The box for the Eagle Consus M has to have one of the funkiest colour schemes we have seen in a long while. This is not necessarily a bad thing as different is good, different is memorable and above all else different gets you brand recognition; or at lest it can if done properly. Unfortunately many companies who try to be different miss the target completely and "different" for them is code word for fugly and no one likes to buy ugly things. At our core, tech geeks like myself are pack rats and we like bright shiny NEW things, not ugly drab things. Luckily for everyone concerned Eagle Tech has done different rather well with this packaging.


When you look at the Consus M box for the first time it may cause you to flash back to favorite summer childhood memories. You know the type: the ones where it is a hot summer day you’ve just won a (fill in the blank) competition and the whole (team/family/gang) are going to for ice-cream to celebrate the victory. In the case of the Consus M’s box it looks like a big old fashioned Creamsicle with black sides. It certainly was a bold choice on Eagle Tech's behalf because unless you see it in person you wouldn’t think a “Creamsicle” color scheme would work. Well I can tell you it does and I will never look at another Creamsicle without thinking about this bad boy!


When you do open the container you are greeted to a very reassuring sight; a sight which is almost guaranteed to leave a good and lasting first impression. When you lift open the double flap and peer inside all you can see is two large pieces of low density foam which allows the enclosure to blissfully float in the center of the box. As I have said in the past this, is probably one of the best packaging schemes available for this type of equipment and we all love to see it. You can be as sloppy as you want in opening up the container and you don’t have to worry about damaging anything important. Sure, if you get too frisky with the box cutter you may slice through an eSata cable or destroy the CD Rom, but that is minor or even incidental when compared to the safety of the unit itself. To further reduce potential damages, the Consus M is also enclosed in a plastic baggie which didn’t look to be static proof (which is a shame as it is a missed opportunity) but will help protected it against moisture if the box gets wet.


The list of accessories is very complete and contains everything (besides a hard drive) that you could possibly need to get up and running. As a nice bonus, Eagle Tech included not only a USB cord but an eSATA cord as well, and this was a nice touch as this is usually the first thing to go MIA when manufactures start looking for cost cutting options. The full list of accessories which are included is: one USB cord, one eSATA cord, a very small “Putt” switching power brick, an installation pamphlet, a driver CD and even a small plastic stand which will allow the unit to stand up on its side.

The only thing which you could conceivably need that was not included was a SATA to eSATA PCI bracket. This bracket would allow older non eSATA equipped systems the ability to run this enclosure. This oversight is understandable given the price point of the unit, but it still is a little bit conspicuous by its absence.