Adaptec File Saver ESA1500

Advantages: A bargain. Easy to install and used. Good entry level SCSI controller.
Disadvantages: No support for higher data rates.

...If you plug an SCSI card into your pc, don’t hold your breath because nothing exciting is going to happen. (Unless of course you have made a very bad job of installing the card. Then you might see smoke and flames coming from your cherished/reviled PC or even, in extreme cases, find yourself moving down a tunnel towards a bright light.) However, once you have installed you SCSI card you will be able to attach any number of exciting devices to your pc. Although this is an opinion of Adaptecs AVA-2900 series of SCSI card, it is also a general review of SCSI. I have done this because as far as I can tell this is the first review at Ciao of a SCSI controller card. This seems to be a bit of an over sight to me as any number of SCSI devices have been reviewed, (such as the excellent Plextor external SCSI cd writer which was the subject... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Works well out of box; captures video as MPEG-2 flawlessly
Disadvantages: Stopped working after a Microsoft update - Adaptec will not offer free fix.

...Product served me well for transferring several piles of VHS tapes to my Media Center 2005 machine. Then - Microsoft came out with some software update and product only works for a limited time. Pause it while recording and the PC freezes. restart the PC and it no longer detects the device. Remove device - uninstall drivers and uninstalling WinDVR 3 all temporary fixes - problem reoccurs. Doing the C++ registry hack worked very limited, now does not. Adaptec - with this known problem - can not even be contacted outside of their "pay" support. Adaptec has not updated their searchable database with the "fix" - they apparently demand their customers to pay them before they assist. A sad state of affairs within a once-great company. Shame on you, Adaptec!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Easy to fit and get working
Disadvantages: Slightly flaky process. Beermats! Still not as fast in operation as a SCSI version

...I have a Yamaha 8424, (i.e 8 speed CR-R, 4 speed CD-RW, 24 speed CD-ROM). Being IDE based, it is relatively easy to install for those who are not scared to "have the lid off". It fits a standard 5.25" bay and comes with a twin IDE lead for connecting, usually to your second IDE connector on the motherboard. Mine seems to work perfectly well in tandem with a Creative DVD on the same cable, even though both instruction manuals tell you that their machine prefers to be the "master" in any pairing. In my case, one of them has to be the "slave" whether they like it or not. It comes with a LITE version of Adaptec's very easy to use CD Creator. This allows you to create music and data CDs by assembling files as you would in Windows Explorer. Also you can use the CD Direct facility to use blank CD-Rs (and RWs) as massive floppies via Windows... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful