Here's an update to the info that Macintouch is running on the Jaz problems.
"We've updated our special report on Jaz problems ( macintouch.com ) with more reader experiences and a list of tips that may help avoid some Jaz traps. Meanwhile, a Boycott Iomega site ( personal.riverusers.com ) describes a class-action lawsuit over Iomega Zip rebates."
I'll also slightly adjust the earlier statement since it seems to have set Bill off so much. Instead of "I can't imagine this being anything but good news for SYQT," how about "I can't imagine this being bad news for SYQT." Maybe Iomega having problems with Jaz disks is only _neutral_ news for SYQT, but it seems to me that if it really is true, then it probably is good news at some level.
By the way, Bill, you're right--this kind of problem, assuming it does exist, would be an inherant result of a design decision. And, speaking as an electrical engineer who did his thesis work on electromagnetic fields, this type of problem does sound entirely plausible. Maybe other people have had this problem until now but just haven't complained or talked to the right person or even realized that it really was a problem. Easy enough to test for, though.
While I certainly can't speak for this particular person who wrote in to Macintouch, I am willing to bet that -- based on the long-standing quality of Ric Ford's Macintouch page -- there really is something to this. Certainly doesn't have the feel of a prank to me.
Regards,
Jeff
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<<I can't imagine this being anything but good news for SYQT.>>
That's a very fast jump to conclusion...
1. <noted by Iomega support (although this has not been confirmed officially)> Huge ambiguity! It's noted by Iomega but not confirmed? So have we heard Iomega's side or not? Huh?
2. <I use jaz drives all the time...4 or 5 Jaz drives fail (in one way or another) of the 10 or 11 drives that I've used...> So this consultant continues to use a product that gives him a 40% to 50% failure rate? Would you? I don't buy it -- the word 'prank' comes to mind.
I'm not an engineer (I don't even play one on TV)...but wouldn't this type of flaw would seem like an inherent design issue rather than an isolated incident such as the recent cartridge recall? I mean, it's not a component that's failing, mag fields are a prevailing condition. So nobody has noticed until now?
My monitor sits directly on top of my CPU and the internally mounted Jaz has not had a problem in the 4 months I've owned it. The external Jaz drives at our office are within inches of our 21" monitors -- not a single problem since first day of use (8 months ago).
Let's wait and see what IOM has to say. Their record has been good about acknowledging the problem cartridges...no reason to suspect they would deceive on this issue. I think it will be quickly quashed as
nothing more than a crank phone call.
Bill Ulrich |
