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Author Topic: Zip-Linq Retractable Cords  (Read 5036 times)

Offline Mayo

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Zip-Linq Retractable Cords
« on: February 08, 2004, 02:40:36 PM »
Along with my new Firewire/USB 2.0 enclosure came a Zip-Linq 6-pin to 6-pin Firewire retractable cable.

Now, I have only been using it for 24 hours, so I can't testify to its long-term reliability, but it is a gas having this teeny, tiny flexible cable connected to my iBook instead of the inflexible, six-foot cable that came with the Firewire enclosure.  When not in use I keep it on a little shelf on my desk, where it takes up 3-4" of space.  It's maximum 2.5' length is perfect for my application, where the external Firewire drive is about 1.5' away from my iBook. This is a cable Road Warriors should consider trying.

Zip-Linq makes all types of cables that retract, and if my Firewire cable holds-up, I am Hooked (up) For Life!

 toothgrin.gif
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Offline Paddy

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« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2004, 04:25:45 PM »
I have their ethernet cable - very cool. It's 4' long, and sounds like it's about the same dimensions as your firewire cable, Mayo. I got mine at CompUSA the day after Thanksgiving, when with rebates, it was FREE! I figured, what the heck...free is good! It's very nice for popping into the laptop case in case I'm somewhere with a non-wireless network I can hop onto. Haven't used it at home though - the laptop usually resides (wired) in the dining room where a rather  long ethernet cable is required.

They have quite the range of cables - I didn't realize that there were so many!
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Offline Mayo

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« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2004, 04:31:09 PM »
When I was showing the Zip Linq cable to my wife I popped it into the pocket of my shorts, where it takes up about as much space as a set of car keys.  The standard Firewire cable took a little stuffing to get it in my other pocket, and if you think a pocket protector looks geeky...  laugh.gif
« Last Edit: February 08, 2004, 04:31:36 PM by Mayo »
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Offline Paddy

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« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2004, 05:04:32 PM »
When I started reading your most recent message Mayo, I thought "oh no! He put it in the wash..." tongue.gif

Friend of mine put his credit-card sized digital camera in the wash. Believe it or not, it survived. (I think it got rescued before it went in the dryer though) biggrin.gif

I can't imagine sticking 4' of standard CAT5 cable in any of my pockets!!! wacko.gif
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"If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into committees. That'll do them in." ~Author unknown •iMac 5K, 27" 3.6Ghz i9 (2019) • 16" M1 MBP(2021) • 9.7" iPad Pro • iPhone 13

Offline RHPConsult

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« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2004, 07:53:27 AM »
Sure looks like a good idea. The one that appeals to me, other than ethernet (and the phone line connector I already have) is the PDA connector for charging and syncing. Now that's a neat idea.

One more point of interest (and a comment on modern merchandising) they even have their brand of shirts! biggrin.gif
"Fashion" here if you just can't stand being without.
« Last Edit: February 09, 2004, 08:28:26 AM by RHPConsult »
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Offline kelly

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« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2004, 08:07:13 AM »
I could make an obvious joke but I'm not going to. smile.gif
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kelly
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Offline RHPConsult

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« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2004, 08:30:07 AM »
Aw, c'mon, Kelly.

What's obvious in Ioway, may not always be the same in Kalifor-nia! laugh.gif
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Offline kelly

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« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2004, 09:08:36 AM »
a la Mae West. smile.gif
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kelly
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Offline jepinto

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« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2004, 01:54:42 PM »
QUOTE(kelly @ Feb 9 2004, 10:08 AM)
a la Mae West. smile.gif

 Glad to know I'm not the only one that saw that opening.... wink.gif
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Do not fear your enemies.  The worse they can do is kill you.  Do not fear friends.  At worst, they may betray you.
Fear those who do not care; they neither kill nor betray, but betrayal and murder exist because of their silent consent.
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Offline Gregg

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« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2004, 07:38:39 AM »
I'm glad to see that everyone here is showing a little restraint!  wink.gif
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Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline Paddy

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Zip-Linq Retractable Cords
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2004, 03:38:15 PM »
laugh.gif

And as Mae also said:

"I believe in censorship. After all, I made a fortune out of it."
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Offline Gary S

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« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2004, 06:46:29 PM »
......or are you just happy to.......as Bill says "See me".  taped.gif
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Gary S

Offline Mayo

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« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2004, 04:03:13 PM »
Oh Man, I hope no one has rushed out and purchased a Zip Linq Firewire cable based on my original post!

I have been having myriad problems with my Firewire drive since getting it put together.  First, Carbon Copy Cloner would not work.  Then I had problems ejecting and partitioning the drive.  Then even simple file copying was going awry.

So I roamed the Internet a bit, looking for an answer, thinking that maybe it is a problem with the drive enclosure...large drive, Firewire/USB Combo set-up, etc.

Then...I stepped back for a minute and thought K.I.S.S..  Could it be a problem with... the Zip Linq cable?

Hooked the drive up via the cable that came with the enclosure and Guess What?  All My Firewire-Related Problems Apparently Went Away!!!

So then I visited the Zip Linq website and What Do You Know?  The retractable Zip Linq Firewire cable does not work with large drives due to the cable size and voltage requirements!

I then called Zip Linq and spoke with a nice guy named Bobby who confirmed the Bad News, and who told me that they didn't know that they had a problem until they began getting back reports from folks trying to use large external Firewire drives...Apparently in some cases folks actually lost entire bootable partitions when using the retractable cable.

The Good News is that he offered to send me one of the new Firewire cables they are currently testing.  This is hopefully a good thing because I already tossed the packaging, so returning the cable to the retailer is out of the question.

So Stay Tuned, I'll let you know how things work out...

 wink.gif
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