Im gonna make the microdrive plunge instead of CF

[scorpion9k]

Hello everyone, after exhaustively reading for about two months now on this forum, i think i finally decided that i am going to get a 6gb microdrive rather than the 4gb CF card. The microdrive is a little bit cheaper and i will get the extra 2gb of storage. This will compliment nicely with my 1gb SD card. I dont think there is enough risk in the microdrive. I am already extremely cautious with my X50v, to the point of over protection because on a students salary i cant afford a mishap. I think that the abuse factor is well within reasonable for the microdrive, just wanted to post it, i know some of you are probably going to rant and rave at me over this, but hey what can i do right. thanks for the great info, as usual, aximsite.

in case you want to see what i was thinking of getting:4gb compact flash card
6gb microdive

[comptonOG]

Where do you plan on getting your MD? IF you find any good deals Please share. Also how do you insure it's a retail not OEM? I would like to buy too but don't want to get suckered into an OEM by false advertising. Thanks.

EDIT: that 40 dollar rebate is interesting too.

[bobby9621]

Keep us updated on your progress. I am also going to take the plunge soon too. I just bought a 2gb sd card, and want to upgrade my CF card to a 4gb CF or a 6gb MD. Let us know how you like it.

[scorpion9k]

Thanks, i knew i had to check if it was OEM or not, this thing does say that it is compatible with camera's PDA's etc., and when i go to the site to actually order it, you know outside pricegrabber, it says that it is "The embedded Microdrive 3K6, configured with a True IDE interface, offers Ultra DMA high speed mode." Thats compatible isnt it, i see plenty of threads with people using the 3K6

[Mr. Smith 82]

This place has the best microdrive prices I have seen so far flash memory store

My Sony 4gb microdrive just shipped from them

[bobby9621]

Please let us know how you like it.

[Mr. Smith 82]

^ I hope it will arrive this week, when it does I'll put up a thread.

[0gopogo]

scorpion9k, I think your risk assessment is spot on, especially because the MicroDrive spins down and parks its heads asap when not accessed. A hit that kills a spun-down MD probably damages the Axim in a very bad way, too.

The price you found at newegg is a very good one, too. $210 is great for a 3k6. At this price nothing beats the MD for value.

As far as the SanDisk 4GB CF card which you referenced goes, better cards can be found cheaper, e.g. the 4GB Kingston for $212, also at newegg.

I bought a 3k6 in May and am glad that I did, although I admit that I use it only for audio or video. Access to the MD should be infrequent to allow the MD to spin down and conserve power. If the MD is accessed often then the battery drain is significant.

If your budget allows you to spend another $19 + $6 shipping on a Dell 1100 mAh battery (here) I'd recommend you do so. Second or third batteries will always be useful whether you decide for MD or CF.

[0gopogo]

Where do you plan on getting your MD? IF you find any good deals Please share. Also how do you insure it's a retail not OEM? I would like to buy too but don't want to get suckered into an OEM by false advertising. Thanks.

EDIT: that 40 dollar rebate is interesting too.

His link says newegg.com. They are reputable. As for eBay and the likes - I simply stay away from them...

[Frenchy]

In Canada I shop at Tigerdirect and get good deals. You could check there too.

Ogopogo

[0gopogo]

Cheers! Early last year I bought from TigerDirect in the US. I think, at the time, they were the cheapest seller of the SanDisk 512MB SD UltraII card: US$150... Today that money buys a 150x 2GB SD card with enough change left for one or two x50 batteries. I love progress and technology!

Their shipping and handling was a steep US$16! They must have shipped from Canada

[clubfed11]

Cheers! Early last year I bought from TigerDirect in the US. I think, at the time, they were the cheapest seller of the SanDisk 512MB SD UltraII card: US$150... Today that money buys a 150x 2GB SD card with enough change left for one or two x50 batteries. I love progress and technology!

Their shipping and handling was a steep US$16! They must have shipped from Canada

I would like to know where i can get a 150x 2GB SD and "one or two extra batteries". I seem to only b able to find a 150x 2GB SD for around 140...give or take a few dollars.

[0gopogo]

2GB 150x SD starting at US$125 at newegg.com right now. Dell OEM batteries US$19 at aximcases.com (search for "1100" - no quotes).

Those prices have been stable for weeks. I seriously doubt the battery gets any cheaper than $19 or that AximCases.com will reduce the $6 shipping fee. But there were sales and coupons for 2GB CF cards - we should see similars for the 2GB SD cards in the Thanksgiving time frame.

[EngrPaul]

A hit that kills a spun-down MD probably damages the Axim in a very bad way, too.

I've dropped my iPAQ (in a case) and the flash memory card came flying out, hitting the curb a few feet away from the iPAQ. Both continue to operate just fine, not even lost data.

Hard to imagine a relatively heavy MD doing the same thing and living into another day...