PowerBook 160 - replace SCSI drive?

[trigf]

I recently acquired a perfectly functioning PowerBook 160 for my collection, and I was hoping to replace the 80 MB internal drive with something a little larger.

As we all know, these older SCSI drives are at a premium, frequently fetching prices of more than $1 per MB. However, I've been looking into replacing the internal SCSI drive with a CF card, or micro drive (I have one of each).

It looks like SCSI to CF/Micro Drive adapter is still over $100. Is there a cheaper option than this?

 

[Intell]

One of the better ways to get an 2.5" SCSI drive that will work is to get an used Powerbook of a later model that has a SCSI drive. Some of the later models had drives up to 1GB in size. There is a slight risk as the hard drive may not work in the used donor Powerbook or it could get damaged in transit. Sadly, that's the cheapest way for a newer/larger hard drive for those older Powerbooks. A real shame that there isn't a cheaper alternative.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

It looks like SCSI to CF/Micro Drive adapter is still over $100. Is there a cheaper option than this?

In a word, no. You have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what's best for you.

A used SCSI hard drive will be expensive and of doubtful reliability...I wouldn't recommend against it per se, but you have to accept that old drives are time-bombs and back up your data religiously. You never know when they'll give up. Some will go for 10 more years...others will die a week after you install them.

There is a SCSI to SD adapter out there for PowerBooks, it's not terribly expensive at $82 AUD and since it uses an SD card it's the most future-proof option.

If you're planning on running your SCSI PowerBooks for years to come you'll need to plan on getting a different storage solution eventually.