CFII Microdrives - User's review

thumeau · 2nd April 2004

CFII Microdives - User's reviews
Dear microdrive users,
I have been using the IBM 1GB microdrive for 18 months. Few months ago, it started to be slower and slower and now it doesn't work at all... (no warantee any more so no repair...)

I would like to know if it's only my bad luck or if it is common for a microdrive to crash after several months of use...
(Especially with the new Hitachi 4GB that can be extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player ($419), the microdrives are becoming very interesting...)

If you are/have been using a microdrive, could you share with us you experience by completing these few information:

0. model / how lon used / status now

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

w.s · 2nd April 2004

CFII Microdives - User's reviews
Dear microdrive users,
I have been using the IBM 1GB microdrive for 18 months. Few months ago, it started to be slower and slower and now it doesn't work at all... (no warantee any more so no repair...)

I would like to know if it's only my bad luck or if it is common for a microdrive to crash after several months of use...
(Especially with the new Hitachi 4GB that can be extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player ($419), the microdrives are becoming very interesting...)

If you are/have been using a microdrive, could you share with us you experience by completing these few information:

0. model / how lon used / status now

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3.
4.
5.
6.

desmondwong · 2nd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4.
5.
6.

kthan · 2nd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5.
6.

dkw · 2nd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6.

chriszzz · 2nd April 2004

Originally Posted by dkw

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine

6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.

laokayu · 2nd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.

centrino · 2nd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault

mpenza · 2nd April 2004

for comparison of CFII speeds on DSLRs, check out:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/mul...e.asp?cid=6007

szekiat · 2nd April 2004

Originally Posted by centrino

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault

9. IBM 1GB / 4YRS / still going strong

HeWolf · 3rd April 2004

10. IBM 340mb / 1.5-2.0 yrs / sometimes cannot even detect sometimes can

y0gi0h · 3rd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault
9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot.

Royce · 3rd April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault
9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot.
10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards.

Jer · 8th April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault
9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot.
10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards.
11.IBM 1 GB / 11 months / working fine

trigger · 8th April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault
9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot.
10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards.
11.IBM 1 GB / 11 months / working fine
12. IBM 1GB / 20 months / working fine

ST1100 · 8th April 2004

1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months
2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine
3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine
4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine
5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine
6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince.
7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.
8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault
9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot.
10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards.
11.IBM 1 GB / 11 months / working fine
12. IBM 1GB / 20 months / working fine
13. 4 pieces of IBM 1GB, bought btw last April and September, put through pretty rough use, including travel and wedding. No problems.
14. Magicstor 2.2GB, very hot, hangs the camera, hangs the PC, hangs the laptop. Returned.

mpenza · 8th April 2004

Perhaps, it'll be good to also update the camera used.

w.s · 8th April 2004

My experience with microdrives,

1) 340MB microdrive, used with Canon S10 then with 300D, never had a problem.
2) 4GB microdrive, used with 300D. Gets cranky sometimes, especially if camera is turned off during writes. so, make sure to change batteries b4 battery gets drained completely, otherwise, data may get corrupted or it may cause data to be unreadable via card reader.

2nd April 2004	#1
thumeau Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: City Posts: 82	CFII Microdrives - User's review CFII Microdives - User's reviews Dear microdrive users, I have been using the IBM 1GB microdrive for 18 months. Few months ago, it started to be slower and slower and now it doesn't work at all... (no warantee any more so no repair...) I would like to know if it's only my bad luck or if it is common for a microdrive to crash after several months of use... (Especially with the new Hitachi 4GB that can be extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player ($419), the microdrives are becoming very interesting...) If you are/have been using a microdrive, could you share with us you experience by completing these few information: 0. model / how lon used / status now 1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

8th April 2004	#14
Jer Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: West Posts: 587	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up. 8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault 9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot. 10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards. 11.IBM 1 GB / 11 months / working fine __________________ Jerfotography Nikon D300 Power by iMac

2nd April 2004	#2
w.s Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 762	CFII Microdives - User's reviews Dear microdrive users, I have been using the IBM 1GB microdrive for 18 months. Few months ago, it started to be slower and slower and now it doesn't work at all... (no warantee any more so no repair...) I would like to know if it's only my bad luck or if it is common for a microdrive to crash after several months of use... (Especially with the new Hitachi 4GB that can be extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player ($419), the microdrives are becoming very interesting...) If you are/have been using a microdrive, could you share with us you experience by completing these few information: 0. model / how lon used / status now 1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. 4. 5. 6.

2nd April 2004	#3
desmondwong Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 335	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. 5. 6.

2nd April 2004	#4
kthan Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,318	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. 6.

2nd April 2004	#5
dkw Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: CCK Posts: 1,051	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6.

2nd April 2004	#7
laokayu Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 704	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up.

2nd April 2004	#8
centrino Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 332	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up. 8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault

2nd April 2004	#9
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	for comparison of CFII speeds on DSLRs, check out: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/mul...e.asp?cid=6007

3rd April 2004	#11
HeWolf Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Punggol 21 Posts: 397	10. IBM 340mb / 1.5-2.0 yrs / sometimes cannot even detect sometimes can

3rd April 2004	#12
y0gi0h Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 116	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up. 8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault 9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot.

3rd April 2004	#13
Royce Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 537	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up. 8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault 9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot. 10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards.

8th April 2004	#15
trigger Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Home - where the heart is Posts: 336	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up. 8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault 9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot. 10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards. 11.IBM 1 GB / 11 months / working fine 12. IBM 1GB / 20 months / working fine

8th April 2004	#16
ST1100 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Singapore, Bedok Posts: 1,801	1. IBM 1GB / 18 Months / Out of order after 14 months 2. IBM 340MB / 40 Months / Still working fine 3. IBM 1GB / bought 2nd hand 6 mths ago (unknown usage before) / still working fine 4. IBM 1 GB / 9 months / working fine 5. IBM 1 GB / 2nd Hand (10 months overall)/ Works fine 6. IBM 1 GB / after 10 mths, firmware got corrupted. Got RMA for a new one. Fine eversince. 7. Magicstor 2.2 GB / tried for a few days / gets very hot - much hotter than Hitachi 4GB. Slow. Gave up. 8. Magicstor 2.2 GB / a few months / a bit hot, but works fine, no fault 9. Hitachi 4GB extracted from the Muvo2 mp3 player. Though working with my S2 Pro, frame counter doesn't work . It's slow and drains lots of power. Not that hot. 10. IBM 2 x 1gb / 19 months / no problems, but recently only used as backup to much faster Sandisk Ultra II 1gb CF cards. 11.IBM 1 GB / 11 months / working fine 12. IBM 1GB / 20 months / working fine 13. 4 pieces of IBM 1GB, bought btw last April and September, put through pretty rough use, including travel and wedding. No problems. 14. Magicstor 2.2GB, very hot, hangs the camera, hangs the PC, hangs the laptop. Returned.