Nexcopy 16-port USB 3.0 Duplicator Review

The Nexcopy USB 3.0 Duplicator (SSUSB160PC) primarily targets an interesting niche market with a demand to mass copy a number of flash drives in a short period of time. In fact, the Nexcopy is an industrial tool that can churn out 16 unique flash drive images at a time. This may not sound like a big deal for the average user, but if you have ever spent time doing this one by one, then you know how much time you can save in the long run. This assumes it works as advertised that is. Now, let's find out together if the 16-port duplicator is hyper good or just hype.

Lots of USB 3.0 Ports
If you have never seen - let alone used - a flash drive cloning device / imager, then the Nexcopy USB 3.0 duplicator may seem shall we say a tad odd looking. With its dimensions of 29.8 x 20.5 x 19cm and weighing in at a robust 5.3 pounds, this certainly is not a peripheral you want to be moving around on a regular basis. Rather it is the kind essential tool (like a plotter or large enterprise class laser printer) that you will want to set up on one system and leave it there. The bigger design of the box does yield to a more stable device as the user goes through a repetitive cycle of connect / disconnecting drives. So what seems "odd looking" at first, ends up being an asset to function.

As far as USB duplicators go, the Nexcopy SSUSB160PC is actually pretty stylish. Its form certainly flows from its function, but Nexcopy has made it to look in a German engineered car sort of way. Because of this form from function design, it is rather rectangular with flat boxy sides. However, Nexcopy did add in some flare where they could. For example, having the top slope downwards from back to front does give it a more aggressive styling. This dash of styling does makes it even more functional as sticking in the 16 flash drives into the 16 USB 3.0 ports on that self same top is actually easier when they are slightly offset in the vertical plane. It's also a lot easier to check all 32 status lights for the 16 ports (red for bad, green for good).

Where the Nexcopy USB 3.0 duplicator is a serious tool meant for serious work, there is no plastic fascia to be found anywhere. It is made from metal and metal only. Once again, Nexcopy did manage to sneak in some pizazz by having the front's company logo be CnC'ed milled out. This allows air to be sucked in from the front (as well as the sides through copious amounts of air holes), flow over the internals and then be exhausted out the back of the case via the rear fan. This is a great example of form and function done properly.

With the exception of the top ports, the only other ports on the USB 3.0 flash drive duplicator are on the back. This consists of the power plug outlet (with replaceable amp); a power switch; a USB 3.0 female-B port; and a small fan.

Getting the Duplicator Ready
Installing the Nexcopy USB 3.0 duplicator is not what I would call a difficult proposal, as there are three steps which need to be done in the correct order to get this device up and running. The first step involves downloading the latest version of the software (even though it is included it always best to check and get the latest from the manufacturer's website) and installing it. While the installation manual states registry editing is needed, I have been told by Nexcopy this is not the case anymore and will be removed from the manual at some point.

With the software installed, you then plug in the small plastic green dongle which is in fact an authentication dongle. Once that is plugged in recognized, you can then power up and plug in the duplicator itself. As long as you do not try to plug it into a USB hub and instead plug the USB 3.0 cable directly into your USB 3.0 port, you will be fine. Plug in as many of the flash drives as you want (up to 16) into the ports on the top of the device and away you go.