[Review] OWC Data Doubler for MacBook Laptops

The OWC Data Doubler can replace an unused Apple SuperDrive with a second storage drive.

Are you a heavy storage user? Some people, like video editors, use immense amounts of storage. If you use a MacBook of almost any year or model, you can buy an OWC Data Doubler to increase your storage space to the maximum that you can possibly get inside of a MacBook without using external storage. The idea behind the OWC Data Doubler is simple - remove the unused Apple SuperDrive to make better use of the space with a second volume. In the image above, you can see how the OWC Data Doubler is made out of blue-painted steel and is structured to be shaped like the Apple SuperDrive.


Removing the Apple SuperDrive takes some patience. There are three screws that hold it into the MacBook Pro and one of them is hidden under the speaker module. The other two are completely wide open to your view. Before attempting to install an OWC Data Doubler, follow these three steps as precautions before trying to install the OWC Data Doubler to keep your computer safe:

• Touch the Apple SuperDrive to discharge any static electricity that you may be carrying.
• Using a nylon pry tool (included with OWC's Data Doubler bundle), lift up and disconnect the battery connector wire.
• Using a nylon pry tool (included with OWC's Data Doubler bundle), lift up and disconnect all data cables from the motherboard.

Next, you can start uninstalling screws to remove the Apple SuperDrive. If you're unsure of which screws to remove - you can follow OWC's guide. The thirteen inch Macbook Pro is slightly different than the fifteen and seventeen inch MacBook Pros, but the fifteen and seventeen inch MacBook Pros are the same. To view the guide for the thirteen inch MacBook Pro click this link. To view the guide for the fifteen in MacBook Pro click this link. To view the guide for the seventeen inch Macbook Pro click this link. These guides will take you step by step so that even a beginner can do this without messing up.

In the image above, you can see that my MacBook Pro thirteen inch 2011 model has a 128GB Crucial solid state drive for boot and application launch speed - but it also has the OWC Data Doubler installed with a 5400 RPM 500GB hard disk drive which I can use for media storage. I was never a user of the Apple SuperDrive, so this change was more convenient for me. It fits very snugly and OWC includes tools and special screws for installing it inside the OWC Data Doubler box.

Pros:

• More Storage
• Makes Better Use of Second SATA III (SATA II in some cases) Bay
• Quieter

Cons:

• No DVD/CD Support
• More Power Usage

There isn't much to say - it's a good upgrade if you need the storage and don't need a DVD/CD drive. I have noticed on several MacBook Pros that the Apple SuperDrive makes a quick grinding noise at boot up. The OWC Data Doubler doesn't make this noise - which means that you get a quieter experience. Unfortunately, because the hard disk drive requires constant power to keep the motor running, it will use more battery life. Solid state drives will use comparable amounts of power as well. The OWC Data Doubler is compatible with hard disk drives and solid state drives, so you can choose how to mix and match your options.

You can use the secondary disk for several options. One, you can dual boot on two disks instead of partitioning your main disk. Or, you can simply use it for extra storage. You can use it as a RAID storage unit with your existing disk, or you can simply use it as an internal-external hard drive that holds things so you can put them on your main drive when you need them. I personally use it as an internal-external hard drive. I think that this is a great buy and I would recommend it to anyone with a MacBook Pro. It comes in at $64.99. There are OWC Data Doublers for the iMac and Mac Mini as well - they are shaped slightly differently.