Re: [H] Dual Core AMD performance
You will see a difference under two scenarios: 1) you are using a program that recognizes and can take advantage of 2 CPUs or 2) you do more than 1 CPU intensive task at once. I don't know if Nero/AutoGK are multi-CPU aware or not. -- Brian On 5/13/07, James Maki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Am I going to see a real world difference in upgrading from a 3700+ AMD64 single core (2.2 GHz) to a 4200+ AMD64 X2 (2.2 GHz) or 2.2 GHz dual core Opteron? Enough to justify the $125-$235 expense? Main cpu intensive use is video editing with Nero 6.6 and xvid coding using AutoGK. Appreciate the input. Jim Maki [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re[2]: [H] Running batch file at safe mode startup
Hello Thane, Friday, May 11, 2007, 2:49:30 PM, you wrote: > At 04:39 PM 11/05/2007, Joe User wrote: >>Hello Thane, >> >>Friday, May 11, 2007, 11:22:34 AM, you wrote: >> >> > Does anyone know if I can run a batch file at startup when starting >> > in Safe Mode? I know some things start, so I'm thinking there's some >> > run command in the registry I can use. >> >>I think just core windows starts - the purpose of safe mode. > I read about a spot in the registry that starts, but now I can't find > the page. > T What happened with this bro? -- Regards, joeuser - Still looking for the 'any' key...
[H] Dual Core AMD performance
Am I going to see a real world difference in upgrading from a 3700+ AMD64 single core (2.2 GHz) to a 4200+ AMD64 X2 (2.2 GHz) or 2.2 GHz dual core Opteron? Enough to justify the $125-$235 expense? Main cpu intensive use is video editing with Nero 6.6 and xvid coding using AutoGK. Appreciate the input. Jim Maki [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [H] Multi-handset phones 5.8 GHz
We have the Panasonic KX-TG5672B 5.8 GHz FHSS GigaRange Digital Cordless Answering System with Dual Handsets http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F8L506/sr=1-2/qid=1179106326/ref=dp_cp_ ob_title_3/103-0168144-8480605?ie=UTF8&qid=1179106326&sr=1-2 and have not had any problems either. I'd say that these are the best phones that I've had before. I paid about $130 for these at CC about 6 months or so ago. I would recommend them. Bobby -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Dodge Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 9:37 AM To: 'The Hardware List' Subject: RE: [H] Multi-handset phones 5.8 GHz Panasonic KX-TG5453 Base with two extra charging bases spread out around the house. The phones are KX-TGA542M. These are 5.8 "Digital Gigarange" and they work great. I have had zero complaints about sound quality or volume. I have not tried to max the range out here in Houston but in Phoenix I took it three houses down the street and still received a call and could talk with the caller as I walked back toward my house, this was probably about four hundred feet away. The intercom feature works at that distance also. Another thing I like is that when I am talking to family out of town and both my wife and I each have a separate receiver you do not get that loud in your ear blast like a normal phone from each other, also the speaker phone in every unit works great and doesn't have real bad speaker in a box sound and its duplex so you can hear what they are saying while you are talking at the same time. I got them for $179.00 at CostCo about three or so years ago. I love them. Mark -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Anthony Q. Martin Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 1:07 PM To: The Hardware List Subject: [H] Multi-handset phones 5.8 GHz I need to identify a multi-handset phone system that has good volume levels on the other end. I currently have an oldish Panasonic 5.8 GHz Digital FH system but I get a lot of complaints from friends about not being able to hear me. I feel this sometimes has an negative impact with ladyfriends. I've thought that perhaps the problem was really with one or two of the handsets, but I haven't rigorously tested it yet. Which multi-handset units are you guys using (assuming you're using any one of them)? No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.8/800 - Release Date: 5/11/2007 7:34 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.0/801 - Release Date: 5/12/2007 6:40 PM
Re: [H] OT: Microsoft takes on the free world
I think that's because that's the print issue it iwll appear in. -Original message- From: "Steve" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 17:26:39 -0700 To: "The Hardware List" hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: [H] OT: Microsoft takes on the free world > http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm > > Aside from the story, look at the url. Either I'm still hung over and > senseless or is that back to the future i.e "2007/05/28"
[H] OT: Microsoft takes on the free world
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm Aside from the story, look at the url. Either I'm still hung over and senseless or is that back to the future i.e "2007/05/28"
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
In general, people who are saving up $3-$10 on a $50 HDD are putting drives in a bad condition (MBs, PSUs, etc.) and generally cheap out across the board. A JB HDD combined with a "Deer 355W" PSU is probably more likely to fail then say, a BB combined with an Antec PSU and a good MB/cooling solution. Just my general observation. -Original message- From: Thane Sherrington [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 15:25:40 -0700 To: The Hardware List hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died > At 03:41 PM 13/05/2007, Greg Sevart wrote: > >for a given model, there is no difference in reliability or quality between > >a drive sold with a 1 year warranty vs. one sold with a 3 or 5 year > >warranty. A good example is WD: internal retail packaged drives, regardless > >of model*, carry a one-year warranty, where the OEM models carry a > >three-year warranty. > > That should be true. Assuming that the JB retail really is the same > model as the JB OEM. One would assume so, but there is no way of being sure. > > >And just for clarification...as of July 2005, WD's OEM BB drives carry a 3 > >year warranty, same as JB, JD, KS, AAxx, etc. > > Well, don't buy one, regardless . :) > > >Thane, you also mentioned that most of the failures you see are in > >big-vendor boxes...is it possible that those machines outfitted with WD's JB > >series drives are also mounted better, or ventilated better, or are fitted > >with a better PSU? I don't know one way or another, just suggesting the > >possibility that there could be additional variables at play here. > > We carried (for about three months) the BB line for people who wanted > a cheaper drive. We had about a 50% failure rate on these (out of > about 40 drives.) Perhaps it was lack of surge protection, poor > cooling (although Google's reports discounts overheating as a failure > factor) or mounting, but I'd still be concerned. > > T >
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
Many of us have over the years Chuck, if a customer understood that they wouldn't need you to build it for them. PRICE & PERCEIVED "size & speed" of different vendors complete systems (and software for some dumb reason) drive customer choices and decisions over who to buy from not what brand/quality level parts they are. Line item quotes make their eyes glaze over 99% of the time because they don't know one part from another, much less what brand of part from another. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > - Original Message - From: "Thane Sherrington" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "The Hardware List" > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 12:47 PM > Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died > > >> >> While your argument seems sound, it doesn't appear to agree with real >> world testing. I have seen EB and BB drives fail by a factor of at >> least a factor of 5 over JB drives. The EB/BB line are WD's one year >> warranty drives (with 2MB cache) while the JBs are the 3 year warranty >> drives (with 8MB cache.) So there is clearly a difference in quality, >> as my experience is based over several years with hundreds of drives. >> > > I am not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but anyone who believes > that WD EB's and BB's last as long as JB's are probably telling people > that Dell uses quality parts, also. Once you nail down Dell in your mind > to what they really are, the rest fall into their respective places, > inferior to Dell. To qualify my statement about Dell, true, you can get > premium parts if you order a unit that costs 1.5 or more times what a > custom build with the same parts cost. Line for line Dell could not come > close. But who besides me will even give a line item quote, custom > builders included? And to boot I let customers bring their own parts and > omit some of those lines if they want. > > Chuck > > Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids. http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=summer+activities+for+kids&cs=bz
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
That thermal hood method is a recommended solution last time I checked and the fan in my GX260 moves more air than standard cpu fan + case fan setup IMO. 5400 RPM drives run cooler (and slower), hence why they are used in set top cable TV DVR boxes by SA & the like. Granted this does nothing for the rest of the case but mines been running 24/7 since 2004 and the only loss was the crappy maxtor (now Seagate low-end line) in the 1st 6 months I had it running. This in a non-AC'd 3rd floor New Jersey apt. which my other machine's, a multi-fan cooled AMD rig, ATI Radeon 9800 video card* did not survive. * (that I still have not gotten satisfaction of getting even the dead board back a year after returning it to Chris Reeves for replacement, when are you getting back to me CR???) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > - Original Message - From: "Greg Sevart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "'The Hardware List'" > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 2:41 PM > Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died > > >> >> Thane, you also mentioned that most of the failures you see are in >> big-vendor boxes...is it possible that those machines outfitted with >> WD's JB >> series drives are also mounted better, or ventilated better, or are >> fitted >> with a better PSU? I don't know one way or another, just suggesting the >> possibility that there could be additional variables at play here. >> > > Naturally most all components function better in a large, well > ventilated case with an adequate power supply. Who but Dell is famous > for omitting the CPU fan in many models. They rely on shrouding the > airflow through a rear exhaust vent fan. That, along with the power > supply fan makes a whopping total of 2 fans in those Dells. Mine have 2 > power supply fans, 2 case fans and the CPU manufacturer's CPU fan, > making a total of 5 fans. > > True, name brand manufacturers used the cheaper 5400 RPM hard drives for > years. I do not care what component we are talking about, if you find a > way to build it cheaper and most of them last a year, Dell will be > knocking on your door to buy it. Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small Business gives you all the tools to get online. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
ASI? Reputation, hahahahaha. Somehting change in the past 10 years with them? They're nothing special from memory, no better or worse than ZZF or NE. When a drive dies it's not the resellers fault and they simply pass the buck onto the OEM vendor. Resllers sell what sells & makes profit, not what is the best! We're all missing the point that most drives can handle many G's of force when powered off. Failures are more likely due to hotter installations than brand, packaging style or shipping. As to 1yr vs 3 or 5, sure you can expect they put "higher end" components into longer warranty drives but then re-read the previous sentence! What's a great brand today, is crap tomorrow, is great again next week Not to mention perception of failure rates tend to be as over inflated as MTBF estimates since all most people do is complain things failing not banter about how long they last. I thought the Google study implied that off-the-shelf drives of all brands tend to have failures about the same rate? Keep it cool, don't trash the hell out of it, don't power/thermal cycle it too often, run it on a quality PSU attached to a UPS and hope for the best is all you can do. What happened to our resident data recovery guy Tim? We could use some insights from him right now! [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > - Original Message - From: "Wint`erlight" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "The Hardware List" > Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 11:42 PM > Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died > >> >> I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the vendor. >> Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, but now >> you are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought > > What does it take to convince people that there are many reasons to > avoid name brand computers? In just the hard drive arena, name brand > computer manufacturers buy 1 year hard drives. That is all the warranty > most offer and they are not going to pay for 5 year hard drives. You can > bet the quality of a Seagate or WD 1 year drive is nowhere near the > quality of a 5 year drive. > > This thread is about other than name brand computers I assume. It is > about who you purchase your hard drives from. My supplier, ASI > http://www.asipartner.com/ packages their merchandise very well. Not > only in packaging does the choice of supplier count, but also in who you > Still, I have not gotten to your situation. Don't you think Seagate and > WD ship their best 5 year drives to large wholesalers like ASI who have > to continually defend their own reputation to OEM's they sell > merchandise to? My bets are any 2nds do not go to ASI. So where do the Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545367
Re: [H] iPod and the like suggestions/help
Bah, for MP3's only I'd look into Sansa. For video use the Creative Zen Vision W is worth it for screen alone even if it is mired in Microsoft's MTP. There is also Archos, Wolverine if you need heavy storage & bigger screen than "iPod + video". Joe User wrote: > Think I am going to go with the 80GB Black refurbed iPod. > > Now I have to decide if the Apple Care +1yr warranty for 60 is > worthwhile. > Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121
Re[2]: [H] Seagate drive died
Hello Thane, Sunday, May 13, 2007, 11:47:38 AM, you wrote: > While your argument seems sound, it doesn't appear to agree with real > world testing. I have seen EB and BB drives fail by a factor of at > least a factor of 5 over JB drives. The EB/BB line are WD's one year > warranty drives (with 2MB cache) while the JBs are the 3 year > warranty drives (with 8MB cache.) So there is clearly a difference > in quality, as my experience is based over several years with > hundreds of drives. I don't buy anything but JB drives. IMO< if the manufacturer can't stand behind a drive for at least 3 years - it's not worth buying. -- Regards, joeuser - Still looking for the 'any' key...
