Thoughts on Zip 250 drive?

[macinbot]

Saw a USB Zip 250 at the thrift store today. I've had bummy luck with the older ones in the past, mostly "click-of-death" issues. But now that I have a Classic on the way, it seems as USB and a SCSI unit would be the easiest way to move files around.

So, are the Zip 250 units just as finicky as the old ones?

 

[sgraem]

Hello,

For one thing, most SCSI ZIP drives I've seen are 100 MB, and Iomega states that 100MB disks written on a 250 drive can have issues. Regarding the click of death, this mainly happened to later drives, and they eventually fixed the issue (it was a tiny foam washer they left out that caused the issue :lol: ), so I think you'll be ok with an older SCSI drive and a newer 250 drive. I say, go for it!

Graem

 

[1moremac]

Not sure about for the oldest Macs/Systems, but I've had good luck getting older Iomega drivers at http://www.cometenterprises.com/drivers_download_entry.html. Never had luck at iomega.com. Individuals probably have additional versions archived on other sites.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I've been using a USB powered iomega Zip 250 on the HP NetBook and a VST FireWre Zip 250 on the QS'02 to SneakerNet files between them on Zip100 disks without any problems at all for something like three months.

Go for it!

Most Zip users never complained about them from what I can tell. But the ones that did after iomega got the Zip through its early teething problems were quite vociferous back in the day. The ones in NYMUG that were the loudest were also the members that could have used a lesson or two about computing in general and the most badly in need of an anatomy lesson regarding their elbow and other body parts.

If Zip Drive/Disk combo was anywhere nearly as bad as the rep it got in some parts, it would would certainly not have become the industry standard that it did.

 

[macinbot]

Thanks for the link 1moremac.

Trash -- I used to work in print and design back in the mid 90's. That's about the time when Zip drives first came out and they were a pleasure to use. They were astoundingly more reliable than the Syquest cartridges that we had been using for large file transfers and backups. I saw literally thousands of Zip disks over the years. It wasn't until the late-late 90's or so that I saw problems starting to occur. I had two personal Zip drives fail on me in that time period. A lot of other designers and print houses did as well. It was usually with new external units bought to add to new systems. By the time that the failures started happening the Zip was already a pretty entrenched format -- at least in the print/design industry. But the problems probably couldn't have come at a worse time, as CD-Rs were becoming more prevalent with regular users. Had Iomega not had the "click-of-death" problem, they probably could have run on with the Zip a bit longer. That said, I was still getting files on Zip disk several times a week up through 2005.

 

[bibilit]

had the "click of death" symptom with a USB drive (never was able to repair it), and most of the Powermacs i have with internal ones are useless.

Didn't find any solution to fix those either.

in the other hand, the SCSI ones i use with the the Compacts and II's are OK... so far.

Just scored a VST for the Wallstreet, have not tested yet.

 

[macinbot]

Bibilit -- I saw your Zip drive in your conquest post. Looks the it was designed for Batman.

 

[bibilit]

Bibilit -- I saw your Zip drive in your conquest post. Looks the it was designed for Batman.

Sort of:

The PowerPC-based PowerBook really hit its stride with the G3-based WallStreet. Sporting a striking jet-black Batman'esque case

http://lowendmac.com/ed/rosen/11ar/vintage-wallstreet.html

the zip drive is a nice fit in the Wallstreet.

 

[macinbot]