[PixelPete17]

Just wondering if Seagate or anyone else has any update on when the 7200rpm drive is coming out?

I tried the 100MB 5400RPM drive and it's tons faster in my PB667 DVI, but if I could have another small boost in speed then that would be more than welcome too.

Anyone know any info or have any alternatives to the Seagate Momentus drives?

I'm basically looking to pull my stock 30GB drive out and put in a new internal drive. Photoshop CS performs much better in the File Browser when the files are on the internal drive versus keeping files on external firewire drives (of which I have three 120GBs).

Thanks for any help you can provide,

PixelPete

[markponcelet]

I've been watching for these, too. Last I heard, we have to wait till about March to get one. (They were supposed to be out somewhere around Christmas, but something happened and they were delayed a quarter.) Ultimately, I ended up going with the Hitachi 7K60 for my new laptop purchase. That one at least has user reports on heat/noise issues in Powerbooks. I really want the larger size, but if it's noisy, it would drive me insane. So I decided to hold off and wait for the early adopters to tell me if I can stand it.

Mark

[PixelPete17]

How's your 7K60? Any chance you know if it's faster than the Momentus 5400 RPM drives?

The 100GB model is almost perfectly quiet if you're wondering...I was loving it, but I really want the max size and speed I can fit in my PB.

Guess I've got another seven weeks to wait or so. (unless the 100's go on sale )

PixelPete

[markponcelet]

Originally posted by PixelPete17:
How's your 7K60? Any chance you know if it's faster than the Momentus 5400 RPM drives?

The 100GB model is almost perfectly quiet if you're wondering...I was loving it, but I really want the max size and speed I can fit in my PB.

Guess I've got another seven weeks to wait or so. (unless the 100's go on sale )

PixelPete

I haven't gotten it yet. However, I found a fantastic compatability and speed review at http://www.xlr8yourmac.com. It's a couple years old, but the speed results should still be valid.

Here's the link: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/IDE/hitac...B_7200rpm.html

[markponcelet]

...and of course I'll be posting a comparison of the 5400 RPM drive that comes in the Rev D. 17" powerbook and how it compares sound-wise to the 7K60. So keep your eyes open on this forum in about 2.5 weeks. I have to wait until thurs or fri to place my powerbook order.

Mark

[PixelPete17]

Can you hear your 7K60 at all?

The Momentus drives are amazingly quiet, as in you just can't hear any spinning or whining at all. I could hear the occasinal click of the head moving once in while (as in maybe four or five times in an eight hour day on the powerbook), but the sound is subtle and reaffirming that the drive is actually alive in there.

I'll keep my eyes open for your update in 2.5 weeks then.

Enjoy your powerbook! I'd look at a new one myself but I still use OS 9 quite a bit (as do about 50% of prepress clients according to some big print houses I've dealt with).

PixelPete

[markponcelet]

Originally posted by PixelPete17:
Can you hear your 7K60 at all?

I just got it today, but haven't gotten the enclosure from OWC to test it yet. However, someone sitting next to me has this identical drive installed in his *gasp* PC.

While idle, I can't hear it. No matter how hard I try. And believe me, I'm sensitive to those noises. It only took me one noisy drive from Toshiba to vow never again to buy a drive that makes much noise.

Originally posted by PixelPete17:
The Momentus drives are amazingly quiet, as in you just can't hear any spinning or whining at all. I could hear the occasinal click of the head moving once in while (as in maybe four or five times in an eight hour day on the powerbook), but the sound is subtle and reaffirming that the drive is actually alive in there.

I hear there's an "alarming" *click!* that happens every once in a while. Most people at XLR8YourMac.com say that the 7K60 is actually quieter than the OEM drives.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Originally posted by PixelPete17:
Enjoy your powerbook! I'd look at a new one myself but I still use OS 9 quite a bit (as do about 50% of prepress clients according to some big print houses I've dealt with).

Classic? Eewwwww.

Mark

[markponcelet]

Originally posted by PixelPete17:
Can you hear your 7K60 at all?

I just got my external enclosure in the mail today.

The 7K60 is absolutely silent. With my ear right next to the enclosure -- far closer than you would ever be if it were inside a powerbook -- I couldn't even hear the heads work.

Amazing.

For the record, the enclosure is the super-cool clear plastic Elite On the Go Pro Firewire 400/USB enclosure from OWC. Got it from their clearance area. Good buy. One quick advantage of clear cases is that you can quickly read the model number of the drive inside. Slick.

[PixelPete17]

Hey I'm happy for you then. It's good to have good gear.

Enjoy your drive and I'll check back for updates on the 120 GB.

Thanks again,

PixelPete

[Superchicken]

I can't wait till I can afford one of these... it shouldn't be more than about 200 bucks on TigerDirect.ca, and I'll take it to an Apple Authorized whatchamabobber, for installation (12 incher) and I think I shall be very happy with my 12 incher's performance.