> -----Original Message----- > From: tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org > [mailto:tclug-list-bounces at mn-linux.org]On Behalf Of Jima > Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 11:01 AM > > On Sat, 23 Jul 2005, Jerry Weihrauch wrote: > > Might look at Materials Processing Corporation in Eagan > > 2805 West Service Road > > Eagan, MN 55121 > > Only open Thursday and Friday from 10am - 5pm, FYI. > > > Purchased a 10 GB there for $10.00, think there were some smaller drives > > maybe 5 GB there also. > > They don't really have any hard drives in stock anymore. I was there two > Fridays ago (looking for a 6gb drive), and all they had was 3 10gb's > (Quantum & Maxtor, IIRC) for $15 each. Fulfilled my need, barely, but it > was pretty disappointing; they used to have lots of different sizes & > manufacturers. (They used to have a lot better stuff, too, but oh well.) > Apparently some shops that specialize in used gear are buying "lots" of stuff from MPC. I bought a 64 meg laptop memory at MPC for $10. A friend needed the same, but had an odd laptop which we didn't know how to open so we were referred to one of these shops. My friend later went there and was quoted $39.95 for the same memory, plus $100 to install it. He went to Micro-Center and they could not find how to install the memory after fully opening the case, etc. I later got the shop manual for free from the Compaq website and it's easy when one knows the trick for that model. The spec said that model could be upgraded, but Micro-Center tried to say it cannot be after they tried. They should have said they just didn't know how to upgrade that one, but claimed it to be impossible to upgrade. They obviously did not look at service instructions for that model at all. I've been unable to locate 1-10 gb laptop drives under $29.95 and they disappear fast... bandito prices are common for used drives, and often are higher than new prices during sales! Conclusions: 1) look out for banditos 2) look out for authoritative service idiots who contradict manufacturers' info and don't have or check it first. 3) find a private sale for smaller old laptop drives, or watch for special sales at Micro Center (et al) Chuck