Phlogistan

Western Digital vs. Seagate Technology: Value in Hard Disk Makers

I erroneously stated that Seagate had reduced the 5yr warranty to 1 yr. It has changed it from 5yr to 3yr. Pardon me.

The issues regarding the 7200.11 and 7200.10 generation of drives is though well documented and HAD lead my organization to reconsider Seagate as a supplier. The reduction in warranty terms on bare drives cinched the decision to change to a mix of Western Digital, Samsung and Fujitsu drives until we can determine internally if we see any accelerated failure rates.

Link to the FAQ regarding Product Warranties:
www.seagate.com/www/en.../

This change was announced in October of 2008, long before Mssrs Watkins and Wickershamn decided to abandon ship/got kicked out but QUITE some time after the official Seagate forums blew up regarding the BIOS bricking problem with the current generation of 7200.11 drives.

I do not rejoice in seeing this companies problems. I find that management often will find a way to DESTROY a fine engineering/design company for a few shiny beads. I often wish that "Golden Parachute" meant that one would drop the offender from an airplane with only a sack of gold bricks strapped to his back.

Western Digital vs. Seagate Technology: Value in Hard Disk Makers

Something I would consider a significant factor which you overlooked would be the ongoing problems Seagate has had with quality degradation over the last 5-6 years.
Re: Reduction of warranty from 5 years standard to 1 year.
Re: The "BIOS boot death" of the 7200.11 series.
The second point might very well be indicative of the reasoning for the former. This also casts William Watkins and Dave Wickershamn in a less than favorable light for their abrubt departure.
I would have to consider THIS particular issue a real pre-purchase failure of your due diligence.
Seagate had a less than stellar record with the last generation of drives as well, the 7200.10 series.