Newer Technology's MiniStack hard drive/hub

The diminutive Mac mini has spawned a small cottage industry of accessories to extend its capabilities. One of these is Newer Technology's combination hard drive and powered FireWire 400/USB 2.0 hub, in a stackable case that matches the mini's footprint and color scheme.

The MiniStack is available with drives from 80 GB ($140) to 500 GB ($450), as well as an empty unit ($80) into which you can install your own 3.5-inch drive. NewerTech includes Retrospect Express (Mac/PC) for backup and Mac-only utility software with the populated MiniStacks.

I don't own a Mac mini, but I recently picked up a bare 250GB drive and also needed some accessible ports for my G4 tower, so I decided to try out the MiniStack. Though it's a tight fit, installing the drive is straightforward, and I was impressed with the MiniStack's thermal management. It sports a massive aluminum heat sink that attaches to the bottom of the drive and has a variable-speed fan that responds to input from a thermistor taped to the top center of the drive. The fan spins up and down as needed, but is barely audible even at its highest speed.

You connect to both the FireWire and USB ports on your Mac or PC with the provided 16-inch cables (plenty for the mini-and others if you keep the drive close). A switch on the back selects either FireWire or USB for drive communication, and the drive automatically powers up and down with your computer.

There are three FireWire ports--two on the back and one around the corner on the adjacent side. The computer needs one of these, leaving two free. Three USB 2.0 "A" ports are available (two on the back and one on the side), in addition to a "B" port for input. A quibble: I wish the side ports were on the more accessible front instead.

The MiniStack has performed flawlessly for me, and the extra ports are frosting on the cake.--Ken Henningsen