Doesn't JTS' encapsulation technology give it a better MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) than the other makers?
IMHO, there are a couple of types people who buy drives. The typical home computer owner who buys from Future Shop or Computer City doesn't buy HDs; they take whatever's given to them (all they care about is their 2.1 GIG of "Memory"). The OEM buyers (clone assemblers or your typical DIY computer guy) care about stats more than anything. Unlike CPUs, a la AMD, Cyrix, Intel, compatibility isn't much of an issue (I own a Cyrix 5x86 and it still occasionally causes me grief). Everyone gives a one year warantee and there's no guarantee you get a good HD just because of the brand. Heck, I've bought enough HDs to know that there really isn't much difference in reliability between one brand or the next. It all depends on luck. You get a good batch, the HD lasts forever. You get a bad batch and I've blown three HD in one install. Then there are the big guys.
The big money comes from the Compaqs and Acers. People have been switching to name brand computers because they've lowered their prices quite a bit in the past few years. If for an extra couple of hundred bucks they can get a hassle free computer, they'll pay it. They don't care what's inside. All they care about is that when it frags, someone will fix it. This is where I think JTS can get the edge it needs. I'm assuming that service is probably one of the highest costs of big computer manufacturers. If JTS can prove that it has a lower failure rate, and hence less chance of a repair, then the manufacturers will go for it, albeit slowly. The switch won't be sudden, contracts, commitments, partnerships, inventory kinda get in the way.
Nevertheless, this is a slow route. This route can give JTS a solid steady growth provided it can make it can successfully market itself against the Hitachis, Fujitsus, NECs and the other HD manufacturers. They've got a solid 3.5" HD. But it is 3" that will make JTS the next big catch.
Let's hope JTS has got enough market savvy to make the 3" go. Buckle in and hope for the best. |