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
At 03:41 PM 13/05/2007, Greg Sevart wrote: for a given model, there is no difference in reliability or quality between a drive sold with a 1 year warranty vs. one sold with a 3 or 5 year warranty. A good example is WD: internal retail packaged drives, regardless of model*, carry a one-year warranty, where the OEM models carry a three-year warranty. That should be true. Assuming that the JB retail really is the same model as the JB OEM. One would assume so, but there is no way of being sure. And just for clarification...as of July 2005, WD's OEM BB drives carry a 3 year warranty, same as JB, JD, KS, AAxx, etc. Well, don't buy one, regardless . :) Thane, you also mentioned that most of the failures you see are in big-vendor boxes...is it possible that those machines outfitted with WD's JB series drives are also mounted better, or ventilated better, or are fitted with a better PSU? I don't know one way or another, just suggesting the possibility that there could be additional variables at play here. We carried (for about three months) the BB line for people who wanted a cheaper drive. We had about a 50% failure rate on these (out of about 40 drives.) Perhaps it was lack of surge protection, poor cooling (although Google's reports discounts overheating as a failure factor) or mounting, but I'd still be concerned. T
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
- Original Message - From: "Greg Sevart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'The Hardware List'" Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 4:20 PM Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died Speaking only regarding the CPU, the thermal solutions I see on many Dell machines (esp. Dimension 9100, Precision 380's, 390's, 670's, etc) are far superior to the retail box cooler AMD or Intel ship with their processors--all while being less noisy. These models, at least, use a temperature-controlled large diameter fan, and draw in cool outside air to blow through a large heatpipe-enhanced heatsink. Nice to hear that Dell treats the corporate world lots better. I am going to take a real job and one of my fears has been to use computers that are too slow or are out of service half the time. Chuck
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
ZZF is short for ZipZoomFly, website here: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/ :) Greg > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:hardware- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sam Franc > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 3:35 PM > To: The Hardware List > Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died > > How do you log on to ZZF? > I seem to get a MEGAGO WEB directory. > Sam > > Hayes Elkins wrote: > > Almost all drives I purchase are from ZZF. The failure rate of the > > raptors specifically is documented through purchases from them. > > > >
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
How do you log on to ZZF? I seem to get a MEGAGO WEB directory. Sam Hayes Elkins wrote: Almost all drives I purchase are from ZZF. The failure rate of the raptors specifically is documented through purchases from them.
