Question on IBM 4GB Microdrive?

[renhui]

Hi guys, anyone here ever used IBM 4GB microdrive for the dell axim?
http://www5.pc.ibm.com/us/uscat.nsf/$wwwpartnumlookup/_09N4280?opendocument&sourcesite=webcollage
It claims to be compatible with pocket pc, but seeing so many people had problem with the seagate 5GB one which also claims to be compatible, I doubt if it really works on my x51v.
The only info I can find online is this drive was made by HITACHI if it matters.

Also, if a microdrive works in a camera, does it mean it will also work in a ppc?? I know there were a few posts about some seagate microdrives working in DC but no axim. I am looking for some general answer here.

BTW,what do you think is a fair price for the above IBM 4GB microdrive? How is HITACHI MD compared to seagate one in terms of performance, power consumption and durability? I do notice that the HITACHI one has 128kb cache while seagate has 2mb.

Thank you very much. Really looking to get a microdrive before xmas, that's why i have so many, maybe dummy questions.

[muhahaha]

I've had no problems with 4gb hitachi microdrive works fine with my X50v, don't know about about 5gb ones though.

[Sebass]

BTW,what do you think is a fair price for the above IBM 4GB microdrive?

$110 shipped on eBay at the most...

[dhayden]

I started all this a long time ago by buying both the 4gb hitachi and the 5 gb seagate on ebay. I am sitting here with $500 lost to microdrives. TRUST ME ON THIS $$$$$. Unless you know 100% sure that the microdrive will work on X50v or whatever you drive, don't buy it! Save alot of money and headaches by sticking to CF or SD.
I have noticed alot of people complaining about the SD cards. I am wondering if it has something to do with the thin plastic coating all the electronics is in. I have had a scandisk 256 just loose all my data one day. I now use the 2 gb SD and just leave it in. I use my 4 gb and 2 gb CF cards to exchange data back and forth with my reader/writer because the plastic is more rigid and durable than SD cards.
Thanks and good luck on your choices. I am sticking to CF for now. Saving my money for the 8gb CF.

[airwolf]

I started all this a long time ago by buying both the 4gb hitachi and the 5 gb seagate on ebay. I am sitting here with $500 lost to microdrives. TRUST ME ON THIS $$$$$. Unless you know 100% sure that the microdrive will work on X50v or whatever you drive, don't buy it! Save alot of money and headaches by sticking to CF or SD.
I have noticed alot of people complaining about the SD cards. I am wondering if it has something to do with the thin plastic coating all the electronics is in. I have had a scandisk 256 just loose all my data one day. I now use the 2 gb SD and just leave it in. I use my 4 gb and 2 gb CF cards to exchange data back and forth with my reader/writer because the plastic is more rigid and durable than SD cards.
Thanks and good luck on your choices. I am sticking to CF for now. Saving my money for the 8gb CF.

His question was about the IBM drive....you were not even close....<nt>

[renhui]

Thanks for all the info guys, ended up buying a 5GB Seagate Microdrive.

[uberfry]

dhayden:
Are you sure you formatted the two microdrives with FAT32?

[rajjan_m]

dhayden:
Are you sure you formatted the two microdrives with FAT32?

Dear Friends,
This is first post on axim site. I have got a great news for all u guys. Today I bought 4GB Hitachi Microdrive from Best Buy @ 150$ (-50$ rebate so finally 100$) and it worked on my Dell Axim x51v. Ans it gives you space of about 3.81 GB. I am just impressed and very very happy. When I inserted the MD, it didn't show up. Basically you have to do soft reset ur axim after inserting the microdrive and it got recognized. Right now, I am copying my SD 512MB card songs to this 4GB MD for testing purpose. Speed and battery consumption can be concerns but that is OK as I am getting 4GB just in 100$. What else... I will update u guys... have nice time. (I have got 1 bad drive from geeks.com before 5GB, taken out from some mp3 player, that didn't work but that time i had not tried to do soft reset.... )

[rajjan_m]

Guys,
Copying from SD to MD can't be any criteria to judge the speed but right now I can do only this as I am not at home.
I copied from SD to this new MD and it is taking 2Sec/MB ie I copied 440MB from SD card to MD in 15 minutes and it reduced battery level from 70% to 58% in 15 minutes. I am playing songs now from MD and no probs. My today battery plugin is also showing correct statistics. If u take the axim near to ur ears then u can listen the spinning sound of drive but i don't know whether it's normal or it can be an issue. Browsing through folders is like breeze, no difference observed. Plz give ur inputs. Thanks a lot and I wud recommend to but this. Even, I am going to buy tomorror 1 more of this if it continues to work properly thru today's night. and Best Buy will return full money if there is some prob. (Tonight I will try to fill up whole 4GB with mp3 and video)

[ProphetZG]

raijan,

Please do some tests on battery consumption.

Mainly, I wonder how much time you will getr for music playback with the backlight off. And also, how much time you get for video playback with backlight at 50%.

I would greatly appreciate if you could post some findings. Thanks.

[bluesphee]

Thanks for the update on the $100 best buy hitachi 4gb microdrive! I was looking into buying it for my new x51v and you gave me the info I need!

[bluesphee]

The only negative aspect of buying this drive is that I can't use it in my digital camera since it uses SD. This is a bit off topic from the other post, but does anyone have any opinions on whether or not mixing a SD card in an axim with a digital camera is ok? Would swapping it in and out between the two devices fairly regularly be asking for too much?

[ctstan]

I swap a cf card in and out of my wifes Canon camera all the time. I also have a XD > CF adapter that I use to get picutres into my Axim from my Fuji camera (XD)

I have never had a problem --- the key is let the camera make the folders the way it needs to and dont start renaming them from the Axim if you are planning to put the card back in the camera w/o reformatting

The only negative aspect of buying this drive is that I can't use it in my digital camera since it uses SD. This is a bit off topic from the other post, but does anyone have any opinions on whether or not mixing a SD card in an axim with a digital camera is ok? Would swapping it in and out between the two devices fairly regularly be asking for too much?

[ctstan]

I assume the one with the correct firmware --
hows it working? what was the price?

Thanks for all the info guys, ended up buying a 5GB Seagate Microdrive.

[renhui]

Yes, the one without 3.04FW or 3.08FW label.
More info:
P/N: 9AF212-001
Model: ST650211CF
Date: 05115
I got it used from a nice axim fellow for about 100US shipped. works perfectly in my x51v.

I assume the one with the correct firmware --
hows it working? what was the price?