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View Full Version : IBM to get out of hard drive buisness



catcorpse
04-17-2002, 07:24 PM
In a move, IBM join with Hitachi in a new venture.
Separately, IBM and Hitachi also said they plan to combine their various hard-disk drive operations into a new, stand-alone joint venture. Hitachi would own 70 percent of the joint venture and pay IBM for its hard drive assets, subject to the completion of negotiations, the companies said CNN (http://money.cnn.com/2002/04/16/technology/bc.tech.ibm.hitachi.reut/index.htm)
I found the original article at slashdot (http://slashdot.org/) and The USA Register (http://www.theregus.com/content/53/24667.html) . Seems that IBM want's to get out of the buisness and I really can't blame them. Remeber a few months ago when they stated that there hard drives weren't designed for 24/7 use. Hard drive manufactures are now cutting throats with prices
Analysts have pressured IBM (IBM: Research, Estimates) to sell its hard-disk drive business, which is part of its OEM technology group. IBM pointed to the OEM group last week as a reason for its poor first-quarter performance seems like the logical thing to do, if you can't beat them, join them.

Alakazam
04-17-2002, 11:35 PM
I just wonder how many people might get 'stuck' because of the merger and how they are going to handle the returns.

Techvillage
04-18-2002, 01:02 AM
Going OT very quickly - skamp have you got your IBM disk back yet?
Back on topic.

AmStoned
04-18-2002, 03:34 AM
Probably not, that's why he's flipping big blue off.

I wonder how other HD companies deal w/ RMA?

Case
04-18-2002, 08:39 AM
Originally posted by AmStoned
I wonder how other HD companies deal w/ RMA?

I've had to send back a Western Digital once, only I never sent it back - just called them and gave the error code from their Data LifeGuard proggie, and they sent me a new one. Anecdotally, my brother-in-law had a bad Quantum Bigfoot given to him, still under warranty, called them up and they sent him a new (bigger) drive free of charge. In both cases no drives had to be sent back. I call that good customer service.

~Case

ImaginAsian
04-18-2002, 09:11 AM
I was suspecting something like this from IBM :( A shame really...they were a forefront in HD technlogy introducting the first glass platters and magneto-resistive heads. Let's just hope hitachi can keep the innovation going.

Sadly, I'm looking away from IBM now and going after the WD Special Edition drive.

Case
04-18-2002, 08:57 PM
Originally posted by skamp
after complaing about it for the 5th time, they gave me a Seagate Baracuda 4 40 gig instead

Heh Heh - persistance pays!

KaraK
04-19-2002, 01:45 PM
I've only dealt with Maxtor when it comes to RMA's and they have been great. I did an advanced RMA with them and they couldnt get me the same drive so they sent me one that was 10gig bigger and 100M/s faster for no extra cost... Wicked!

KaraK
04-20-2002, 05:03 AM
Getting back on-topic...

I'm not suprised by this move.. IBM has had a lot of bad press about its HDD's and RMA handling lately. And put bluntly mud sticks, particularly in a market like hard disks where people learn to "trust" a particular brand of drive and then tend to buy that drive for a long time