Other World Computing today announced it has expanded its OWC Data Doubler™ optical bay drive mounting solution line with a custom fit model for Mac mini 2009 and iMac 2009-2010 models. The OWC Data Doubler enables Apple Macintosh users to replace their infrequently used optical drive with a second hard drive or SSD for up to an additional 750GB of internal drive capacity, internal RAID, or other user customized internal data storage configurations.
The $79.99 MSRP OWC Data Doubler for 2009 Mac mini (user installable) and iMac 2009-2010 models (professional installation recommended) comes complete with all required hardware and is immediately available for the following Macintosh models:
- Mac mini “Early 2009” and “Mid 2009” model
- iMac 20″ “Mid 2009” models
- iMac 21.5″ & 27″ “Late 2009” and “Mid 2010” models
Offers Custom Drive Configuration
The custom engineered, blue anodized aluminum OWC Data Doubler gives Mac mini and iMac users the flexibility to uniquely configure their computer’s internal drive array. Any SATA 2.5″ hard drive or SSD of up to 9.5mm (Super Slim) height can be mounted onto the bracket with the entire assembly then user installable in 2009 Mac mini and professionally installed in 2009-2010 iMac models’ 5.25″ optical drive bay. 9.5mm SATA 2.5″ hard drives, currently available in capacities of up to 750GB, are fully “Plug and Play” recognized via the Apple Disk Utility program with standard configuration options just like any typical drive including, but not limited to:
- Creating an individual volume with its own desktop icon.
- Combining a new drive with the existing internal drive for one larger volume (SPAN).
- Combining a new matching drive with existing internal for high-performance RAID-0 Stripe volume.
- Configuring a new drive as a Time Machine™ backup drive.
- Formatting one drive for the Mac OS and the other dedicated for Windows.
“Designing and offering custom solutions to give Mac owners more usability is a top priority at OWC,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. “Now with this new Data Doubler kit, Mac desktop users can enjoy the same flexibility in creating unique storage configurations as Mac notebook owners have enjoyed.”
Solution Also Available For Mac Notebooks
2008-2009 MacBook and MacBook Pro users can also attain more internal storage capacity, performance, and/or redundancy with OWC’s first Data Doubler announced June 2010.
High Performance Hard Drives & SSDs Available
In addition to the Data Doubler optical bay drive solution, OWC carries a full line of 2.5″ notebook drives for upgrading a Mac mini’s main bay storage capacity up to 1TB with 500GB hard drives from $69.99. iMac owners can choose 3.5″ drives from OWC up to 2TB with 1TB hard drives from $73.99. For highest levels of performance and reliability, OWC also offers its own award-winning Mercury Extreme Pro SSD line in capacities from 50GB to 480GB starting at $105.99. For more information on OWC’s internal storage options for both Mac and PC notebook and desktop computers, visit: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/hard_drives_and_SSD
Will there ever be a data doubler for the mid 2007 Mac Mini or will the 2009 data doubler work on the 2007?
Did you guys ever make a Data Doubler for the Macbook1,1 with the ATA style optical drive?
No, the Data Doubler has always been a SATA connection product.
Will this work in an Early 2008 iMac (aluminum)? I looked on your website and couldn’t find one listed for that model.
TIA!
No, the Early 2008 iMac uses an Ultra ATA/100 optical drive interface. The Data Doubler replaces SATA optical drives.
Understood. Thanks!
Hi.
Are temperature sensors now available for the second hard drive?
Thanks
There are no special sensor cables involved with these. If the drive you’re replacing had an external sensor cable attached (such as in many iMacs), you would want to attach it to the Data Doubler.
Hi,
I have the data doubler for the late 2009 27″ iMac, and before I get started, was wondering I you have a tutorial video available for opening up the 2009 iMac?
Cheers
Pete
No video is available at this time. We do highly recommend professional installation.
