Exabyte Corp., which specializes in tape backup systems, has cut prices over 20 percent on all VXA-1 tape drives and VXA tape cartridges.
The new VXA-1 pricing structure is effective immediately. The manufacturers suggested retail price for an internal VXA tape drive is US$699; VXA tape cartridges range from $26.95 to $66.95.
Exabyte VXA-1 is the only DDS replacement product to offer multiple tape cartridges that provide capacities ranging from 1 GB to 66GB, meeting all DDS capacity requirements, according to Kelly Beavers, Exabyte’s vice president of marketing. What’s more, the company will offer a second-generation VXA product, the VXA-2, in the second quarter of this year. The VXA-2 tape drive will stay within DDS pricing parameters and offer users a viable upgrade path from the VXA-1, Beavers said.
Exabyte currently has original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreements with Compaq, Fujitsu and Apple to sell the VXA-1 product line. Additionally, several OEM evaluations are currently in progress with the VXA-2 drive, Beavers said.