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I'm looking to buy a new hard drive because pretty much, the 30 GB one I have now is pretty much full, plus I need plenty of space for some digital video editing that I will be doing. (I don't know how much space is needed for digital video editing, so if anyone knows which drive size is best, that'd be great... I have a good amount of stuff to work with, but it will be eventually burnt to cd.)

My two choices, considering all the deals I've looked at this week, are:
Maxtor 30 GB 7200 rpm for $50, or
Western Digital 80 GB 7200 rpm Caviar SE w/ 8MB buffer for $90.

The drive will mostly be used for DV editing, plus a bit for games, storing mp3s, mpegs, etc. (Possibly will be used as a master HD, not sure yet). I know the WD with the 8MB is pretty much a better drive just for the buffer size alone, but I'm wondering - Are WD generally better HDs than Maxtor, and why? And which drive is best value for DV editing and for the price?
Thanks!

Maxtor has reduced their warranty period from 3 years to 1 year without reducing prices or offering an extended warranty option. I would not buy a Maxtor drive under these conditions.

Western Digital has followed Maxtor's lead in reducing the warranty to 1 year, but on their web site they offer an extension to 3 years for an addtional $20. I don't usually buy extended warranties, but based on my experience with early failures of 7200 RPM hard drives this is probably not a bad investment. At least the option is available, even if you choose not to use it.

In any event, not even considering the warranty situation, DV editing uses a huge amount of hard drive space, and you would probably fill the 30 GB drive quickly. An 80 GB drive is a better size for DV editing.

As far as value, the Maxtor has 37.5% of the space of the Western Digital drive but costs 55.5% of the WD price. The 8MB buffer of the WD is an added value and performance bonus. In my opinion the Western Digital drive is better suited to your needs and is also a better value.

Aside from being the best IDE drives on the market, Western Digital's SE line (the ones with 8MB of cache) retain the classic three-year warranty. If one really needs lots of space, one could buy the WD2000JB (200GB drive). I recommend the 80GB - 120GB WD SE drives, as they are now very affordable (due to the release of the 200GB drive family). Also, since the 8M SE drives cost only $20 - $30 more than the standard 2MB cache drives, you are practically getting the extended three-year warranty for free. I have 2 WD1200JBs in my system and I am very satisfied with their performance. While the WD drives are far from noisy, if you have a near-silent system and desire a near-silent work environment, then Seagate's Barracuda IV and V drives are the quietest in the business (I can't even hear my Barracuda IV!!). While the Barracuda V is a tad faster and quieter than its older brother, the Barracuda IV, it is difficult to find right now - it should appear in late November. However, my vote is still the WD SE series, as they mop the floor with the Barracuda drives, and are not much louder.

Based on the two drives you listed, I'll stick with the Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM Caviar SE w/ 8MB, the SE series retained its 3 years warranty. Besides you will probably fill up another 30GB in no time if you plan to do DV editing.

Get the Western Digital 80 GB 7200 RPM Caviar SE with the 8MB buffer. It's a really nice drive and its one sale this week for a good price. When buying hard drives, the rule is to get the biggest drive you can afford with the features you want. Once you get that 80GB Hard drive, I'm sure you'll have no trouble filling it up.

Well, thanks for all your input - the vote is pretty much unanimous in favor of the Western Digital - and that's the one I'll be buying! Knowing me and my tendencies to fill up space rather quickly (especially now with DV editing), the 80 GB only makes sense, plus the 3 yr warranty is always an added bonus.

Again, thanks to all who replied, it helped a lot. I'm looking forward to setting up this HD sometime this coming weekend - right now though, gotta get to back to work...

"You have chosen.....wisely"

Nice Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade reference, TheWizard.

Thank you

Despite not needing anymore HD space, I'm seriously considering the 80G Maxtor 7200RPM deal for $50+tax/after rebate at Staples. When will this madness end?

KuoH

KuoH wrote:Despite not needing anymore HD space, I'm seriously considering the 80G Maxtor 7200RPM deal for $50+tax/after rebate at Staples. When will this madness end?

KuoH, enlighten me please. I know about the WD Special Edition 80 GByte at CrooksUSA for $90 after MIR, but what about this Staples $50 deal on an 80 GByte drive? I only see it for $100 less $20 MIR = $80:

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/s ... sku=471535

cfitz

You're forgetting the $30 off $100 coupon. It's OOS now though.

KuoH

KuoH wrote:You're forgetting the $30 off $100 coupon. It's OOS now though.

Ah thanks. OOS = ?? (my ignorance is really showing today)

cfitz

I think OOS means "out of service." I've never seen that acronym before. hehe

OOS = Out Of Stock

Inertia wrote:OOS = Out Of Stock

Thanks.

cfitz

For the Staples.com deal, sign up for an account (if you don't have one already) then click and click and click the "Add" button somemore until it finally puts the hard drive in your cart. It worked for me and other people at Fatwallet.com, you just need some patience and a durable index finger.

[quote="Inertia"]Maxtor has reduced their warranty period from 3 years to 1 year without reducing prices or offering an extended warranty option. I would not buy a Maxtor drive under these conditions.

Western Digital has followed Maxtor's lead in reducing the warranty to 1 year, but on their web site they offer an extension to 3 years for an addtional $20. I don't usually buy extended warranties, but based on my experience with early failures of 7200 RPM hard drives this is probably not a bad investment. At least the option is available, even if you choose not to use it.

In any event, not even considering the warranty situation, DV editing uses a huge amount of hard drive space, and you would probably fill the 30 GB drive quickly. An 80 GB drive is a better size for DV editing.

As far as value, the Maxtor has 37.5% of the space of the Western Digital drive but costs 55.5% of the WD price. The 8MB buffer of the WD is an added value and performance bonus. In my opinion the Western Digital drive is better suited to your needs and is also a better value.[/quote]

Maxtor is a good deal-but I believe that Western Digital is a hardier HDD.