After reading the posts and links it is clear that this is a non-issue except for the drama queens.
A little chum for the M$ sharks.
A little chum for the M$ sharks.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Time Capsule Not Using Server-Grade Hard Drive As Advertised?
- Thread starter IntrinsicMac
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Last time I checked, server-grade was not a term defined by any industry standard. The fact that the drives are from the Hitachi's consumer line doesn't mean anything. There are some consumers that own servers (myself included). Maybe if Xserve didn't use these drives then some of you would have an argument, but since Apple uses it, they have the right to label it server-grade. Oh wait, so does Hitachi. Lets just say that Apple decided to use an enterprise designated hard drive. Then most of you whiners would complain about the price of Time Capsule because it would clearly by priced out of your reach. Apple has marketed this product as a consumer (not enterprise) backup solution. Therefor they have to price it as something that most consumers can afford. Even if this was just a NAS device, it would still be priced competitively against other manufacturers. And most NAS devices use regular desktop drives. Fact of the matter is, unless you just get a bad drive, the drive in Time Capsule will probably last longer than the drive in your computer. Time Capsule's drive will not be getting used as frequently and should last much longer. Most of you will have bought two more computers before you need to replace your Time Capsule. This whole debate is rather funny. Some of you should go out and price a RAID configuration with enterprise class server-grade hard drives and you'll see that your no longer in the consumer price range. And please people stop talking about bad marketing and comparing this to M$ "vista Capable". Two totally different scenarios. There will be no lawsuit against Apple so be quiet about that. Most whiners will still buy this product because there is no equivalent alternative to Time Capsule.
Maybe annoying but no different from Apple or any other computer manufacturer giving complementary one year warranty and allowing you to buy a service plan. Most people don't even buy AppleCare for their computers so I don't see why this would be an issue.
One year warranty is to short for a router with a harddrive. Other manufactors are offering such products with 2 years warranty (NAS or other routers). But that's Apple...sure, not only Apple.
TC + Acpp (maybe in future?)? Expensive...
A little story...
Steve Jobs, looking scruffy as usual, strode confidently into the office of his lead engineer, Bob. Seated across from him was a young engineer, David, four months into his first job out of school. David looked startled at the sight of the CEO.
"We need...", Steve started, "a way to go back in time."
David looked a little confused, but Bob just nodded. "That's a great idea! I was mulling over something like that for a while, but that idea is much better."
"It should take you back to any point in your hard drive's life! It will revolutionize the computer industry! And I need it by this Wednesday."
Bob just nodded - this was nothing new. Steve often came in, making claims on what customers need yesterday.
Steve's eyes widened. "And it should have a server-grade hard drive!!! And be really fast and have a ton of space but be really really tiny - we'll defy possibility and -"
"But, but there's no such thing as a server-grade hard drive", David managed to stutter out.
Steve just looked at him curiously, but Bob quickly came to his defense.
"Sorry Steve - David's one of our new engineers here - he hasn't learned the ropes yet."
Steve just nodded, completely understanding.
"You know, I don't think the rotational inertia of a normal hard drive will spin fast enough for us to go back in time... According to my calculations, we'll need at least 6301.5 RPMs. So we'll have to round up and use a 7200 RPM drive."
"Damn those hard drive manufacturers. Would it really be that hard to make a hard drive that spins at that rate?", Steve said. "Ugh. OK - I guess we'll have to just work with the 7200s."
Steve made a fist and put it up to his face, looking off into the distance. He suddenly awoke from his trance and locked eyes with Bob. "So I'll need that by Wednesday. Oh, and welcome aboard David."
As Steve left the office, a very-confused David just sat there bewildered. "What the hell was that all about? You can't go back in time, there's no such thing as server-grade, and Wednesday? Everything he said was impossible!
Bob got up and closed the door to his office. He turned back to David. "Let me tell you about Steve's reality distortion field...
Steve Jobs, looking scruffy as usual, strode confidently into the office of his lead engineer, Bob. Seated across from him was a young engineer, David, four months into his first job out of school. David looked startled at the sight of the CEO.
"We need...", Steve started, "a way to go back in time."
David looked a little confused, but Bob just nodded. "That's a great idea! I was mulling over something like that for a while, but that idea is much better."
"It should take you back to any point in your hard drive's life! It will revolutionize the computer industry! And I need it by this Wednesday."
Bob just nodded - this was nothing new. Steve often came in, making claims on what customers need yesterday.
Steve's eyes widened. "And it should have a server-grade hard drive!!! And be really fast and have a ton of space but be really really tiny - we'll defy possibility and -"
"But, but there's no such thing as a server-grade hard drive", David managed to stutter out.
Steve just looked at him curiously, but Bob quickly came to his defense.
"Sorry Steve - David's one of our new engineers here - he hasn't learned the ropes yet."
Steve just nodded, completely understanding.
"You know, I don't think the rotational inertia of a normal hard drive will spin fast enough for us to go back in time... According to my calculations, we'll need at least 6301.5 RPMs. So we'll have to round up and use a 7200 RPM drive."
"Damn those hard drive manufacturers. Would it really be that hard to make a hard drive that spins at that rate?", Steve said. "Ugh. OK - I guess we'll have to just work with the 7200s."
Steve made a fist and put it up to his face, looking off into the distance. He suddenly awoke from his trance and locked eyes with Bob. "So I'll need that by Wednesday. Oh, and welcome aboard David."
As Steve left the office, a very-confused David just sat there bewildered. "What the hell was that all about? You can't go back in time, there's no such thing as server-grade, and Wednesday? Everything he said was impossible!
