No doubt about it, facts are facts, the Sparq simply has the competition solidly beat when it comes to cost per MB (for the moment).
Castlewood's Orb is expected very soon now. As you know, the drive will be list-priced the same as SparQ, but will have double the capacity, improved specs, incorporate better technology, be available in SCSI, work with OS/2 and the disks will cost less.
Assuming the Orb makes it to market, the EdHeads will be facing a very serious problem. Most every argument in favor of SparQ will also apply to Orb as well. Once both drives are sitting side by side on the shelves of CompUSA, there will be little if any reason to buy a SparQ.
Today the Orb is just pictures and paper, and before we can buy one, Castlewood has a host of legal, financial, marketing and production hurdles to overcome. If they can execute however, Syquest could have their core product and future trashed in short order.
Another potential threat would be if Castlewood were to be taken out by a larger company.
Most people today would point to Iomega as Syquest's archrival. Well tomorrow is almost here and IMO, Castlewood is the one to watch out for.
Regards - Dale
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