Hitachi 7k200 drive in USB enclosure - $131.99AC+tax @ BB

The speed is dramatially reduced with the USB interface verses SATA.

 

Yeh, but I mean when I take the drive out of the enclosure, and stick in the laptop!!

 

Thats the whole idea. This drive sells for $195-$225 if purchased by itself. But you can get it for $130, you just have to take it out of the enclosure. You will instantly notice the spreed difference, I did and I had a 7200.1 seagate...USB doesn't hold a candle to SATA

 

what i mean is if you take the drive out of the enclosure and pu against the 7k200 is it exactly the same??

 

YES!

I bought one the other day thinking it was a 7200 (they didnt have any with the right serial), so I'm gonna return it. I guess I'll have to try somewhere else to get the good version.

 

I guess the answer is yes, because it is a 7k200. If your wondering whether the drive might be slower or defective (why is in ecnclosure) I don't think so. I can post my hd tune if anyone has a drive that was purchased standalone to compare.

 

Just came from BestBuy. (Sunday 8:00pm)

With the extra 10% off, from the USPS Moving Kit, BB coupon, I got the Hitachi 200Gb USB drive with the "DTG" serial number for a total of $139.47

Brought it home and opened up the case, and sure enough it is the 200GB 7200rpm drive inside, that they sell for $209.00! Just saved $70.00 + tax, on that.

I will install it in my new Macbook Pro this week. Apple wanted an extra $150.00 to upgrade the included internal 160GB drive from 5400-7200rpm.

So for $10.00 less than that I got a 200GB 7200rpm drive for my MBP, + an external 160GB 5400rpm (standard in my MBP), that I can install in the Hitachi USB enclosure!

Or, if I wanted to, for another $23.00, I could buy a Sata to eSata enclosure, and double up the transfer rate for the 5400rpm drive, from 480Mbs to 1.5Gbs. (Of course we never ever see numbers like that.) But over all, not bad.

Get out there and get one of these before they are all gone!

 

Awesome! My parents just bought me the right one in a best buy near them (3 hours away from me). Many of my friends at other schools said their best buys didnt have any. I guess it's a hot topic at major universities

 

Okay! I got the external HDD in the mail yesterday and formatted it and copied my HDD's image using acronis! It was so easy to swap hard drives from the external into the laptop and vice-versa.

The speed difference is amazing. Everything is so much snappier. I get a lot higher write speeds than I used to as well (15mb/s to 20mb/s), which is also a good thing.

 

Thanks for the report, sounds great!

 

I'm lovin it! Not really any louder (in a SILENT room, you can hear a little tick as the head moves back and forth, but nothing loud at all).

 

I hope the deal comes back on these when I'm ready to buy!

 

Yeah it was a steal, though its still cheaper (and easier) than buying another drive from say buy.com. Plus when you're done you get an external HDD the same size as your current internal.

 

I remember reading somewhere that an updated version of this drive will be out soon, but I don't remember where I read it.

 

Where did you read this time

 

I read so much news and stuff every single day I can never remember where I read anything!

 

Looking forward to getting my 7k200 next week

 

It's back. 12% coupons today (and tomorrow, I think) and it's 129 for the next four days.

That makes it 113.52 before tax.

 

Thanks for the heads up, you sooooo get rep for this!

 

Shame its not happening in the UK

 

Yeah, that's a real bummer pal.

Get this, I don't even have my new notebook yet, and I was going to wait and hope that this deal would pop up in a few weeks when I get it, but I just don't won't to take that gamble anymore, and this is the best deal I think I've ever seen on this, so I'm jumping on it now!

 

I can't find any current 12% off coupons, only this one, 10%_off.pdf.

Does anyone know if a current 12% coupon for this drive exists right now?

 

Unfortunately the 12% ended yesterday. It was for reward zone members only.

I ended up using my 12% on a terabyte drive in an external enclosure (Hitachi 7k1000) for 199. Their site says its sold out (the 1tb model) but most places have them.

