4GB Microdrive For $170 After Rebate

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3948722' target='_blank'>http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.pro...Product=3948722</a><br /><br /></div>J&amp;R is selling the 4GB Hitachi Microdrive for $170 after rebate. Sounds like a great deal if you need the space.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20041013-Hitachi4GB.jpg" /><br /><br />A quick glance at the coupon doesn't seem to imply it's J&amp;R-specific, either, so I guess it's possible to find a better deal. Is anyone out there using the 4GB unit, and if so how well does it work with your Pocket PC?

[Deus]

How much battery drain do you experience? Do you notice a big difference?

[maikii]

I use one. (Taken from a Creative Muvo2 4GB MP3 Player.) (Looks like Hitachi finally caught on, and is selling the drive at a more reasonable price, as it cost around $500 before to buy separately.)

It works fine for me, in my IPAQ 2210. No problems.

Concerning battery life, I haven't really checked it in any way. I haven't had problems with the battery running out, however. The battery never ran out on me, either before or after the Microdrive usage. (I bought an extra battery when I first purchased the IPAQ), and have never needed to use it.)

[michael]

I've used one in an iPaq 2215 and the iPaq recognized it as a large memory card without any problems. There is a hardware problem though - unlike most flash memory cards there isn't a lip on the top of the card, which makes getting it out of the 2215 very hard - I had to use a pair of tweezers to pull it out.

--
Michael
Blog - http://blogs.msdn.com/mcreasy

[MasterOfMoo]

There is a hardware problem though - unlike most flash memory cards there isn't a lip on the top of the card, which makes getting it out of the 2215 very hard - I had to use a pair of tweezers to pull it out.

I had the same issue w/ the IBM 1GB Microdrive ages ago. A suggestion that worked well for me was to adhere a Post-It tape strip to the top of the drive and use it as a pull tab (this was for use w/ an iPAQ 3600 w/ expansion sleeve).

A quick glance at the coupon doesn't seem to imply it's J&R-specific, either, so I guess it's possible to find a better deal.

buydig.com (http://www2.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?ref=cnet&sku=MRT4GMDKIT) appears to have the kit specified for the rebate available for $209 US ($159 after rebate), though you'll want the rebate form from J&R (http://www.jr.com/images/pdf/rebates/HIT1_20041231.pdf), as buydig's posted rebate form mentions "with purchase of any compatible digital camera" - I'll pass on the extra camera purchase :/

[robwoomer]

The rebate from the Hitachi site (http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/rebate/$50rebate_4gbtk.pdf) makes no mention of additional purchase requirements, so I imagine you could buy it from anywhere.

[Sven Johannsen]

Hmm, X-50 + 4G microdrive = iPod mini ? and so much more ;)

[Marcel_Proust]

One thing I've found with the microdrives - at least the 1 gb ones - is that there's always a lag before the ppc responds. Once it's fired up, it's as fast as a flash card. For instance, if you go to Resco Exporer, and have it list the contents of the CF, there will be a longer initial lag. Annoying to me, but may not be to others and worth the price difference. You may also want to check out some Sandisk CF cards that are now less than 300 dollars for 4 gb.

[Typhoon]

For those of you who have one, does it drain power badly or worse than a regular CF card? I know one person indicated no power problem, but how about for the rest of the users?

[ricksfiona]

Man, 4GB on a CF card... That would rock! However, I don't know if paying a $120 premium for the CF card over the Disk would be worthwhile. I'd hate to add on a battery to my device... So maybe the CF card would be worthwhile.

It would be good to see a performance/battery comparison between these two devices.

[Typhoon]

I think the same way...but it depends on how much power is drained because it seems like Microdrives cost less for this reason (I believe). They used to cost more because they offered more storage, but CF and SD cards now offer storage in gigabytes...

[G M Fude]

Has anyone on this forum broken a microdrive? CF and SD take heaps of abuse -- no moving parts I guess -- but a spinning disc in a moving handheld concerns me. Gyroscopic action, and moving heads, and all that...

[Sven Johannsen]

I think the key point to remember is that these things are found in numerous MP3 players, that kids (under 30) have. I expect those take much more abuse than my PPC ever would. Using pricewatch I found the drive for $205, and the $50 rebate is still valid. My intent is to use it exclusively for media on my upcoming X50. No critical things.

[beq]

Just wondering, these CF Microdrives use 1" drives don't they? What about the ever smaller drive designs manufacturers keep announcing, like the 0.85" (or maybe smaller)? Would they enable SD-formfactor Microdrives?

[david291]

I have a CF memory card that has accidently gone through the washer and dryer three times without any problems. Would a microdrive survive that, I wonder?

[elehcdn]

I think the key point to remember is that these things are found in numerous MP3 players, that kids (under 30) have. I expect those take much more abuse than my PPC ever would. Using pricewatch I found the drive for $205, and the $50 rebate is still valid. My intent is to use it exclusively for media on my upcoming X50. No critical things.

&lt;http://www2.buydig.com/shop/product.aspxref=streetprices&amp;sku=MRT4GMDKIT>

$209, based in Kentucky (so no tax for us Californians), free ground shipping, and the rebate is still valid

[Kati Compton]

Has anyone on this forum broken a microdrive? CF and SD take heaps of abuse -- no moving parts I guess -- but a spinning disc in a moving handheld concerns me. Gyroscopic action, and moving heads, and all that...

Janak's no longer fully functions.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

One thing I've found with the microdrives - at least the 1 gb ones - is that there's always a lag before the ppc responds.
There isn't much lag with the 4GB hitatchi drives... once in a while I see a lag of about a second but most times, you coudn't tell the difference. I've been using mine for about 6 months with no problems.

As for the battery drain, yes there is a higher taxation on your battery but it's not by much. I can still watch a full length movie on betaplayer (caching disabled) without draining the entire battery.

[GregParke]

Many times these microdrives don't work with Axim X5s :(

I tried once, my MD just sits there now. :|