Comments on: 500 GB Maxtor Hard Drive for $99, But My Experiences are Not So Good http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/ A premiere personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:50:42 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Rob http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-113012 Rob Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:02:09 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-113012 I've had several Maxtor's with capacities of 80 GB, 160 GB, 200 GB and 250 GB and I've had problems with almost all of them (reallocated sectors, random disconnects, poor performance, etc). I've switched to WD which have all been performing flawlessly. Several years ago I had problems with a few WD's, but these days they seem to be very reliable (knock on wood). If you have a Maxtor, I suggest that you have it checked right away (SMART is great). An excellent (and free) app that'll show you the SMART attributes and what they mean is SpeedFan. I’ve had several Maxtor’s with capacities of 80 GB, 160 GB, 200 GB and 250 GB and I’ve had problems with almost all of them (reallocated sectors, random disconnects, poor performance, etc). I’ve switched to WD which have all been performing flawlessly. Several years ago I had problems with a few WD’s, but these days they seem to be very reliable (knock on wood). If you have a Maxtor, I suggest that you have it checked right away (SMART is great). An excellent (and free) app that’ll show you the SMART attributes and what they mean is SpeedFan.

]]> By: Archetypical http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112716 Archetypical Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:04:42 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112716 All of the drives I've bought since the mid 90's have been Maxtor and are still in heavy use without failure. All of the drives I’ve bought since the mid 90’s have been Maxtor and are still in heavy use without failure.

]]> By: Quick Links for this Past Week http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112515 Quick Links for this Past Week Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:15:40 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112515 [...] Commentary found a great price on a hard drive, but he’s weary that he’ll get what he pays for. I’ve never had a problem with [...] [...] Commentary found a great price on a hard drive, but he’s weary that he’ll get what he pays for. I’ve never had a problem with [...]

]]> By: A Tentative Personal Finance Blog http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112430 A Tentative Personal Finance Blog Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:38:25 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112430 I'll never buy a Maxtor drive again. I've had 3 break down on me in the last 5 years. I'm all Western Digital now. Hail the RAPTORS. I’ll never buy a Maxtor drive again. I’ve had 3 break down on me in the last 5 years. I’m all Western Digital now. Hail the RAPTORS.

]]> By: r http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112288 r Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:47:09 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112288 My workplace has bought significant numbers of large drives. Initially, we both both maxtor and seagate; nearly every maxtor drive failed before expected and not a single seagate did so. I know others who've had similar experiences. That said, if seagate has bought maxtor.... My workplace has bought significant numbers of large drives. Initially, we both both maxtor and seagate; nearly every maxtor drive failed before expected and not a single seagate did so. I know others who’ve had similar experiences.

That said, if seagate has bought maxtor….

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112285 Jeremy Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:28:22 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112285 I think with anything that has a lot of moving parts and a potential for errors it is more or less a crapshoot. In my case I have always had the worst luck with WD drives, yet all of my maxtor drives work flawlessly. I'm currently running maxtors in a RAID 0 array on my primary desktop and they have been humming along for about 4 years without a problem. Even have two servers in the house running old maxtor drives, one is from 1998 and it is still working fine as well. On the other hand I built computers in college and went through a nasty spell where I wound up with quite a few dead WD drives. So I think it has quite a bit to do with luck of the draw. I bet a large part of the reason why you read about and people see more WD and maxtor drives going bad is because they are cheaper to purchase so many more people buy them compared to some of the other brands. As a side note my latest drive I purchased is a Seagate. I'm not real picky and more or less go for good deals at this point. I think with anything that has a lot of moving parts and a potential for errors it is more or less a crapshoot. In my case I have always had the worst luck with WD drives, yet all of my maxtor drives work flawlessly.

I’m currently running maxtors in a RAID 0 array on my primary desktop and they have been humming along for about 4 years without a problem. Even have two servers in the house running old maxtor drives, one is from 1998 and it is still working fine as well.

On the other hand I built computers in college and went through a nasty spell where I wound up with quite a few dead WD drives.

So I think it has quite a bit to do with luck of the draw. I bet a large part of the reason why you read about and people see more WD and maxtor drives going bad is because they are cheaper to purchase so many more people buy them compared to some of the other brands.

As a side note my latest drive I purchased is a Seagate. I’m not real picky and more or less go for good deals at this point.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112277 Kevin Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:11:18 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112277 A little over a year ago the hard drive in my trusty PowerBook died. I replaced it with a Maxtor drive -- it developed errors 3 months later and died within 6. Side note on dead hard drives: My Maxtor drive was still well under warranty. However, my FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS are on that drive. There's no way I'm sending that off for replacement. Think about what's on your drive before you send it off. A little over a year ago the hard drive in my trusty PowerBook died. I replaced it with a Maxtor drive — it developed errors 3 months later and died within 6.

Side note on dead hard drives:
My Maxtor drive was still well under warranty. However, my FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS are on that drive. There’s no way I’m sending that off for replacement. Think about what’s on your drive before you send it off.

]]> By: kurt http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112275 kurt Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:46:15 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112275 Tyler, which brands would you recommend? I have a pair of Samsung spinpoint (or something) in my desktop, using the WD as an external backup. Tyler, which brands would you recommend? I have a pair of Samsung spinpoint (or something) in my desktop, using the WD as an external backup.

]]> By: 4 Good Deals » Blog Archive » 500 GB Maxtor Hard Drive for $99, But My Experiences are Not So Good http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112267 4 Good Deals » Blog Archive » 500 GB Maxtor Hard Drive for $99, But My Experiences are Not So Good Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:00:16 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112267 [...] post by Consumerism Commentary Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...] [...] post by Consumerism Commentary Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]

]]> By: Tyler http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112264 Tyler Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:35:15 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112264 I'm in IT and I see thousands of machines. The HDs we have most problems with are Western Digitals and Maxtors. Alot of the Dell HD's are made my these manufacturers as well. Like you said, I have not experienced the Maxtor's since it was bought out by Seagate (a quality comp) but I know that this would be a great option for someone who wants to "mirror" their data to this drive. That way, even if one fails, you'll be OK. As long as they don't fail at the same time! I’m in IT and I see thousands of machines. The HDs we have most problems with are Western Digitals and Maxtors. Alot of the Dell HD’s are made my these manufacturers as well. Like you said, I have not experienced the Maxtor’s since it was bought out by Seagate (a quality comp) but I know that this would be a great option for someone who wants to “mirror” their data to this drive. That way, even if one fails, you’ll be OK. As long as they don’t fail at the same time!

]]> By: kurt http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112260 kurt Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:15:23 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2007/06/08/500-gb-maxtor-hard-drive-for-99-but-my-experiences-are-not-so-good/#comment-112260 I bought an external Maxtor drive (500 gigs as well, likely the same 3.5" unit inside) and it failed on me with a horrible grinding sound. I replaced it with a WD (http://www.dealhack.com/archives/2007/06/wd_mybook_500gb_usb_external_d_1.html) which strikes me as a better device. Much quieter, cooler, etc. I bought an external Maxtor drive (500 gigs as well, likely the same 3.5″ unit inside) and it failed on me with a horrible grinding sound. I replaced it with a WD (http://www.dealhack.com/archives/2007/06/wd_mybook_500gb_usb_external_d_1.html) which strikes me as a better device. Much quieter, cooler, etc.

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