Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!cambridge.apple.com!spt!mdc From: mdc@spt.entity.com (Marty Connor) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: Opinions on La Cie hard disks?? Message-ID: <315@spt.entity.com> Date: 3 Mar 90 01:10:06 GMT References: <90053.120147AKB101@psuvm.psu.edu> <11220001@hpccc.HP.COM> Reply-To: mdc@spt.UUCP (Marty Connor) Organization: Hacks 'R' Us, Cambridge, MA Lines: 82 In article <11220001@hpccc.HP.COM> bparrish@hpccc.HP.COM (William Parrish) writes: >> [stuff deleted] >>> I have only one complaint: just after I bought my disk from >>> them, they shifted to another brand of disk... and the >>> warrentee went from 2 years to 5 years. >>Actually they didn't. It was originally the Quantum and afterwards it was the >>Quantum. ... >>Jeff Wiseman: ....uunet!tellab5!wiseman OR wiseman@TELLABS.COM >Are you SURE they haven't swapped vendors? My last copy of MACWORLD >has a LaCie add that is confusing to say the least... >Bill Parrish / HP Roseville CA (bparrish@hprnd.hp.com) I just had a LaCie 40 meg drive fail, and LaCie, if you're listening, you need to talk to your customer support people about who pays their salaries. The talk I had with the tech was not cordial. I was told that I had to find the invoice for the particular drive even though I registered it. I assume these people have heard of computers and databases. I think it's shameful for me to have do look up an invoice when I have registered, and have supplied the drive serial number and LaCie's own unit number. FileMaker II could handle a database of serial numbers vs. invoices. Geez. To the issue at hand. The drive I am returning has a MaxStor mechanism (figure that one out). I am told that what happened at LaCie last year was that they stopped using Seagates for their low-low-end drives because the failure rate was too high. Let's face it. Seagates (for years) have had the worst MTBF of any drive around. Seagates fail faster than most anything, and take less abuse. Currently in the mid-density range, LaCie seems to be using a two-pronged strategy. They are selling Quantums and Connors. The Quantums cost more. They are historically a more reliable drive. I have heard Apple's problems may stem from custom ROMS that Apple insisted on. I believe Quantums are the fastest, quietest, more reliable drives currently available to the average consumer. The Connors cost less. I have been told by people who sell them that they fail A LOT more often (and sooner) than Quantums. I tell all my customers that if they have the money, but Quantum. I believe that the Connors may be better than Seagate in terms of reliability, but not much. If you are offered a choice of mechanisms for 40 to 100 megabytes, I would recommend preferring: 1. Quantum 2. Connor 3. Seagate This is what I recommend for my clients, and I believe that the prices of the drives are in that same order, coincidentally. Disclaimer: I am a Macintosh Consultant. I do not sell hardware or software. I get no money for recommending one drive over another. I believe that Public Corporations including Apple Computer are a dangerous perverse creation of capitalism, and must be watched very closely because it is illegal for the people who are officers of the corporation to do anything that will cause the company to lose money, even if it is telling the truth. I believe software is priced too high. I believe that large software companies are gouging customers, and that people should copy programs and help each other learn how to use them to protect themselves from the outrageous high prices. I believe we are IN a recession. I believe that the Supreme Court is now a primarily fascist entity. Just some opinions to test the First Ammendment to the Constitution. Peace and Blessings unto you. Marty -- Marty Connor, Marty's Computer Workshop, "Specializing in Macintosh Training" 126 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139; (617) 491-6935 mdc@entity.com, or ...{harvard|uunet}!mit-eddie!spt!mdc