don't do it! zip250 not worth it

I bought the ZIP250 with 3 clamshell-shaped disks in a combo package. It wasn't worth it, and here's why:

1. Speed was slow USB 1.1. If you have one big file it's better, but with small files it slows to a crawl. I never knew 250 MB would take half an hour to write, sheesh.

2. Cost. The drive itself is costly, but ZIP media is expensive too, perhaps because only the ZIP drive maker supports it. There just isn't that big of a user base.

3. Compatibility. Sure, the drive is USB-powered, and external, so you can in theory walk around with it and use it any any computer. But realistically, it's not going to happen, and you will often encounter computers without a compatible ZIP drive--or a ZIP drive at all.

4. Options elsewhere. CD-RW and DVD-RW are cheaper alternatives in the long run with far better compatibility and somewhat faster drive speeds.

5. Flimsy hardware. My ZIP 250's drive bay door broke off and though it still works, it's not a good sign. Also, one of my 3 disks that came with the drive broke after about 2 years of very rare use; maybe it was because I left it in the drive during a few power-ups. You aren't supposed to leave the disks in the drive while it's powering up, but how many of us aren't going to forget once in a while?