I have several older ICY DOCK EZ-Dock LITE MB881U3-1SA docking stations (http://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=130), which have worked great with my iMac using OSX Snow Leopard.
Last year I needed more, but couldn't find any, so instead I got a EZ dock FLEX MB981U3-1SA (http://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=133).
I like the earlier product a great deal more, but cannot find them anymore. I think the market agrees, because I can't find them used, either!
THe earlier product (Lite) is a little heavier and sits very solidly on my desk. It is easy, with one hand, to correctly plug in a drive. Less vertical space is required to plug in or remove a drive mechanism. More of the drive is exposed, improving heat dissipation. Finally, I think the little bit of tilt on the drive mechanism will help the bearing to live longer (just guessing, intuitive notion).
THe later product (FLEX) has two modes. WIthout the big boxy enclosure around the "adapter", it is relatively difficult to mount a drive mechanism. It takes both hands and a bunch of fiddling, and you certainly can't do it in a confined space. Furthermore, all alone, the adapter does not hold the drive very well. I never got the "box" adapter enclosure, so I can't say anything about it except it would cover more of the drive, impacting cooling, and would require more vertical space for drive removal or installation.
In another thread I describe an incompatibility problem I am having with the LITE vs. the FLEX docks, that has me stumped. I wonder if my FLEX dock is the problem, and I'm asking for advice there: http://icydockforums.com/t/ez-dock-lite-mb881u3-1sa-vs-ez-dock-flex-mb981u3-1sa/712
I wish I could find the old LITE docks, but it seems there are none to be had. I have found no vendors that still have them in stock, and I cannot find them on eBay, new or used.
Any tips would be appreciated.