Hitachi joined the 2TB hard drive club Tuesday with the Deskstar 7K2000, an all-new hard drive it claims offers both capacity and performance for desktop computers.
(Credit:
Hitachi)
While this is not the first 3.5-inch 2TB hard drive, it's indeed the first consumer hard drive that boasts the spinning speed of 7,200 rpm. Western Digital released its first 2TB hard drive back in April, the WD RE4-GP, which is a low-power and low-performance hard drive that doesn't have rpm specifications.
There are lots of factors that would affect a hard drive's performance. However generally, the higher rpm number translates to higher performance.
The new Deskstar 7K2000 features Hitachi's five-platter design with relaxed bit density and perpendicular magnetic recording technology. It has a 32MB cache and supports the SATA2 interface. Hitachi claims that apart from the performance, the new drive is also designed to be eco-friendly, being halogen-free and compliant with the RoHS standard.
In addition to the new 2TB Deskstar 7K2000, Hitachi offers the new 7,200 rpm Deskstar 7K1000.C family that comes in capacities from 160GB to 1TB.
These two new hard drives are available now, with the 2TB Deskstar 7K2000 costing $329.
If money's tight, but you don't want to miss out on spring photo opportunities, Pentax is offering up some instant savings on three of its compact cameras and its entry-level digital SLR.
Starting Friday through April 11, the company is knocking $20 off the prices of its basic compact, the Optio E70, and its lightweight ultracompact Optio P70, as well as the waterproof Optio W60. Or if you want more than a point-and-shoot, the K2000 dSLR kit with DA L 18-55mm lens and AF200FG flash has a $50 instant rebate, bringing the price down below $550.
I recently reviewed both the E70 and P70, which are $119.95 and $179.95 after rebate, respectively. They are solid cameras, though certainly not perfect. The E70 is definitely geared toward beginners or anyone wanting a very simple but still attractive compact camera. The P70 has a lot more features than the E70, including a 28mm wide-angle lens with a 4x zoom, and is a fun camera to slip in a handbag or back pocket before heading out.
However, neither are particularly fast performers. And if you need really sharp photos in low-light conditions, well, you probably shouldn't be shopping for a compact camera at these prices. Photo quality for both of these under bright light/outdoors (up to ISO 200 or ISO 400) is very good for the price, however.
Read the full reviews of the Pentax Optio P70 and the Optio E70.
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Pentax's limited-edition white K2000.
(Credit: Pentax)It can be hard to get your lower-end SLR to stand out in the crowd of options these days, which is doubtless why Pentax on Tuesday announced a white version of its entry-level K2000 SLR and two bundled lenses.
The "very limited edition" model comes with white versions of the smc DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and smc DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6 AL lenses beginning in February, Pentax said. The company won't announce prices until later, but the ordinary versions of those products cost about $800 today.
News.com Poll
In the compact camera market, distinctive colors have proved a useful marketing tool, but I'm a crotchety curmudgeon who's generally scorns such superficial gimmicks.
So why do I find myself actually liking the look a little?
Maybe it's a Pavlov conditioning reaction that makes me salivate when I see Canon's distinctive but high-priced L-series telephoto lenses. Or maybe it's just because it's a different look. I don't care for the silver variants of Canon's Rebel line of entry-level SLRs.
There's something slightly whimsical about a white SLR studded with black buttons, eyecup, and hand grip. It reminded me of an Imperial stormtrooper from Star Wars. Or perhaps a ptarmigan in winter plumage. Or maybe James Bond's underwater-ready Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me.
I don't think I'd buy it though. Aside from the premium pricing I'd expect with a "very limited edition" product, I'm not sure how well the white Pentax will hold up against wear and tear, though. The problem with getting something for its distinctive appearance is you're committed to keeping it looking good.
I included some more photos below. Do you think it's ugly or wondrous?
... Read MorePentax has introduced a new entry-level model that perplexes me a bit. The K2000, which will be known as the K-m everywhere but here, is priced the same as its slightly older sibling, the K200D--that competitive $700 mark occupied by the Canon EOS Rebel XS and the Nikon D60, among others--but makes a few tradeoffs. Here are some basics:
| Pentax K2000 | Pentax K200D | Canon Rebel XS | Nikon D60 | |
| Sensor | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 10.2-megapixel CCD | 10.1-megapixel CMOS | 10.2-megapixel CCD |
| AF system | 5 points | 11 points | 7 points | 3 points | Maximum ISO sensitivity | 3200 | 1600 | 1600 | 1600 |
| LCD | 230,000 dots, 2.7 inches | 230,000 dots, 2.7 inches | 230,000 dots, 2.5 inches | 230,000 dots, 2.5 inches |
| Viewfinder | 96% coverage, 0.85x magnification | 96% coverage, 0.85x magnification | 95% coverage, 0.81x magnification | 95% coverage, 0.80x magnification |
| Image stabilization | Sensor shift | Sensor shift | Optical | Optical |
| Mfr. Price | $699.95 | $699.95 | $699.99 | $699.95 |
(Credit:
Pentax)
In exchange for a lighter, slightly more compact but less weather-protected body and a less sophisticated AF system, Pentax includes an extra stop of sensitivity, a bundled flash unit, and an updated user interface. The f3.5-5.6 18-55mm kit lens is also one of Pentax's new DA L series budget lenses, which the company says uses the same optics as the older models but uses less expensive construction. Is a slightly lighter body and a flash worth it to you?
The lens is the first in a series that will also include a 50-200mm model for inclusion in a two-lens kit in early 2009. The single-lens kit is slated to ship in November.
For the high-end lens crowd, Pentax also announced a DA* $1,499.95 60-250mm f4 ED[IF] SDM (ultrasonic motor), scheduled to ship in November, and a $799.95 55mm f/1.4 SDM model for December shipment. The latest accessory is the AF160FC Ring Flash, shipping in October 2008 for $499.95.
Finally, the company announced a DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited lens and 1.4X Rear Converter SDM with as-yet unknown pricing and availability.
On Sale Now: $555.99
View the latest prices for Pentax K2000 (with 18-55mm lens and AF200FG flash)
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