Bob got up and closed the door to his office. He turned back to David. "Let me tell you about Steve's reality distortion field...
Wrong.
D-link is 90 days for software and one year for hardware.
Netgear's entry level product is 1 year.
Linksys is 1 year for hardware, no warranty on software.
Some of these have high end systems with longer warranties, but the entry level systems from all of them are about the same as Apple's.
Is it too much trouble to even do a quick check of your facts before spewing FUD?
So now that everyting is settled (like I said it would be), when should we expect Time Capsule with RAID and removable/upgradable storage?
I have a 2003 server that has been serving my purposes as a NAS and bit-torrent box, and am kinda bummed that I can't use Leopard's Time Machine with it. Time Machine would be preferred over iBackup. Any ideas?
Since when is TC entry level?
I have a 2003 server that has been serving my purposes as a NAS and bit-torrent box, and am kinda bummed that I can't use Leopard's Time Machine with it. Time Machine would be preferred over iBackup. Any ideas?
Since when is TC entry level?
Let's see. $299 for a 500 GB wireless network attached storage device. What else would that be if not entry level? I suppose it's possible to imagine someone foolish enough to think this is a high end enterprise storage device, but I can't imagine anyone believing that.
Even more when that's what it could be construed as advertising.
The point is this: Yes, expecting server quality storage for that price is probably a little naive but Apple are doing nothing to counter that belief. It's a bit naughty and doesn't reflect well on the lads at Cupertino.
That's the part that sucks to me. I know that Apple only has to give it a one year warranty, but they won't honor the hitachi warranty at all, after that year is up.
Remember that Apple does appear to be using an enterprise-class server drive in the 500 GB model. (A Barracuda ES)
It's the 1 TB that's showing up with a Deskstar desktop drive.
The drive actually has no Hitachi warranty - the only warranty on the OEM versions is provided by Apple.
Of course, Apple gets an additional discount for handling the warranty - Cha-Ching for the profit margin!
Typical.... Apple and that $$$ thing that always seems to get in the way of innovation, customer service, etc.
I think I might be a little happier if the warranty did go up after a year, then I could just pull out the 1TB drive and stick in a server class drive of equivalent size .... or larger by that time.
Applying logic to this situation? Shame on you.
Is it a contradiction that Seagate says that the Barracuda consumer grade 500 GB drive is suitable for "low cost servers", and Apple chooses the Barracuda ES enterprise drive instead?
I don't see the relevance. Apple says the drive in Time Capsule is "server grade," not "enterprise grade." Hitachi calls the drive in Time Capsule "server grade," not "enterprise grade." I can see the propeller heads have their beanies spinning madly about this, but trust me, nobody else really cares.
Not wrong, but there are differences between europe and rest of the world. normally (in germany) most of the products are having 2 years warranty.
that's the point! that's what i'm talking about, thx.
it's the same when you order a harddisk from western digital. the drive has 3 years warranty, but when you order it with an external case (like wd passport II), you have only then 1 or 2 years warranty.
that's not surprising, the slogan of apple is "money makes the world go round".
Since ya'll know so much, go clean up that Wikipedia article.
Whelp, now that one dude has enlightened us that the 500GBs use "triple-A" Seagates, I'm going to assume he didn't just get lucky, and it's true for all 500GB models, and go through with my order since our router is nearly toast. I can hook up my standalone 500GB drive and get a three-fer-one appliance for $300. That's good consumer economics. If I was an enterprise I'd expect another zero on there...
Seagate and WD and LaCie are the only brands I'll touch this decade. I used to be a big Quantum and Maxtor fan back in the days where 4 and 8GB was a big deal. But my household has replaced FIVE failed Maxtor drives of 60-160GB, all under warranty with 3 being the under-warranty replacements. We had to stop sending them back just to end the cycle of pain.
Considering how quickly HD tech is changing, and how rubber-band warranty policies have been over the last 15 years, I don't see a way to go wrong with Seagate's 5-year policy at the moment. Sorry to hear about your Hitachis... but hey, every corporation needs a chance to make amends. Ya might want to get a couple of 500GB Capsules to back up your 1TB Capsule to be safe... just a thought.
Whelp, now that one dude has enlightened us that the 500GBs use "triple-A" Seagates, I'm going to assume he didn't just get lucky, and it's true for all 500GB models, and go through with my order since our router is nearly toast. I can hook up my standalone 500GB drive and get a three-fer-one appliance for $300. That's good consumer economics. If I was an enterprise I'd expect another zero on there...
Seagate and WD and LaCie are the only brands I'll touch this decade. I used to be a big Quantum and Maxtor fan back in the days where 4 and 8GB was a big deal. But my household has replaced FIVE failed Maxtor drives of 60-160GB, all under warranty with 3 being the under-warranty replacements. We had to stop sending them back just to end the cycle of pain.
Considering how quickly HD tech is changing, and how rubber-band warranty policies have been over the last 15 years, I don't see a way to go wrong with Seagate's 5-year policy at the moment. Sorry to hear about your Hitachis... but hey, every corporation needs a chance to make amends. Ya might want to get a couple of 500GB Capsules to back up your 1TB Capsule to be safe... just a thought.
But they're a business! What else should there slogan be? "Forget profits... we're friends!"?
I can't believe people are so outraged that a company wants to make money! When it comes down to it make your choice... will this product do for me what I need it to do? If not, don't buy it! Does it really make that much difference to your life if its 'server grade' or not? If it does... buy something else!