What's about Microdrives???

[borjagruiz]

Hi mates,

I'm thinking about expanding my X50's memory storage as I would like to save several films in the PDA to watch them while I'm business travelling.

Currently I've got a 512 Mb SD Card which is really not enough to save more than one film and Tom Tom Maps. Therefore I am trying to find out what is the solution that best fits with my needs.

For that reason I need your opinion about which is the best solution to get more than 1 Gb storage in my X50 and more specifically: what is your experience with Microdrive??? I've read very different opinions not only in this forum but in others chats and forum, and I don't know what to believe from this little drives...

Thanks for your opinions.

[jemhadar]

Hi mates,

I'm thinking about expanding my X50's memory storage as I would like to save several films in the PDA to watch them while I'm business travelling.

Currently I've got a 512 Mb SD Card which is really not enough to save more than one film and Tom Tom Maps. Therefore I am trying to find out what is the solution that best fits with my needs.

For that reason I need your opinion about which is the best solution to get more than 1 Gb storage in my X50 and more specifically: what is your experience with Microdrive??? I've read very different opinions not only in this forum but in others chats and forum, and I don't know what to believe from this little drives...

Thanks for your opinions.

Microdrives are less schockproof (a lot of moving parts) and are supposed to consume far more energy than ordinary CF cards. On the other hand, Microdrives are much cheaper than any card you can get...

[jediassassin]

I use a 6GB Microdrive for all of My Music. It works really well in my opinion. It's been a week and no problems yet.

[jimbo32]

I'm also happy with my 6gb Microdrive. Recent battery consumption figures on my Axim X50V. With 1hr 10min of operation and 10hrs + of standby, my 2200mahr battery was down only 12%. Operation included some WIFI and some brief movie watching (say 10 min)with TCPMP. I keep movies and my GPS software and maps on the microdrive.

Hitachi is coming out with an 8gb model which is supposed to even have lower power consumption.

While true they are theoretically more fragile than solid state memory, they still seem very rugged. Just don't plan on using it if you do mountain climbing, or live, above 10000 feet.

[precsmo]

I use a 6GB Microdrive for all of My Music. It works really well in my opinion. It's been a week and no problems yet.

a week is too short to judge anything. my 256mb transcend cf died off after 3 years of very light uses.

[lawman]

I use a 6GB Microdrive for all of My Music. It works really well in my opinion. It's been a week and no problems yet.

A week....

Avoid microdrives if you can afford to get Flash memory.

[workingman]

jimbo32 and jediassassin, which microdrives you use ?
i saw lots on ebay to sell, but most of them seem to
be taken from ipods. i was looking for one, but j&r
computers have good prices on pny cf and sd cards...

[jimbo32]

jimbo32 and jediassassin, which microdrives you use ?
i saw lots on ebay to sell, but most of them seem to
be taken from ipods. i was looking for one, but j&r
computers have good prices on pny cf and sd cards...

I use Hitachi. Their web site lists X50Vs as being compatible. The model is 3K6 and is available in 3gb (I have one of these too), 4gb and 6gb. Most of the 4gb Hitachis you see for sale are the older 3K4 model, which is a little less power efficient and slightly slower. I don't believe Hitachi vouches for their compatibility with the X50V, but the retail versions seem to work fine, just be sure you aren't getting one out of an MP3 player or an OEM version.

Do a search on this site, there have been several people posting links to good buys on retail microdrives. There is also a Sony brand, but I believe it is a re-branded Hitachi. Most of the Seagates for sale are OEM or from MP3 players. I don't think Seagate has started selling a retail version.

If money is no object, solid state memory is probably more dependable and energy efficient, but I have no regrets with my microdrives so far. Microdrives seem to still give you approximately twice as much memory for the money.