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
> Naturally most all components function better in a large, well > ventilated > case with an adequate power supply. Who but Dell is famous for omitting > the > CPU fan in many models. They rely on shrouding the airflow through a > rear > exhaust vent fan. That, along with the power supply fan makes a > whopping > total of 2 fans in those Dells. Mine have 2 power supply fans, 2 case > fans > and the CPU manufacturer's CPU fan, making a total of 5 fans. > Speaking only regarding the CPU, the thermal solutions I see on many Dell machines (esp. Dimension 9100, Precision 380's, 390's, 670's, etc) are far superior to the retail box cooler AMD or Intel ship with their processors--all while being less noisy. These models, at least, use a temperature-controlled large diameter fan, and draw in cool outside air to blow through a large heatpipe-enhanced heatsink. Obviously, the bottom feeder models aren't as robust. Regardless of the machine though, Dell is terrible about cooling other components. Greg
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
- Original Message - From: "Greg Sevart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'The Hardware List'" Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 2:41 PM Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died Thane, you also mentioned that most of the failures you see are in big-vendor boxes...is it possible that those machines outfitted with WD's JB series drives are also mounted better, or ventilated better, or are fitted with a better PSU? I don't know one way or another, just suggesting the possibility that there could be additional variables at play here. Naturally most all components function better in a large, well ventilated case with an adequate power supply. Who but Dell is famous for omitting the CPU fan in many models. They rely on shrouding the airflow through a rear exhaust vent fan. That, along with the power supply fan makes a whopping total of 2 fans in those Dells. Mine have 2 power supply fans, 2 case fans and the CPU manufacturer's CPU fan, making a total of 5 fans. True, name brand manufacturers used the cheaper 5400 RPM hard drives for years. I do not care what component we are talking about, if you find a way to build it cheaper and most of them last a year, Dell will be knocking on your door to buy it. Chuck
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
Almost all drives I purchase are from ZZF. The failure rate of the raptors specifically is documented through purchases from them. From: "Greg Sevart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Hardware List To: "'The Hardware List'" Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 23:44:34 -0500 Ding ding, we have a winner! That's why I buy my drives in retail packaging now. If I do buy an OEM drive, it is from ZZF, where they actually do a good job of protecting a drive with their custom foam box approach. I'll never, ever buy an OEM drive from Newegg after receiving several with their cheap-ass big bubble wrap in one layer, with all bubbles popped. Frankly, I'm not too impressed with Newegg at all anymore...cheesy, cheap packing materials coupled with insane price gouging on new technology items...it's only their quick order turnaround and relatively good general-purpose selection that I use them at all anymore. Greg > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:hardware- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Winterlight > Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:43 PM > To: The Hardware List > Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died > > > > > >The only consistency in the hardware industry is inconsistency. > > I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the > vendor. Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, > but now you are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought > drives that were thrown in a box loose with bubble wrap and were > rolling around inside the box when delivered. NewEgg isn't much better. > > _ More photos, more messages, more storageget 2GB with Windows Live Hotmail. http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_2G_0507
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
Makes no difference, vendor is not much of a factor. From: Winterlight <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: The Hardware List To: The Hardware List Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 20:42:41 -0700 The only consistency in the hardware industry is inconsistency. I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the vendor. Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, but now you are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought drives that were thrown in a box loose with bubble wrap and were rolling around inside the box when delivered. NewEgg isn't much better. _ PC Magazines 2007 editors choice for best Web mailaward-winning Windows Live Hotmail. http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_pcmag_0507
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
