The race for the 200GB empeg...

Toshiba announced their 100GB 2.5" drive today.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2004_04/pr2201.htm

Who'll be the first? I'm starting a betting pool....

Paul G?

Hahahahaha! Um, perhaps...

Toshiba??? Aw... I like IBM / Hitachi...

Samples available in May. Hmmm... Anyone that works on (and can get access to) sample hard drive products and wishes to resell them should contact me. I only have about 1GB left on my player!!!

But aren't you already experiencing problems with memory at 160GB? 200GB must REALLY start to push it. Or did anything ever come from the possibility of adding memory to the player?

I only see memory problems under very specific circumstances. I do not sync very often, and my playlists are very static. So, for me, it would not be an issue. Plus I am very comfortable on a unix command prompt and messing with disk drives.

As for memory, that is in progress. Chips for the upgrade have been obtained, and I think it is really just a matter of time until either hijack or the player application will support it.

And before anyone asks, I am not taking orders or requests for used 80GB drives until the 100s are installed, tested and working...

As to if I will be the first, I don't know. Last time (with the 80GB drives), there were a few other folks that upgraded at the same time as I did.

http://slashdot.org/articles/04/04/22/1853212.shtml?tid=137&tid=198

Over $1000 for OEM samples.

Wow. That's, uh, brutal. Even by my standings. I think I can wait for the consumer release...

*bump*

Hmm... This is actually beginning to get vaguely tempting. But I don't see any link that shows where such "samples" are available...

I've read today that Fujitsu has also released a 100Gb notebook drive. Prices will probably drop because of that.

http://www.pc-award.com/?id=news&newsid=26
(warning : non-English site)

Maybe the Fuji's will meet your standards better.

Very nice! And having multiple manufacturers will certainly drive down the price. No one is shipping yet, though... Soon...

And, for all those watching out there - an upgraded disk size means a bunch of used 80GB drives free up... A happy thought for those not really looking for the 100's.

Didn't you already get offers for your 80gigs?

Um... Good question... Not that I remember off hand... If I did promise them to someone, if that someone could please remind me. Thanks.

I wish I could use some of that RAM to upgrade MY memory...

Seriously, though - in the spirit of this thread, who else is looking to move to the 100GB drives as soon as they become available??? Perhaps we can rig a group purchase and drive the price down a bit.

Hmm, maybe. I just bought a few 80GB to upgrade my players with but I imagine I can find new homes for those.

Don't worry, if I remember correctly you told that person who was interested (also can't remember who it was, sorry!) that you would spread the word from the moment the drives were available. I don't think you made any solid promises.

Come to think of it, I may have use for an 80gig drive. I could use it in my third Empeg, and then make it so like that third Empeg is always a complete clone of my first (and primary) Empeg. A perfect backup as it were...
So when/if the drives become available, could you let me know?

100gig is a bit overkill for me (for now). 80gig still gives me about 20gigs of free space, which is more than enough for the immediate future.

No worries. I will let you know as soon as they do.

Meanwhile, if anyone is in a position of being able to get samples... I doubt I would get it for all the players to start, but just maybe one set to "test"...

Another 80GB would probably do me good for a while, but depending on what price we can get, I'd be willing to go with a 100GB instead. So... if the price is too high for 100GB (I assume they'll be over 300?) I'll probably be looking to pick up someone's used 80GB.

Would gladly take an used 80 off your hands...

After the 100s come out and are installed, tested and running... Soon... Well, probably a few months. Meanwhile, if anyone sees them on sale, please let me know. Thanks!

Paul, When the time comes, I will take 1 (or 2) used 80's off your hands

Ahhhhh crap, I just bought 2 x 300gb for my TiVo!... Oh well bring on 100gb for my empeg I say

Have you guys seen how cheap 80GB drives are now ?? $155 shipped!

www.pricewatch.com looks like House of Computers has good deals on "IBM" and Toshiba. I know that the 100's are going to be out of my price range, but I never assumed that the 80s would have come down in price.

That's the nice thing. When you get an announcement of a higher capacity, it will always push the others down a peg. Once the 100s come out, I think you will see another drop. Perhaps not by much, but certainly some.

Brad,
Dell have even cheaper price, this offer seems to come up every now and then.

Ripped from techbargains.com
Dell 60GB 4200RPM 2MB Buffer 2.5" ATA-5 Notebook Hard drive with 13ms seek time, quiet FDB motors for $104.30 shipped free. Search for Item 340-9564

Dell 80GB 4200RPM 8MB Buffer 2.5" ATA-6 Notebook Hard drive 12ms seek time for $139.30 shipped free. Search for 341-0193

I'm starting to wonder why I only have a 20gb drive...