For those who wish to send the very best, there are carefully chosen greeting cards and the NexStar 3. We'd like to suggest both.

The NexStar 3 is the fastest USB 2.0 enclosure we've tested, and the second-fastest USB 2.0 device. It also boasts an eSATA connector for even better speeds, and features a rugged aluminum shell with durable black finish.

As the graph shows, transfer rates are pinned at 34MB/s until internal drive speed forces it down. The NexStar 3 might be "too good" for available notebook drives, but don't let that stop you from choosing a high capacity model for it.

If you're planning a notebook upgrade and thought you might like to toss the old drive into an enclosure, don't let the good performance deter that goal: A low $25 Web price makes this the perfect deal for nearly any hardware. Check out our full review for additional details.