Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!afton From: afton@pawl.rpi.edu (Alan S. Blue) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: Syquest Removables: Good or Bad? Message-ID: <#P8%0+#@rpi.edu> Date: 30 Oct 90 18:54:31 GMT References: <98@genco.uucp> <26932@cs.yale.edu> Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY Lines: 58 Patrick.Hayes@cediag.bull.fr (Patrick Hayes) writes: >In article <26932@cs.yale.edu> blenko-tom@cs.yale.edu (Tom Blenko) writes: >>I noted an interesting remark by the president of Syquest, quoted in >>MacWeek, that half the drives they have had returned had nothing wrong >>with them. I suspect that what is going on here is that their >>diagnostics are simply not picking up the problems. A possible reason >>why there hasn't been a bigger outcry is that people have learned to >>live with this -- the disk isn't useless, it's just a nuisance. >Ahem, about half the problems I've ever seen concerning hard disk drives on >the Mac have been traced to termination/cable problems, and I've supported >quite a few macs... >My anecdotal experience has shown me that the Syquests are just as solid as >any other hard drive (other than the fact that the removable media is a lot >easier to drop on the floor -- and even then they've been surprisingly >robust). Just my 2 cents worth here, but I was looking around about a month ago, and found some interesting facts. I called perhaps ten dealers of Syquest drives (manufacturers, not just resellers) and here was the conclusion: Syquest drives were recommended by every dealer EXCEPT MicroTech, the maker of my first drive, which incidentally, I've had no problems with in a year and a half of intensive use. I thought this strange, except for the thread on bad Syquest rumors. As far as I can tell, every rumor can be traced back to MicroTech. Their rep told me that "over 70% of the drives failed", and if you look in the MacWeek article on same, the 'Syquest-basher' is from MicroTech. Strange, no? Why? because MicroTech was recently sued by SyQuest and can no longer sell Syquest drives. Obviously, they are going to try and sell their *new* drive, which is 3x the price, for a non-standard format. So the bottom line is: Yes, Syquest drives have failed. Show me a media that never has. Yes, they are prone to dust damage. Follow the instructions on care and handling, and you won't (shouldn't) have any problems. However, Syquest drives are still the best media value for the average customer (ie those that can't fork out $4000 for a magneto-optical drive) and very reliable. I *am* buying another one, and soon. To those who have been stuck with lemons, my condolences. You haven't gotten to use a really nice media. Jason Smith (NOT Alan S Blue) reply via e-mail at: jaesyn@apl.washington.edu "I've got a strong urge to fly..." -PF khh>Pat >-- >+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ >| Patrick Hayes | EMail : Patrick.Hayes@cediag.bull.fr | >| BULL CEDIAG | or hayes@bull.fr | >| 68, Route de Versailles | or ...!mcvax!inria!bullfr!hayes | >| F-78430 Louveciennes FRANCE | Tel : (33 1) 39 02 49 55 | >+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------+