Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!fluke!alz From: alz@tc.fluke.COM (Al Weiss) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware Subject: Re: Conner 3.5" Drives Message-ID: <1990Sep12.221650.26909@tc.fluke.COM> Date: 12 Sep 90 22:16:50 GMT References: Distribution: na Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 48 In article (Steven Abrams) writes: >There seems to be a lot of companies selling Conner drives, really >cheaply, and I can get a 3.5" 104 MB IDE drive *with* an IDE >controller for $550.00 == this seems like an amazing price. >Has anyone heard ANYTHING about these drives, good, bad, or >indifferent. I know that Conner has been around for a while, but I'm >very curious as to why they have recently been popping up for sale in >*cheap droves*. My opinion is that Conner drives are great. I have tested their 40 meg drives at and beyond environmental specs for weeks on end with fine success. I am aware of potential stiction problems with early production of the CP-34x series, but a code number identifies whether it is from the questionable era or the later good production (details available upon request). Don't confuse that with the CP-304x series, which is all good. Other sizes like the 100 and 200 meggers (CP-310x and CP-320x series) never had the potential stiction problem, either. As with most/many companies in the hard drive business, Conner is constantly bringing out new products and stopping production of older varieties. They have also been adding production capability and lowering prices to keep up with the demand and competition. I just checked with Conner (because of your question), and they say the the CP-3104 (the IDE version from the 310x series) is currently in production and just came off of allocation. That means that there are a lot more available now, so prices might fall a bit. But their guess is that an OEM had a bunch stockpiled and unloaded them, cheaply, in your area, just due to inventory problems. My contact said "great price, better grab em while you can". But it is probably just a very localized situation. If others away from New York have seen this also, please post your findings! You might also try quizing the three national distributers: Anthem, Cal-Abco, and Avnet (was Hamilton/Avnet). One of the three will likely know where they came from. Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Conner. Just a satisfied OEMer. Regards, Al -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Al Weiss alz@tc.fluke.com 206-356-5252 John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. MS-269E PO Box 9090 Everett, WA 98206-9090 USA