ZIPidy Do Dud? Iomega Zip250 Drives
Written: Jan 31 '01 (Updated Jan 31 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy, fast, dependable and standard form of “cart” storage.
Cons: Slow 100MB access. Expensive/MB. SCSI I Interface. Too slow for heavy use.
The Bottom Line: An Iomega Zip100 is a worthwhile investment in compatibility and storage, but I’d recommend against purchasing a Zip 250 unless cost is not an issue.
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| dlamarrx's Full Review: Iomega Zip 250 External SCSI Drive |
Yesterday I took a stroll down memory lane and discussed my years of experience with Iomega products. In particular, I lambasted the Iomega Jazz 2GB drive. Until the Jazz drive, I have always found Iomega products to be a good, dependable way to store “stuff.” Fortunately, for the most part, my experience with Iomega Zip drives has been much more palatable than with the Jazz drives.
Over the years, I have used and abused countless Iomega products. From the early days of the 10MB Iomega Bernoulli drives, to now with my Zip 250MB drives, I’ve found Iomega drives indispensable for storing and retrieving data that’s too big for a floppy disk, but too small to go to the trouble of using a CD-R.
I work for a TV commercial production company, and we use Zip drives extensively throughout the department. We currently have nine drives in use, with three additional 100MB units that have died and are sitting in a box. The specific unit I’m using now is the Iomega Zip 250 external SCSI drive.
For those of you who want the quick details on these drives, here are the pluses and minuses:
Pluses
• Easy and fast storage of everyday files.
• Dependable.
• The most standard form of “cart” storage available.
Minuses
• Drive is very slow in reading and writing 100MB carts.
• Expensive on a per MB basis.
• SCSI entails an additional expense.
• Too slow for regular heavy use.
• SCSI I connection
I have found that in my regular day to day use of the Iomega 250MB Zip drive that it’s a dependable way to archive a few 10MB files – files that would be too big for a floppy, but too much trouble to take the time to put onto a CD-R disk. I have never had a disk go bad, and on that level have found them to be very dependable. Additionally, the 100MB disks have become an “industry standard” throughout the video and print business. Most weeks, I’ll come in to work and find another disk setting on my desk, dropped off by a producer whose client has stored his logo for transport on a Zip 100MB disk.
The downside to the 250MB drive is in part derived from that ubiquitous nature of the 100MB drives. The 100MB drives and disks are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by. Consequently, I rarely see a 250MB disk. Access speeds for the Zip250 are relatively fast, when accessing a 250MB disk, however they fall to a crawl when you plug a 100MB disk into the drive.
Beyond that, the Iomega Zip250 is a SCSI device, which means that if you don’t already have a SCSI card, that’s just one more expense. I have SCSI cards on all of my computers, but each of my cards is an Adaptec SCSI III card. Generally, SCSI III means a 68HD connector, whereas the SCSI I connector on the back of the Iomega Zip250 (and the Zip100 too), is a 25pin connector. Again, finding an adapter, or an adaptive cable is another additional expense.
In the final analysis, I’d say that an Iomega Zip100 is a worthwhile investment in compatibility and storage, but I’d recommend against purchasing a Zip 250 unless cost is not an issue.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
dlamarrx
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Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 65 members
About Me:
Video Production Manager for an Advertising firm, my favorite time is spent with my family.
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