OWC staff i have a quick question for you guys as i cannot find an answer anywhere. I have an A1347 mid 2010 mac mini 4,1, … and i was wondering nothing on the website clearly states if the data doubler will fit in my model mini it just says early to late 2009. my superdrive is dying and i would like to replace the superdrive with an SSD to accompany my 640gb 7200 rpm drive. also do you guys know if the superdrives are SATA II or III? any help will be greatly appreciated.
No, it won’t. The data doubler works in the non-aluminum body Mac mini models that accept a SATA optical drive.
Will this work with the Macbook Pro 3,1 (late 2007) 15″ ?
Thanks,
/kr
No, the MacBookPro3,1 models use an Ultra ATA Optical drive, not a SATA drive – so the Data Doubler will not work.
Is there an ‘data doubler’ option for macbook pro 3,1?
thank you for your time
We currently don’t have a compatible Data Doubler kit to replace the optical drive with a hard drive or SSD in that particular model.
MacBook Pro 3,1 models, as well as all MacBook and MacBook Pro models before the late 2008 Unibodies, used a IDE/ATAPI optical drive in the optical bay. These IDE/ATA drives are neatly impossible to get today and the largest models only went up to 320GB as well. Currently Data Doublers are supported in the SATA drive model MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models late 2008 and later + iMacs as noted.
Thanks Larry and Jarrod!
So nothing to do there!
Any ideas on what I could stick in there to make my computer better since the optical drive stopped working:
a new optical drive or just remove it?
gracias
You can bring Optical back online – we happen to have the replacements. So that is something. :)
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/superdrive/MacBook_Pro_15
hi i was just wondering will this let me take out my super drive and replace it with this. Or buy the one for laptops and replace the super drive with that i will be using an ssd and the 1 tb hdd that came with my imac.
thank you
The iMac and Mac mini use ATAPI optical drives while the MacBook/MacBook Pros use a SATA optical drive. They’re physically different and the reason we have two very different Data Doubler solutions. They are not interchangeable. Check the compatibility section on each model to make sure you are purchasing the correct Data Doubler for your specific computer.
i have a 2011 imac will the one for mac minis and imac work because it say it dose and will it allow me to. to take out the dvd drive and replace it with the Data Doubler
Yes…our Data Doubler has been tested and confirmed to work with all the new 2011 iMacs.
BUT…our precaution still applies for these new models as it did for the 2009-2010 models…:
*Professional installation of Data Doubler into an iMac is highly recommended due to degree of installation difficulty
Hi OWC Michael,
Just a quick question. I just bought a spanking new 2011 27 iMac and plan to replace the superdrive with a 3rd drive. Will the Data Doubler be compatible on my new iMac? TIA
Hi Ryan…OWC Michael standing right here so thought I’d answer….you got us…Yes…our Data Doubler has been tested and confirmed to work with all the new 2011 iMacs. Updating the page now.
BUT…our precaution still applies for these new models as it did for the 2009-2010 models…:
*Professional installation of Data Doubler into an iMac is highly recommended due to degree of installation difficulty
When will OWC offer the option to replace the hard disk(s) in the mid-2010 Mac mini and Mac mini Server with one or two SSD’s ?
I gather OWC is struggling with the new temperature sensors on the Mac mini hard drives?
@ Mark L. Charnley
Actually, we do have such a service. :-)
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/install/
This is, of course, in addition to the drives themselves. I highly recommend talking with one of our sales associates for more details in setting up such an upgrade.
If you’re more of a “hands on” type, it is possible to perform this upgrade yourself. I did just such an upgrade on both a mini and on a mini Server not too long ago, and the Instructional Video is currently in post-production – Keep an eye on our YouTube channel, as that’s likely where it’ll show up first, though you can be sure that we’ll be announcing it here on the Blog, too.
We’ve been offering a Mac mini upgrade service since the introduction of the first Mac mini model: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MINIINSTALLOWC/
We can install Memory, hard drive (which include SSD models), and/or an optical drive including data transfer and domestic 2 way shipping for $99.00 – see link for details.
Looks cool.
Too bad you don’t have one for those of use with many 2006 & 2007 Mac mini’s.