I think 10% is the best you're going to do.

 

Got mine yesterday for $116 before tax after 10% off coupon!

 

Got me one yesterday for 125$ after tax! Great deal!! Reps to the OP for this deal!

 

Deal is back!
Hitachi 200GB External HD @ BestBuy for only $132.99
10% or 12% Coupon from slickdeals.net (valid through January 21, 2008)

Final price (with taxes included) after discounts and coupon: $126
Sweet awesomeness

 

Nice price, I just bought one yesterday for $175 shipped, but I picked up a 7200RPM drive. Not the 5400RPM drive that your link states.

 

It's actually a 7,200RPM drive in that USB chasis. Hence why this thread is called "Hitachi 7k200".

Nice deal btw..

 

Even though it clearly states in the BestBuy link under Product Features: "5400 rpm for fast read/write times" ...? If so, I did not know and I stand correct! My apologies!

 

It is a 7200rpm hard drive inside. Just look for a serial number that starts with DTG. Satisfaction guaranteed.

 

Ouch! I guess I could have save myself about $40 if I didn't purchase mine yesterday night!!

 

Don't be , while its a nice find your 40$ bought you 3 yrs warranty while the others got none , so no loss here .

This deal is good if you have no problem with voiding your 1 yr warranty , also you get a "free" enclosure .

 

I have been reading about this deal on the 7200 Hitachi drive for a couple of months on several different forums. I was curious if only the DTG & DEG serial numbered External drives had the 7K200 drive. I emailed Hitachi Support and asked what the drive model was in the 200 GB USB External H2200U drive and the reply was that it was the 7K200 drive. Has anyone opened a drive that didn't start with DTG or DEG and check the model inside?

 

I have read elsewhere that there are in fact other serial # other than DTG or DEG...I looked around but couldn't find the thread. Remember you don't have to open the drive to find out. Just plug the usb drive in and run a disk program that identifies the drive...your looking for: HTS722020K9SA00

If not, take it back to the store. No sense in cracking shells looking for a pearl when you don't have too!

Good luck. (Mine was DTG when I did it) Huge gains over old 5400 drive

 

External Hitachi Drive on sale again at BestBuy for $132.99. Should be good for the week of Jan 27 - Feb 2, 2008. Time for someone to solve the tale of needing to get a Serial Number starting with DTG or DEG. Like I said in my earlier post, Hitachi Support told me that the 7K200 was what was in the enclosure. Happy hunting!

 

Has it been verified this last batch being sold now in late January is still 7200 rpm drives?

This will fit internally into a Macbook Pro 15" chassis, Feb 06 build?

Cheers for any insight

 

They have a 250 gig drive for $129.95 as well as the 200 gig for $132.99.

Is only the 200 gig the 7200 rpm?

Or is this larger one the same and the better deal?

Thanks

 

200 GB is the largest 2.5 inch 7200 rpm drive Hitachi has. 250 GB should be a 5400 rpm drive.

 

Thanks!

Now I understand.

 

All these forum threads say that you need the Hitachi H2200U 200 GB External USB drive that starts with a serial number of DTG or DEG. Here is what Hitachi Support emailed me when I asked what drive was in the H2200U:

*************************************************

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:36 AM
To: xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Hitachi GST Support Request

Mr. xxxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting Hitachi Global Storage Technologies.

The H2200U Portable USB drive uses a 200GB Travelstar 7K200 drive.

Thank you for your interest in Hitachi GST products. Please let us know if
we can be of further assistance.

Regards,
Jack L.
_______________________________
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
US toll-free: 888.426.5214
Fax: 507.322.2419
[email protected]
www.hitachigst.com

*******************************************************

On sale now at Best Buy - $132.99. Post Office has "Mover's Guide" Change of address kits with Best Buy 10% off coupon good through May.

