Western Digital WD600BB

[G]

If someone can shed some light, I'd be very grateful.
I bought the above drive today and the helpful salesman couldn't tell me if
it's fluid bearing or not.
I tried searching on WDs site and couldn't find anything relating to the
bearings and none of the reviews I've found seem to be helpful.

I had a Fujitsu 7200 with ball bearings that went bad and I've since
replaces it with a Seagate fluid bearing.
I'd like to steer clear of ball bearings if possible. I haven't opened the
drive yet because I told them I'd return it if I couldn't find out.
I know WD make good drives but it's going to be the boot drive and I don't
want unnecessary problems at any price!

Any help / comments would be grate
TIA

 

[Rod Speed]

If someone can shed some light, I'd be very grateful.

I bought the above drive today and the helpful
salesman couldn't tell me if it's fluid bearing or not.

Its not.

I tried searching on WDs site and couldn't
find anything relating to the bearings

Yeah, not something they want to publicise currently.

and none of the reviews I've found seem to be helpful.

The storagereview reviews do mention it.

I had a Fujitsu 7200 with ball bearings that went bad
and I've since replaces it with a Seagate fluid bearing.

I'd like to steer clear of ball bearings if possible.

Yeah, they can develop an irritating whine.

I wont mention an WD400BB that I was doing
some work on yesterday that has done that.

I haven't opened the drive yet because
I told them I'd return it if I couldn't find out.

In that case I'd definitely return it.

I know WD make good drives but it's going to be the boot
drive and I don't want unnecessary problems at any price!

Bearing whine is just irritating, it doesnt affect the drive's usability.

 

[G]

Rod, thanks for your reply.

I thought it suspicious WD didn't seem to mention it.
There is also a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 120 gig on sale for the same price.
The first page on the Maxtor site states FLUID BEARINGS!!
I think I'll give it a try instead.
Thanks

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/storage/display/20030703050303.html

"WD will apparently start offering Caviar and Protégé Hard Disk Drives
with Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) spindle motors very soon. The products
will be marked like WDxxxxLB and will be supplied only at distributor’s
request."

 

[Papa]

As reliable as WD is (at least in my experience), I would think twice before
going to a different brand.