🚀 go-pugleaf

In previous articles:
> > > SI suggested using their new 9744, an 8inch drive with Eagle capacity
> >
> > I assume this is the Fujitsu 2344.  I called Fujitsu, and they said the
> > drive is still in beta test, they couldn't even send me a spec sheet.
> 
> Yes, these are the Fujitsu 2344's.  SI seemed to be willing to pass out
> info.  Capacity is the same as the 2351 (Eagle) but seek time is faster
> (altho latency is worse - slower motor).  They are still in beta test, but
> SI plans to start shipping in April time frame.

I just got off the phone with a lovely lass named Lisa at Fujitsu, Limited, in
Calif at 408-434-6777, and this is what she told me...

We currently have three 2361s - one of them died and was sent back to my vendor
(Cameron Computers) 2 months ago.  By the time it got to them, and then got
shipped back to Fujitsu, it was Feb 6.  The vendor was telling me that we
should get back our drive "very soon now - 2 weeks".  Well, Lisa just
told me that Fujitsu has lengthened the turn-around time for all SuperEagle
repairs and that it currently takes 90 days from their receipt!

Of my other two - one arrived DOA in Oct ("fault" light on continuously)
and was returned for repair - two months later it came back and arrived the
same day as my third drive.  Both of these drives are now beginning to
pick up hard errors in the same manner as my first drive.  One of these
is involved in a crucial data collection project and is on maintenance
contact.  Cameron tells me that if that drive goes, they can swap in a new
one within 24 hours.  If my other drive fails, however, it will have to go
in on a warranty repair (i.e., 90 days!).

I described this to Lisa, and she told me of a policy that Fujitsu has
established over the last month or so.  For each 2361 in on repair for
HDA problems, Fujitsu will loan out a good ol', reliable Eagle to the
vendor for a "nominal charge".  The vendor then loans this drive to the
customer cost-free.  When the 2361 is returned, the customer returns the
Eagle, and the vendor is credited the nominal charge.  This at least
helps to maintain some of my faith in Fujitsu!

A few other points that Lisa mentioned to me: the current "good" HDA revision
is "D0".  But, *all* my drives say that.  Fujitsu is currently waiting
on a shipment of HDAs from Japan.  And finally, when I said that my
next purchase wasn't going to be a SuperEagle (I'm currently buying two
of the 2.5Mb/s, 337Mb 2333s) she said that Fujitsu has just released
the "Swallow 4", the much talked about 2344 (see above).  It holds as
much as the 2361 (689Mb), is the same size (8" platter) and speed as
the 2333.  But, she said (contrary to previous reports) they _ARE_
currently available.

..jOhn
--
John Robert LoVerso @ SUNY/Buffalo Computer Science (716-636-3190)
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