opinions on Memory Giant wanted

[Vim]

Memory Giant, according to its website (at http://www.memorygiant.com/ ), sells memory and hard drives for ThinkPads (and other brands of computers). Using the Internet I have not succeeded in finding ratings of this business. If you have done business lately with Memory Giant I would like to have your opinion about this business. It has on its home page a small image which says “CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE – BizRate 2009 PLATINUM”. This image is a link which can take you to a BizRate web page ( http://www.bizrate.com/ratings_guide/cu ... 08877.html ) which says: “Not Yet Rated – less than 20 reviews in the last 90 days”.

I am tempted to upgrade my ThinkPad G41 (which currently has a 73GB hard drive) with a 320GB drive for which Memory Giant claims (at http://www.memorygiant.com/hard-drive/l ... nkpad-g41/ ) that it is “Guaranteed Compatible” with the G41.

Thank you.

[rkawakami]

Welcome to thinkpads.com! (ooh... long time lurking, huh? )

Several points after scanning their web site:

- The "legacy" systems (essentially, the numbered series systems; 240, 570, 770, etc.) appear under the IBM brand (Other Thinkpad); the remaining systems are with Lenovo
- Not all systems are listed; Lenovo/Thinkpad is missing T21, T22, SL500 from a quick look
- They seem to correctly recommend the proper modules for the "problematic" systems; PC100 for T20 and PC133 for T23 (no mention is made of "low density" for the T20 however)
- No mention is made (as far as I can tell) as to the source of their modules; whether they build their own or simply buy them from some other company to be re-sold
- Links to the site's FAQ appear to be dead; in fact many of the links I clicked on the Site Map page simply returned me to the main page
- Listed on the Site Map page, under the Support heading, is a link named "Contact 4 All Memory". This goes to http://www.4allmemory.com/ , which appears to be owned/operated by the same company. While the 1-800 numbers are different, the local (toll) numbers are only one apart (314-856-4001 and 314-856-4002) and the FAX number is identical
- The prices are a little bit high (IMO) when compared to what you can get off of eBay but I guess that you are paying for the "guarantee" that they work for your system

edit: After re-reading your post, I realize you are more interested in the hard drive aspect of their business . Any ATA, PATA (parallel ATA), IDE or EIDE drive that is of a notebook/laptop size (2.5" platters) and is 9.5mm (or less) in height, can fit and work inside the G41. The WD 320GB drive you referenced (WD3200BEVE) is $98.88 at memorygiant.com. The identical drive from newegg.com is $89.99. You'd have to click through both sites to see what the shipping/taxes are and then compare those final prices.

And here's some feedback about 4allmemory.com and MemoryGiant:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/4allmemory
http://www.bizrate.com/ratings_guide/cu ... 32179.html
http://myworld.ebay.com/www.4allmemory.com
http://stores.ebay.com/MemoryGiants (logo is the same)

Some interesting companies found by searching on the FAX number of 314-856-4098:

http://www.relaymarketing.com/contact.cfm
http://www.ilugger.com/
http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V ... =4alldeals
http://www.puzzlewarehouse.com/page/index.cfm?cid=221
http://www.waytechnology.com/contact.cfm ... and click on the "Our Sites" tab at the top of the page

[Vim]

Ray, You wrote:

... [snip] ...Any ATA, PATA (parallel ATA), IDE or EIDE drive that is of a notebook/laptop size (2.5" platters) and is 9.5mm (or less) in height, can fit and work inside the G41. ...[snip]...

Before I started this topic in this forum I wondered if any IDE drive of the correct physical dimensions might work. I searched for an answer to that question, but didn't find one. Thank you for providing the even more precise answer. Your words mean more to me, as a guaranty, than Memory Giant's assertion. I now feel free to shop for what, to me, seems like the best deal for such a drive. Thank you for you fast response! Vim