PB5300 Zip Drive Question

[spaceinvader12]

I figured this should go in the PowerBook forum since it's not a trading post thread as such, I mostly just had a question about this.

So, I've been reading about the 5300 and saw several places mentioned a VST Zip drive that went in the floppy bay. I checked EBay but got nothing and was wondering if these are particularly rare. I really want one for my CS but have no idea what a fair value is or if they're even obtainable. I have a pretty nice 5300 but I'd be getting a lot more use out of a Zip drive as opposed to a floppy drive. And while I'm sure there are external SCSI ones, I'm really interested in this internal bay one I've read about.

Does anyone have one or an idea of rarity? What would be a fair price if I wanted to acquire one? I'm sorta just looking for general knowledge from anyone who has an idea about this, as Google wasn't helping much.

 

[bibilit]

I think it's a rare beast, never seen one, considering you can purchase cheaper a SCSI drive plus adaptor at the time to share information with another SCSI computer.

 

[galgot]

I have one (and I keep it , sorry). Got it when I bought two 5300 wrecks and accessories , that VST drive was with it.

Works with the 3400c too. Your best bet would be to have an eeeebay automatic search notification for any 5300s and 3400Cs , sometimes they are for sale with accessories, cards, cables and stuff... Never saw one of these 5300/3400c VST zips for sale alone.

the external zip works fine too, but you need the HD30 SCSI adapter (easy to find).

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Same with the one I have in my collection, the old out of my cold dead hands kinda deal. I've also got the VST Accessory Bay PSU, but it vented its Magic Smoke. :-/ Other interesting goodies for that bay are the hollow "PowerBook Weight-Saving Device" and another with two flip up doors with PCMCIA Card storage spaces. No branding on that one.

 

[just.in.time]

I know the struggle of trying to find one of those drives, I've been looking for one for my 3400c for several months now.

 

[danikayser84]

I own one of those VST ZIP drives for PowerBook 190/5300/3400 and put it to good use on my 190/5300 machines (and no, it's not for sale either)... there's a 3400c with a ZIP drive in the bay listed on eBay right now if anyone is interested BTW

Now I'm trying to find one for my 1400c/cs (already have one for Wallstreet and two for Pismo)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I had a lousy packing incident  with my 1400Zip, I still haven't had the heart to try to fix the obliterated bezel, pretty sure I decided to mod a floppy drive bezel to mate with the Zip's guts. I've upgraded most of my PB ZIPs to the 250 MB mechanism.

 

[FacnyFreddy]

I have an original g3 zip drive and a spare 5300 floppy. I was going to see about swapping the guts around to see if it might work. The G3 zip drive ALMOST mates up, but, not quite and there is some plastic interference.

I'll get around to it next month.. busy with work till then.