A fair point, but one that needs qualified a little bit: The EB/BB models have obvious part-level differences as compared to a JB. There may very well be (and likely are) differences in quality between different product models. The first point of my argument (and I should have clarified this) is that for a given model, there is no difference in reliability or quality between a drive sold with a 1 year warranty vs. one sold with a 3 or 5 year warranty. A good example is WD: internal retail packaged drives, regardless of model*, carry a one-year warranty, where the OEM models carry a three-year warranty. And just for clarification...as of July 2005, WD's OEM BB drives carry a 3 year warranty, same as JB, JD, KS, AAxx, etc. Thane, you also mentioned that most of the failures you see are in big-vendor boxes...is it possible that those machines outfitted with WD's JB series drives are also mounted better, or ventilated better, or are fitted with a better PSU? I don't know one way or another, just suggesting the possibility that there could be additional variables at play here. * Caviar product line only. Enterprise-marketed drives, such as the Raptor and RE-series, carry a universal 5 year warranty. Greg > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:hardware- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thane Sherrington > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 11:48 AM > To: The Hardware List > Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died > > At 12:30 PM 13/05/2007, Greg Sevart wrote: > > >In short: A drive with a 1-year warranty is no more or less reliable > than a > >drive with a 5-year warranty. > > While your argument seems sound, it doesn't appear to agree with real > world testing. I have seen EB and BB drives fail by a factor of at > least a factor of 5 over JB drives. The EB/BB line are WD's one year > warranty drives (with 2MB cache) while the JBs are the 3 year > warranty drives (with 8MB cache.) So there is clearly a difference > in quality, as my experience is based over several years with > hundreds of drives. > > T
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
- Original Message - From: "Thane Sherrington" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Hardware List" Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 12:47 PM Subject: RE: [H] Seagate drive died While your argument seems sound, it doesn't appear to agree with real world testing. I have seen EB and BB drives fail by a factor of at least a factor of 5 over JB drives. The EB/BB line are WD's one year warranty drives (with 2MB cache) while the JBs are the 3 year warranty drives (with 8MB cache.) So there is clearly a difference in quality, as my experience is based over several years with hundreds of drives. I am not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but anyone who believes that WD EB's and BB's last as long as JB's are probably telling people that Dell uses quality parts, also. Once you nail down Dell in your mind to what they really are, the rest fall into their respective places, inferior to Dell. To qualify my statement about Dell, true, you can get premium parts if you order a unit that costs 1.5 or more times what a custom build with the same parts cost. Line for line Dell could not come close. But who besides me will even give a line item quote, custom builders included? And to boot I let customers bring their own parts and omit some of those lines if they want. Chuck
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
At 12:30 PM 13/05/2007, Greg Sevart wrote: In short: A drive with a 1-year warranty is no more or less reliable than a drive with a 5-year warranty. While your argument seems sound, it doesn't appear to agree with real world testing. I have seen EB and BB drives fail by a factor of at least a factor of 5 over JB drives. The EB/BB line are WD's one year warranty drives (with 2MB cache) while the JBs are the 3 year warranty drives (with 8MB cache.) So there is clearly a difference in quality, as my experience is based over several years with hundreds of drives. T
RE: [H] Seagate drive died
Chuck, Your argument is centered around the proposition that there is such a concept as a "1 year drive" and a "3/5 year drive". I'm sorry, but that is just patently incorrect. First, the logistics of having two production lines with different procurement processes just isn't economical. Then, they'd need some way to distinguish the drive lines--and no such mechanism has ever been identified. While one could argue that they may use a single production line and just bin the output (similar to how CPUs are binned after production based on individual part performance characteristics), I do not believe that this could be the case either. While it is relatively easy to find the performance limitations of a processor to bin appropriately, I do not believe that there is a comparable quick test for a hard drive. Hard drive manufacturers spend very little time actually testing the parts after manufacturing, negating the possibility of a "2nds" drive category. In short: A drive with a 1-year warranty is no more or less reliable than a drive with a 5-year warranty. Greg > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:hardware- > [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 7:39 AM > To: The Hardware List > Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died > > > - Original Message - > From: "Winterlight" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "The Hardware List" > Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 11:42 PM > Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died > > > > > I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the > vendor. > > Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, but now > you > > are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought > > What does it take to convince people that there are many reasons to > avoid > name brand computers? In just the hard drive arena, name brand computer > manufacturers buy 1 year hard drives. That is all the warranty most > offer > and they are not going to pay for 5 year hard drives. You can bet the > quality of a Seagate or WD 1 year drive is nowhere near the quality of > a 5 > year drive. > *SNIP*
