flex to be able to be adapatable and upgradeable.

Now I find I have an almost redundant (or at least, very SLOW conection in USB 2.0  - as Macbook Pros of my vintage or other do not carry USB 3).

I ordered the drive together with 1 x eSATA and 1 x firewire 800 adaptors  (which I didnt realise are only for unpowered models) and now I find the adaptors are useless, and I have NO options other than slow old USB2.0 for transferring and accessing 4TB of data!

Feel like I've wasted a heap of money, simply because Seagte couldnt be bothered supplying a unit with both the adaptor and a simple power connection.

Does anyone know of any workarounds?