jeremykindy wrote:
Doesn't make sense to me to have two different drives...make it more expensive to produce because it would be 2 different products rather than 1. I'd rather produce 2x the number of one product than 1/2 the number of two. I guess that could be why the non-muvo drives are so much more expensive, if it is true.
More likely, though, Hitachi is spreading FUD trying to sell the single drives at an extreme premium.
NOTE: this is just my opinion and I have no facts to support or refute it.
Correct it makes no sense to create two drives with a minor difference. What does make sense are the statements that Hitachi (formerly IBM/Hitachi) is exploring a smaller form factor of the technology. This makes more sense. A smaller form factor will be a market advantage for an OEM product such as the MP3 player market.
I have two Muvo's on order one from Buy.com the other from Amazon. They also make a great way to transport files around.
jeremykindy wrote:
There is one thing that worries me...that small hole that says "do not seal this hole."
I would not worry about that. Sealing is different than covering or what would happen in a camera.
About the voltage differences....hot air is my guess. I've read some reports of people comparing the serial numbers, computer system ID of these drives, and part numbers and it all points to them being identicle.
It would be foolish to make them any different. Its like hard drives...most people don't realize that 160GB drives are often 200GB drives with a platter that does not work ie Compusa, circuit city branded drives (they have 4 platters). Heck, Western Digiral used to package 200GB drives in 160GB packaging. Its about keeping manufacturing costs down, thats a big factor in profit margins.
Someone on eBay was trying to scare people with the voltage thing too. I understand that there is only one part number for these drives. They are all the same. They have been used for hundreds of shots in canon cameras without problems. I believe Hitachi confirmed the deal with only one part number being available. I also read that there is new developement to incorporate the internals of the MD into the device it will be used in and not in a CF format. This will allow the devices to be smaller and the manufacturing costs to come down.
CTYankee wrote:
Its about keeping manufacturing costs down, thats a big factor in profit margins.
Not to mention marketing, packaging and warranty costs - all of which are borne by Creative. Remember too - buying a "retail" microdrive, you've buying one unit with all the above costs involved. Creative buys thousands in the OEM deal. That's like comparing what I would pay for an Intel processor vs. what Dell pays - big difference.
blsnelling wrote:
Someone on eBay was trying to scare people with the voltage thing too. I understand that there is only one part number for these drives. They are all the same. They have been used for hundreds of shots in canon cameras without problems. I believe Hitachi confirmed the deal with only one part number being available. I also read that there is new developement to incorporate the internals of the MD into the device it will be used in and not in a CF format. This will allow the devices to be smaller and the manufacturing costs to come down.
It shows how great of a seller you are to refrain from bashing the idea altogether. Kudos to you.
diogenes! wrote:
Not to mention marketing, packaging and warranty costs - all of which are borne by Creative. Remember too - buying a "retail" microdrive, you've buying one unit with all the above costs involved. Creative buys thousands in the OEM deal. That's like comparing what I would pay for an Intel processor vs. what Dell pays - big difference.
Right, but Creative buys the drives, makes, packages and markets the entire muvo product for less than 1/2 of what the drive sells for retail?
CTYankee wrote:
I would not worry about that. Sealing is different than covering or what would happen in a camera.
Yes, sealing is different than covering. But if you cover tightly, then it's akin to sealing. Since I haven't seen a muvo outside of pictures, how close is the cover to that hole (it's hard to tell in the pics I've seen)? If the cover is close (like it would be in a cf type II slot), my fears would be allayed.
It shows how great of a seller you are to refrain from bashing the idea altogether. Kudos to you.
Hey, I can't knock it. It's true. I've just watched some people chicken out and decide not to hack a $200 MP3 player. Here's an option. As far as warrantee, I will have done a complete format on the drive before you get it and guarantee it not DOA. I also test that it works correctly in the Muvo2 before disassembly. Obviously, there will be no warrantee from Creative. I don't know if they are serialized where they could not be warranteed from Hitachi or not.
Edited by blsnelling on Mar 05, 2004 at 12:33 PM GMT
Does it matter what Sandisk card? Does it have to be an Ultra or does it not matter?
I've used the regular Sandisk CF in both 256MB and 512MB varieties. I have heard that the Ultra II will work as well but is definately not necessary. I would think it would be a waste.
jeremykindy wrote:
[Yes, sealing is different than covering. But if you cover tightly, then it's akin to sealing. Since I haven't seen a muvo outside of pictures, how close is the cover to that hole (it's hard to tell in the pics I've seen)? If the cover is close (like it would be in a cf type II slot), my fears would be allayed.
My IBM microdrive has a 'do not seal' hole too. Not to mention these very drives are sold for $400 as CF type II cards for cameras:
And btw, I sold my diskless Muvo2 on ebay for 45 bucks. So the cost of 4G Hitachi MD for me was $194-$45 = 149 bucks. Ain't that a sweet deal? YMMV wrt. to selling your muvo on ebay.
Thanks for the clarification on the "do not seal"!
Here's the reason:
from: http://www.steves-digicams.com/microdrive.html
The Microdrive does need "AIR" to float the heads and typically above 10,000 ft the mass of the air is too low and the drive requires a pressurized environment similar to an aircraft or spacecraft. At high altitude the air bearings begin to loose support from the air molecules needed to provide the "air bearing" for the Negative Air Bearing Surface (NABS) design of the head. If this "air bearing" is removed or lowered (as is the case with low density air at high altitudes) the head damages the media and you could have loss of data. The drive is vented to maintain equal pressure inside and outside to provide the air and to maintain the same pressure. This eliminiates the need for sealed and rigid covers that can tolerate pressure differences.[/quote
I don't know about the rest of you, but guys like him make me sick. Some of us have ordered one Muvo and have been waiting forever, yet this guy hogs 6 in order to sell for a profit. My hope is nobody buys them, he'll try to return them, and whatever retailer he got them from will refuse. Then he can enjoy all 6 by himself.
Recently I went to Sears to pick up a good deal I heard about on a 512MB SD-memory card for $99. There was a guy ahead of me who had apparently heard of the same deal. No problem, I thought... they had 10. Guess what? That guy bought all ten even though he knew I was there for only one for my own use. Such jerks need to choke on this stuff.
Cubfan wrote:
I don't know about the rest of you, but guys like him make me sick. Some of us have ordered one Muvo and have been waiting forever, yet this guy hogs 6 in order to sell for a profit. My hope is nobody buys them, he'll try to return them, and whatever retailer he got them from will refuse. Then he can enjoy all 6 by himself.
Boy you got a real attitude! You're the only one to blame why you don't have all you want. Why don't you drop the attitude and ask where I got them? I ordered one late week before last from Amizon. I had it about a week later. I kept that drive for myself. I then decided to buy a few more and ordered these six on Tuesday this week. I had them Thursday. No, they did not show them in stock. Order them anyway. Now, how sick do I make you? You're lucky I can forgive your attitude and clue you in. Should I now say that I hope you place an order with Amizon and never get one? I won't do that. Peace bro.
Welcome to America where cash and capitalism is KING. Don't like it find your own sources for product. Now I wouldn't pay what he/she is asking but there ain't nothing wrong with trying to make a buck.