[mjwsatx]

Anybody use the Seagate ST1 5GB CompactFlash Type II Card? Geeks has it for sale for $99. Seems like a good deal. Details below:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...at=FLM&cpc=JAD

Features/Specifications:
Seagate ST1 5 GB CompactFlash Card


General Features:
5 GB capacity
Type II CF+ interface
3600 RPM speed
2 MB buffer
16.0 ms average seek time (Read)
8.3 ms average latency


Regulatory Approvals:
FCC
CE
CSA
UL
C-Tick
MIC

Package Includes:
Seagate ST1 5 GB CompactFlash Card

Additional Information:


Notes:
Model: ST650211CF
P/N: 9AF212-001
Be sure the device used can take up to 5 GB capacity
In order to use this CompactFlash in a camera to the full extent, the camera needs to support FAT32 File System


Product Requirements:
CF Type II slot

[RangerJay]

Don't.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...990#post891990

Anybody use the Seagate ST1 5GB CompactFlash Type II Card? Geeks has it for sale for $99. Seems like a good deal. Details below:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...at=FLM&cpc=JAD

Features/Specifications:
Seagate ST1 5 GB CompactFlash Card


General Features:
5 GB capacity
Type II CF+ interface
3600 RPM speed
2 MB buffer
16.0 ms average seek time (Read)
8.3 ms average latency


Regulatory Approvals:
FCC
CE
CSA
UL
C-Tick
MIC

Package Includes:
Seagate ST1 5 GB CompactFlash Card

Additional Information:


Notes:
Model: ST650211CF
P/N: 9AF212-001
Be sure the device used can take up to 5 GB capacity
In order to use this CompactFlash in a camera to the full extent, the camera needs to support FAT32 File System


Product Requirements:
CF Type II slot

[jimbo32]

The link in that thread was for a Refurbished drive, this one says it's new, if that makes any difference. I personally would stick with the Hitachi retail packaged drives.

[LBrito]

I got my X50v a few days after it was released. At the same time I ordered a Hitachi 4GB Microdrive from Newegg.com. I did pay around $200 for it, but its been so long since I've had it and I have never had a single problem with it. It does not consume as much power as most people think. Unless you are doing things that continuously read and write to the CF card, you should not notice too much of a difference. Music playing can last around 4 hours from the CFMD, with the screen off of course. This is on a standard 1100mAh battery and the processor set at Auto for power save. Overall, it is best to pay the price for a quality drive. Never any problems, and guaranteed to work.

[dbm1102]

i bought the 6GB Hitachi CF Microdrive from J&R for $230 with a $40 rebate. Less than $200 after the rebate. I'm using 4.5 GB for music and the rest for pictures, documents and other miscellaneous files. It works great with my X51v, other than the Dell and other application problems (the CF card gets lost after a while and I have to soft reset - Adobe reader and Microsoft reader can't access the document anymore even though the card shows up in File Manager). Since Dell sent me two regular batteries and I bought an extended battery, I'm not too concerned about power consumption. However, significant use on a trip last week from DC to SF and back just about killed one regular battery each way listening to music and playing Freecell.

[LHR]

MJWSATX - my friend bought that same ST1 5GB card from geeks.com and it works on his x50v. See, my other reply below, for further clarification.




This is my very first post:
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/show...ight=9AF212-001
---------
Today 02:54 PM
LHR I bought the refurbished (90-day warranty) Seagate ST1 5GB w/ FW 3.08 from geeks.com ($104 reg price, but only paid $93.60 w/ promo code) and it does NOT work on my X51v.

A friend of mine picked up the brand new ST1 5GB (1yr warranty) selling for less!!! ($99.99) at the geeks CA store and it DOES work on his x50v!!!

Key differences:
Refurb ST1 5GB details: (Does NOT work on my x51v)
-Geek Part #: ST650211CF-U
-P/N: 9AF212-220
-has FW: 3.08 on the label
-Price: $104.00

NEW ST1 5GB: (Works!!! on my friends' x50v)
-Geek Part #: ST650211CF
-P/N: 9AF212-001
-No FW label
-Price: $99.99

So, based on this I called the geeks and I'm sending back my refurbished unit and buying the new one, which I'm now getting for $89.99!!! and I was even able to use my original promo! Can't wait to see if it'll work on my x51v.

I've checked though several pda & camera forums and it seems like the Seagate cards that tend to work are those with no "FW" labels and P/N #s ending in "001" Can anyone with a working/non-working ST1 confirm this?

Apparently, the FW (firmware) makes them IDE only devices.

BTW, if you order from the geeks, be sure to go to bensbargains.net or techbargains to see if they have a "10% off & free shipping" promo code. They might have some thanksgiving special coming up. Happy turkey day, everyone.

[HackeR_54]

Where can i get a 4 GB Hitachi microdrive retail cheap? I need it to be shipped to Sweden.

I already know of flash-memory-store.com, Ive ordered there and waited 1 month for nothing, they say they dont know when they get it in stock and the availability says "Ready to Ship!" on website