HDD Encounter of a Third Kind

Eluial · 26th February 2003, 4:58 PM

Not long ago I was at a dodgy-looking computer retailer. I was after a Western Digital 400JB but the guy said he didn't have any, but apparently he had a 400BB and so he hands me one... or something he claimed to be one. The guy mentions that he'll give me that for $150 or a Seagate for $160. Thinking that the price discrepancy was peculiar, I took a closer look at the 400BB only to see that it had no WD markings on it at all, but instead had a logo of 'MDT Magnetic Disk Technologies' and had the URL 'www.mdt.com'. Never having heard of this 'MDT' before, I promptly declined his offer and popped-off home to check out this website.

http://www.mdt.com/ I entered into Mozilla and to http://www.mdt.com/ it did take me. However http://www.mdt.com/ diverts to another page; https://www.welldata.net/Application/default.asp. 'Peculiar' I said to myself. I then proceeded to tell myself to stop talking to myself which got me even more confused, so I wont bother telling myself that anymore.

Has anyone ever heard of 'Welldata' or this 'MDT' before?

Mjollnir · 26th February 2003, 5:01 PM

yeah I have. they are just some cheap ass generic HDD brand..

chainbolt · 26th February 2003, 5:45 PM

whether it's generic WD or a kind of OEM half-fake, don't buy the 400BB, they are REALLY slow.

W.G.A.F · 26th February 2003, 8:06 PM

MDT is actually quite a respectable and long established U.S company that's been in the HDD business for some years. It has plants in a couple of countries that I've read and all the majors like WD and Maxtor have at times past outsourced production to MDT.

I don't know whether the company has only just decided to build models themselves under their own brand or whether they have previously done so.

MDT was recently aquired by a company called Solectron.

It's a bit of work and hunting down info on either company but it's there if you want to find it via google.

I'm curious about their drives as well and wondering if they are clones of other companies models or outright new designs, unfortunately the price of them is not sufficiently cheaper than other brands to warrant parting with cash to find out.

If anyone has bought any of their drives it would make interesting reading if some benchmarks etc are done because currently it's impossible to find any reviews or benchmarks on their models.

I know of 2 online sites that sell their drives, one of which is GameDude and the other is the DiscShop although there is bound to be others in OZ.

chainbolt · 27th February 2003, 1:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by W.G.A.F
MDT is actually quite a respectable and long established U.S company that's been in the HDD business for some years. It has plants in a couple of countries that I've read and all the majors like WD and Maxtor have at times past outsourced production to MDT.

I don't know whether the company has only just decided to build models themselves under their own brand or whether they have previously done so.

MDT was recently aquired by a company called Solectron.

It's a bit of work and hunting down info on either company but it's there if you want to find it via google.

I'm curious about their drives as well and wondering if they are clones of other companies models or outright new designs, unfortunately the price of them is not sufficiently cheaper than other brands to warrant parting with cash to find out.

If anyone has bought any of their drives it would make interesting reading if some benchmarks etc are done because currently it's impossible to find any reviews or benchmarks on their models.

I know of 2 online sites that sell their drives, one of which is GameDude and the other is the DiscShop although there is bound to be others in OZ.

maybe this is all true and right, but nonetheless: don't buy a WD400BB

Eluial · 27th February 2003, 8:41 AM

Interesting! I've never considered the posibility of generic HDDs until now. Ah well, I'll let someone else give them a test before I even touch one.

Chainy, don't worry, I'm after the 400JB.

brainbug · 27th February 2003, 9:05 AM

I work as a tech, and I have only ever seen one of these hard drives, it was brand new.... maybe just me, but i'd take a well known brand name any day.

26th February 2003, 4:58 PM	#1
Eluial Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 3075 Posts: 1,565	HDD Encounter of a Third Kind Not long ago I was at a dodgy-looking computer retailer. I was after a Western Digital 400JB but the guy said he didn't have any, but apparently he had a 400BB and so he hands me one... or something he claimed to be one. The guy mentions that he'll give me that for $150 or a Seagate for $160. Thinking that the price discrepancy was peculiar, I took a closer look at the 400BB only to see that it had no WD markings on it at all, but instead had a logo of 'MDT Magnetic Disk Technologies' and had the URL 'www.mdt.com'. Never having heard of this 'MDT' before, I promptly declined his offer and popped-off home to check out this website. http://www.mdt.com/ I entered into Mozilla and to http://www.mdt.com/ it did take me. However http://www.mdt.com/ diverts to another page; https://www.welldata.net/Application/default.asp. 'Peculiar' I said to myself. I then proceeded to tell myself to stop talking to myself which got me even more confused, so I wont bother telling myself that anymore. Has anyone ever heard of 'Welldata' or this 'MDT' before? __________________ *

26th February 2003, 5:01 PM	#2
Mjollnir Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Melbourne, VIC3104 Posts: 5,879	yeah I have. they are just some cheap ass generic HDD brand.. __________________ OCAU Extreme Cooling Club H2O / Phase Change Member Last edited by Mjollnir; 26th February 2003 at 5:01 PM.

27th February 2003, 8:41 AM	#6
Eluial Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 3075 Posts: 1,565	Interesting! I've never considered the posibility of generic HDDs until now. Ah well, I'll let someone else give them a test before I even touch one. Chainy, don't worry, I'm after the 400JB. __________________ *

26th February 2003, 5:45 PM	#3
chainbolt Little member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tokyo Posts: 76,420	whether it's generic WD or a kind of OEM half-fake, don't buy the 400BB, they are REALLY slow.

26th February 2003, 8:06 PM	#4
W.G.A.F (Taking a Break) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 584	MDT is actually quite a respectable and long established U.S company that's been in the HDD business for some years. It has plants in a couple of countries that I've read and all the majors like WD and Maxtor have at times past outsourced production to MDT. I don't know whether the company has only just decided to build models themselves under their own brand or whether they have previously done so. MDT was recently aquired by a company called Solectron. It's a bit of work and hunting down info on either company but it's there if you want to find it via google. I'm curious about their drives as well and wondering if they are clones of other companies models or outright new designs, unfortunately the price of them is not sufficiently cheaper than other brands to warrant parting with cash to find out. If anyone has bought any of their drives it would make interesting reading if some benchmarks etc are done because currently it's impossible to find any reviews or benchmarks on their models. I know of 2 online sites that sell their drives, one of which is GameDude and the other is the DiscShop although there is bound to be others in OZ.

27th February 2003, 9:05 AM	#7
brainbug Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Central Vic Posts: 195	I work as a tech, and I have only ever seen one of these hard drives, it was brand new.... maybe just me, but i'd take a well known brand name any day.