Looking for recommendations on USB 2.0 enclosure for 2.5" SATA drive.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I replaced my PS3s original 60GB HDD with a new 320GB 7200RPM and now I'm looking for an enclosure to put the 60GB in.
I've spent the last 2 weeks digging through reviews on newegg, tigerdirect, amazon, cnet, etc etc - what a mess!! From what I've read they're all shit...

Add to that over the last week I've purchased, then returned 3 different enclosures at MicroCenter for various quality purposes. All 3 had squat for securing the drive within the enclosure. I want this to be portable - I'd like to be able to put it in my book bag and have it work 3 hours later when I get somewhere instead of having to take it apart and re-seat the drive into the bridge. There was no type of shock protection at all and on all of them the drive just plugged into the bridge then the bridge screws into the case, nothing really securing the drive in any way.
1 had a SATA to USB bridge that seemed to work fine, the other 2 were buggy and inconsistent as hell.

I've seen some that are expensive (but still get crappy reviews...) but I don't wanna drop a shitload of money on a freakin' enclosure - hell the 320GB drive I just bought only cost $70, I can't justify spending $50 on an enclosure for a 60GB drive.

If any of you fine folks here have a USB 2.0 (or 3.0) 2.5" SATA drive enclosure that you use regularly, is durable, and reliable would you mind giving your recommendations?

TIA!

[Constant Gardener]

I have several Mediasonic Smartdrive enclosures - which are aluminum, dissipate heat well, and seem reasonably sturdy.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=38347&vpn=HD3-SU2B-BK&manufacture=Mediasonic

I've also used some plastic ones, which certainly work, but they scratch easily.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I have several Mediasonic Smartdrive enclosures - which are aluminum, dissipate heat well, and seem reasonably sturdy.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=38347&vpn=HD3-SU2B-BK&manufacture=Mediasonic

Thanks! I'll check 'em out.

I've also used some plastic ones, which certainly work, but they scratch easily.

hhmmmmm... I hadn't even considered that. Something to definitely keep in mind.

[edDV]

I bought two Rosewill eSATA/USB2 2.5" enclosures* on a newEgg daily special for $12.99 each. These require power over USB. No Power supply included.

I put an old laptop drive in the first and it worked.

Then I bought a 2.5" Hitachi 500GB, 7200RPM SATA/300 for $59 at Fry's (on-sale). So far this thing does great on eSATA or USB2 with my laptop USB2 or desktop eSATA.

My next laptop will have an eSATA connector.




* These require power over USB or an optional external power supply. For eSATA you need both eSATA and USB connection (for power).