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
At 12:42 AM 13/05/2007, Winterlight wrote: The only consistency in the hardware industry is inconsistency. I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the vendor. Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, but now you are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought drives that were thrown in a box loose with bubble wrap and were rolling around inside the box when delivered. NewEgg isn't much better. The failures I'm seeing are in drives installed by the vendor in most cases.Dell is absolutely atrocious (of course, the mounting of their drives encourages movement in a lot of desktops, which Tim mentioned before was a bad idea. I'm still seeing a lot of failures in Maxtors, Seagates, and low-end WDs (BB and EB series.) T
RE: [H] Multi-handset phones 5.8 GHz
Panasonic KX-TG5453 Base with two extra charging bases spread out around the house. The phones are KX-TGA542M. These are 5.8 "Digital Gigarange" and they work great. I have had zero complaints about sound quality or volume. I have not tried to max the range out here in Houston but in Phoenix I took it three houses down the street and still received a call and could talk with the caller as I walked back toward my house, this was probably about four hundred feet away. The intercom feature works at that distance also. Another thing I like is that when I am talking to family out of town and both my wife and I each have a separate receiver you do not get that loud in your ear blast like a normal phone from each other, also the speaker phone in every unit works great and doesn't have real bad speaker in a box sound and its duplex so you can hear what they are saying while you are talking at the same time. I got them for $179.00 at CostCo about three or so years ago. I love them. Mark -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Anthony Q. Martin Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 1:07 PM To: The Hardware List Subject: [H] Multi-handset phones 5.8 GHz I need to identify a multi-handset phone system that has good volume levels on the other end. I currently have an oldish Panasonic 5.8 GHz Digital FH system but I get a lot of complaints from friends about not being able to hear me. I feel this sometimes has an negative impact with ladyfriends. I've thought that perhaps the problem was really with one or two of the handsets, but I haven't rigorously tested it yet. Which multi-handset units are you guys using (assuming you're using any one of them)? No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.8/800 - Release Date: 5/11/2007 7:34 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.0/801 - Release Date: 5/12/2007 6:40 PM
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
You bring some interesting points, Chuck. I looked at two HDs yesterday. One is 500 GB external for $130 with a 5 yr warranty, and the other is a 320 GB external for $100 with a 1 yr warranty. The 500 GB is cheaper in terms of $/GB, but that warranty was the reason I bought it, in spite of Scott's recent issue with Seagates. The thing is this: I assume that HD manufactures just make a bunch of drives and sell some with 1, some with 3, and some with 5 yr warranties. I think this because I've had plenty of 1 yr drives last way longer than that, and some 5 yr drives don't last to the complete warranty period. Is there really such a thing as "seconds" in the HD business? Sure, I can see this notion holding up on the CPU business were people want to overclock, but is there any real way other than the manufacturing process for vendors to ensure longer drive life? Are there separate fabrication techniques for 5 yr drives as opposed to 1 yr drives? Are those drives made from different parts or in different plants, for example? Maybe I should get another 500 GB external [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: - Original Message - From: "Winterlight" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Hardware List" Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 11:42 PM Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the vendor. Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, but now you are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought What does it take to convince people that there are many reasons to avoid name brand computers? In just the hard drive arena, name brand computer manufacturers buy 1 year hard drives. That is all the warranty most offer and they are not going to pay for 5 year hard drives. You can bet the quality of a Seagate or WD 1 year drive is nowhere near the quality of a 5 year drive. This thread is about other than name brand computers I assume. It is about who you purchase your hard drives from. My supplier, ASI http://www.asipartner.com/ packages their merchandise very well. Not only in packaging does the choice of supplier count, but also in who you buy your hard drive from. Having already been said, the 1 year drives going to the name brand manufacturers are the worst. Do you think Dell buys 3 year drives so they will be covered when a customer purchases the Dell 3 year extended warranty? I doubt it. My bets are Dell takes its chances on a 1 year drive for all Dells and hopes they last long enough to satisfy the Dell 3 year service agreements purchased on some of their computers. Still, I have not gotten to your situation. Don't you think Seagate and WD ship their best 5 year drives to large wholesalers like ASI who have to continually defend their own reputation to OEM's they sell merchandise to? My bets are any 2nds do not go to ASI. So where do the 2nds go? What about the stores such as Circuit City, Office Depot, New Egg etc.? Why not consider New Egg as 2nd rate in quality? You, (not I) have already slammed the hell out of people like New Egg for crappy shipping. If the shoe fits, wear it. If you are an OEM who orders multiple units such as hard drives, the solution is easy. Change to a supplier like ASI and get top notch service and packaging etc. If you are not licensed etc. to purchase at wholesale from suppliers like ASI, still avoid folks that do not package properly. Either find an OEM who will supply you or let that OEM build your computers to your specifications. This is if and only if you know that OEM does quality business from the choice of supplier to overall price and quality of components. The bottom line is no matter who you are, you do not have to settle for 2nd rate packaging or merchandise. You can have quality, if you are an OEM or can find one who is honest and deals only in quality. You will pay a higher price for overall quality in service and product. Cheapskates (those who are bragging about that 500 watt power supply they found on the net for $29.95) should have deleted this post long before getting this far! Chuck
Re: [H] Seagate drive died
- Original Message - From: "Winterlight" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Hardware List" Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 11:42 PM Subject: Re: [H] Seagate drive died I think it has more to do with how drives are shipped from the vendor. Vendors use to send these out in boxes with big foam inserts, but now you are lucky if they secure it in bubble wrap. I have bought What does it take to convince people that there are many reasons to avoid name brand computers? In just the hard drive arena, name brand computer manufacturers buy 1 year hard drives. That is all the warranty most offer and they are not going to pay for 5 year hard drives. You can bet the quality of a Seagate or WD 1 year drive is nowhere near the quality of a 5 year drive. This thread is about other than name brand computers I assume. It is about who you purchase your hard drives from. My supplier, ASI http://www.asipartner.com/ packages their merchandise very well. Not only in packaging does the choice of supplier count, but also in who you buy your hard drive from. Having already been said, the 1 year drives going to the name brand manufacturers are the worst. Do you think Dell buys 3 year drives so they will be covered when a customer purchases the Dell 3 year extended warranty? I doubt it. My bets are Dell takes its chances on a 1 year drive for all Dells and hopes they last long enough to satisfy the Dell 3 year service agreements purchased on some of their computers. Still, I have not gotten to your situation. Don't you think Seagate and WD ship their best 5 year drives to large wholesalers like ASI who have to continually defend their own reputation to OEM's they sell merchandise to? My bets are any 2nds do not go to ASI. So where do the 2nds go? What about the stores such as Circuit City, Office Depot, New Egg etc.? Why not consider New Egg as 2nd rate in quality? You, (not I) have already slammed the hell out of people like New Egg for crappy shipping. If the shoe fits, wear it. If you are an OEM who orders multiple units such as hard drives, the solution is easy. Change to a supplier like ASI and get top notch service and packaging etc. If you are not licensed etc. to purchase at wholesale from suppliers like ASI, still avoid folks that do not package properly. Either find an OEM who will supply you or let that OEM build your computers to your specifications. This is if and only if you know that OEM does quality business from the choice of supplier to overall price and quality of components. The bottom line is no matter who you are, you do not have to settle for 2nd rate packaging or merchandise. You can have quality, if you are an OEM or can find one who is honest and deals only in quality. You will pay a higher price for overall quality in service and product. Cheapskates (those who are bragging about that 500 watt power supply they found on the net for $29.95) should have deleted this post long before getting this far! Chuck
Re[2]: [H] Seagate drive died
Hello Hayes, Saturday, May 12, 2007, 9:10:50 PM, you wrote: > Tons of WD raptors DOA here, but none have failed on me (36, 74 or 150GB) > once they spun up. Same, the one bad one I had was bad out of the box. > The only consistency in the hardware industry is inconsistency. Well said. -- Regards, joeuser - Still looking for the 'any' key...