Someone grab a drive and let's see what is in one that DOES NOT have a serial # starting in DTG or DEG. Acording to the Email from Hitachi they ALL should have the 200 GB 7200 rpm Travelstar drive.

 

Just bought one, but not opened yet or installed.

How can I tell if it is 7200 speed without opening it up and making it non returnable?

Serial number starts with WHG.

Please let me know if anyone knows. BB display stated 5400 rpm but the box itself does not have any markings identifying as such?

Cheers

 

Hi,

I'm looking to replace the 60GB drive on my Sager notebook and want to
keep the 7200 RPM. This is my gaming notebook, hence my forum name
"codwidowmaker"....

This is confusing, at best. Especially with respect to the 7200
vs. 5400 RPM information and the serial numbering. I just called
Best Buy and they took one of the H2200U's off of the rack and
read the serial number: WHG0JD4A - nothing like the typical
Hitachi serial number, starting with "H"....

Further research on the Hitachi web pages found the following URL:
http://hitachigst.pgpartner.com/search_getprod.php?vcode=HIT&partnum=H2200U

The page very clearly states the following and has a "See Site"
pointer to the Best Buy web page:
Hitachi 200GB External Hard Drive
(USB 2.0, 5,400 RPM - MPN: H2200U)

It seems like the package has to be opened (not the case!) and
connected to see what the specific drive model is. Will the
XP "System Information" provide the appropriate level of information
about the drive to get the actual drive model number or serial
number?

Also, what is the best way to get everything off of the old drive and
onto the new one to put into the computer? Is there SW that will
copy everything, including all of the OS to the new drive via the USB
and make it bootable when put into the computer?

Thanks in advance for everyone's help and information on this!

 

In other forums I've read that a lot of folks download the 30 day trial of Acronis True Image. They then use it to "clone" the drive in the computer onto the drive in the external USB enclosure. Then open the enclosure and swap the drives.

 

Any idea tech dangerous on how to verify if the drive I have here is a 7200 speed?

I know you mentioned what Hitachi stated, but codwidowmaker mentioned another possibility, with that link above....

Any idea how I can verify what I have without opening it up?

If I just plug it into my Macbook Pro, it does not talk about drive speed...

Cheers for any insight,

 

I just cracked it open, it is a 5400 rpm drive, not a 7200....that party is over...


Any other ideas anyone?

If this deal is not happening anymore, what is the best HD in the 200 GB range? 7200 rpm I think is much faster and is worth the extra money I would think.....

 

So that drive was the Travelstar 5K250 series (HTS542520K9SA00) and not the 7K200 (HTS722020K9SA00)?

 

Hi TechDangerous,

Thanks for the information about the Acronis software. It looks
like there are a few versions that will work.

Hi kkanuk,

Sorry to hear about you opening that up and finding it was the
5400 RPM drive. Did you just open the package and connect it,
or open the drive case to find out?? I'm hoping you just opened
the package and will still be able to return it....

It is very discouraging how confusing it is to figure out whether
or not this is a 5400 or 7200 drive - before opening the package.
And, even more so that the Hitachi rep indicated they were all
7200. Is it possible some are 5400 and some are 7200? IF so,
is there any way to tell before opening the package?

It will be interesting to see if others have further information to
help us out on this question.

 

I could not tell by looking at it or connecting it, so I opened it, but I managed to peel back the sticker without messing it up, so I will just return it, you cannot tell I opened it.

I think this picnic of the 7200 drive is over. I am in Atlanta, and I got the same first 3 letters as you did when you called Bestbuy.

I think if you want a 7200 200GB drive, will have to cough up $180.00 for it at zipzoomfly

 

This was the H2200U, and the drive inside was a 200 GB 5400 RPM drive. I did not check the exact part number and have now put it all back together to return it, so I cannot give you any more info unfortunately.

 

When did they first start making this latest generation travelstar 200GB 7200 rpm?

I may buy a used one from someone, is there an older generation, or are they all the same?


Cheers,