ORB 2.2 gig drive experiences

[Guest]

I have quite a lot of experience concerning computers.
Have built about 15 for me , my friends and at work. Seldom do you come across computer products that really suck. In fact I have a saying when trouble shooting problems." There is nothing wrong with the hardware" And that is almost always true.
Well ORB drives really @£$$%&. I have fiddled with 5 of them
They are just not reliable. You hold your breath every time you save something on them and it is safe to make three copies just in case. If you can get them to work at all. On 50% of the computers I have tried installing them on they simply did not work. Locked the computer for ever or moved files superslow and just stinked bigtime. Dont tell med about how it should be done. I did it acording to the manual and also tried every other way I could think of. Not my favourite piece of hardware..
Anyone else have the same experience?

 

[Hammy]

I have one, and my friend has one, and neither of us have ever had any problems with them.

 

[Guest]

Why in the world would you keep messing around with them then?

 

[Danny]

What types of ORB disk you user? Internal or Externa? SCSI, IDE, USB or parallel port interface?

I have used Internal IDE and I am happy with it.

 

[Guest]

Mostly IDE and one SCSI. Same problems. Only common denominator I can think of was that it all was on ASUS boards with VIA-chipset 694X.

 

[squib28]

Orb drives will be the death of me I think. Working as a tech in a wholesale business, and dealing with returns of these drives, I am disturbed by the lack of response and sluggish turn-around in regards to getting these drives replaced. Be prepared for a long wait if you need to return one that is faulty.......

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by squib28 on 11/12/00 11:14 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

I know exactly what you mean: I have also lots of bad experience with the two external SCSI ORBs I've used. They behave very badly and seems to still be in the prototype phase. The two different drives were manufactured many months apart, so this seems to be a standing issue with ORBs.

What annoys me most is that it insists on trying to cut my fingers off with the automatic lid. It is the worst crap I've ever owned.

I've seen many very positive reviews of this product, most recently here at Tom's Hardware, which really killed the credibility in their reviewers in my opinion.

 

[namgorf]

Alright, maybe its just me, but I love the Orb. I work as a tech at my college, art institute of houston, and castlewood sent us an evaluation unit free of charge and we have been putting it through as much abuse as we can think of. It's an internal IDE and they sent two 2.2 gig disks. First we formated the disk like 15 times for mac and PC, then I rendered a 4 minute, 30 fps 3d studio max project into targa files off the thing. It was still alive. Then we decided we'd use the orb for all CD backups we do, we're still doing it.

Now I'm sure the unit has its problems, but I mean has anyone ever used Jaz disks? Hot damn do they ever suck. I spend most of my day removing them from drives, running norton or disk warrior on them or explaining to fellow students how all their work is gone. The orb maynot be the best, but it costs less than half the price of a jazz disk, I found them on pricewatch for 26 bucks. Thanks everyone.

-Namgorf

"...and remember, when you touch yourself, the saints cry."

 

[Guest]

I was expecting more positive results about ORB. How come. I reade several reviews (including Tom's review) and now I am hearing these problems with ORB.
Ok. So I guess I will stay with Zip for my documents for some time.

 

[Guest]

I waited with baited breath for 2 years from the first time I herd of the ORB drive. Castlewood did not make many comments during this time except that "the drive will be released when we are sure it is ready and not before then". Well...I was very excited when the time finaly came. I have never been so disapointed in a product. I have the external ide version. I have tried to use it on my Toshiba Satellite 4030 CDT and my Quantex oem w/via 693A chip set.
Same result on both machines. The problem is as follows; Many,many,many install attempts. Finaly it installs properly although it says it is done every time it really is not. Then after a short time the drive will not read the disk or some/most of the files turns into a bunch of odd characters and will not be recognized. For a while I thought by leaving the cartridge ejected when not in use was the cure. I was wrong. Now the drive just will not load up at all (it says it is done EVERY time) on any machine. New driver you say? is there another one out?
I can not express how disapointed I am in this product. I just love the thought of 2.2 gigs for cheap on a reletivly fast drive. I see the Fire Wire version is out now and want it badly hopeing that I just got a lemon. After reading these posts I will now wait yet againg for the product "to be ready and then will be released" before I buy another one.

Mark B.