03-05-2004, 06:25 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Wired: "Cannibals Descend on MP3 Players"
"Digital photographers have found a source of cheap microdrives for their cameras: Creative Technology's MuVo2 digital music player. Like Apple Computer's iPod mini, the MuVo2 is based on a 4-GB microdrive from Hitachi. But while the Hitachi microdrive retails for about $500 when sold as a storage device for digital cameras, the MuVo2 costs about $200. As someone put it on a website forum, you get the microdrive for more than 50 percent off, and a free pair of headphones."
This story has been kicking around for over a month, so I'm a little surprised that Wired is just picking it up now. If this sounds tempting, you'd better act fast: I read a comment from someone who contacted Hitachi, and they're starting to put a new version of the hard drive in the MuVo2 that won't work in other devices, just like the one in the iPod mini. 4 GB of storage...nice! But I shudder to think what this would do to the battery life on my camera - I think I'll stick to my 2 GB worth of CF flash memory that I carry with my camera (1 GB x 1, 512 MB x 2). Anyone tried this hack to get the 4 GB micro drive?
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 06:44 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
|
|
Shouldn't this be a wake up call to Hitachi? They CAN sell the drives for $200!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
__________________
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1Cor 1:18 In hand:*Axim x50v; 2gb SD; 4gb CF;*LG 325 Contributing Editor - pocketnow.com |
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 06:55 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11
|
|
Overpriced
Wow, I realize electronics are sometimes overpriced but this is ridiculous. These 4 GB drives are WAY overpriced.
Lucan
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:08 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 174
|
|
Did it. Got the player overnight from PC Mall last week for $199+S. Just took a few minutes to open it up and then format the drive with card reader and PC (use FAT32 with 32k sectors is suppose to enable fastest response time).
Many people on the camera forums have done this. Many have then inserted a 1gb microdrive back into the player to revive it. Some have been successful with CF cards of 256m to 1gig (I haven't!). Seems to be hit and miss on the brand and size of card. Wish I could get one of my CF cards to work. The player comes with earphones, a nice belt case and two (Short and Long) sync cables and a PC music player thats looks promising.
Also, the 4gb is supposed to be better on battery life than the Hitachi 1.5g. Go figure...
A Google search will give several sites with pictures and instructions for the surgery.
Ron...
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:16 PM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,264
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by 24va
Shouldn't this be a wake up call to Hitachi? They CAN sell the drives for $200!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Agreed, they should see that they could sell a ton of these at that price instead of trying to figure out a way to make the drives not work in other devices.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:21 PM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
|
|
Re: Overpriced
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lucan
Wow, I realize electronics are sometimes overpriced but this is ridiculous. These 4 GB drives are WAY overpriced.
|
I agree - that's a HUGE markup, especially if you consider that for Creative to make money, they'd have to buy these things at a price of between $50 and $100 per unit. 8O
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:37 PM
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:41 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 50
|
|
This is incredible. 8O I haven't heard about this, but would love to do it.
Who else here has done it and had it work?
Am I guaranteed if I buy a MuVo2 to get one that will work? When do they plan on screwing us by changing the drives?
So the card inside the MuVo2 works in ANY compact flash slot? Has anyone tried it in a 2210? (That's what I've got).
Thanks for the feedback, the quicker the better because I'm off to try and find one of these!
lllsynthtaxlll
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:43 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 18
|
|
I'd like to see the source saying Creative will change the drives to the type like the mini iPOD has. I'm willing to bet it's just another eBayer trying to drive up prices.
I take it an MD in "IDE" mode won't work in a PPC then? I'd never heard definite word. The MuVo2 drives are in "memory" mode.
|
| |
|
|
|
03-05-2004, 07:45 PM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 633
|
|
Ben -
Nope, they are now soldering them to the board... pics at the Sony forum on www.dpreview.com
Don't follow the reference to IDE, but it works fine in my 55 and my camera too 
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
