Seagate Introduces Star Wars-Inspired Lightsaber Collection Special Edition SSDs

[btarunr]

Today, Star Wars fans can choose to represent their side of the Force with the new collectible Seagate Solid State Drives (SSD) inspired by iconic characters of the Star Wars galaxy. Featuring interchangeable faceplate designs honouring Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and Luke Skywalker, the latest additions to the company's line of licensed special edition storage devices bring PCIe Gen 4 speeds, peak performance, and customisation to the battle stations of Star Wars collectors and tech enthusiasts.

Officially licensed by Lucasfilm, the special edition FireCuda NVMe SSD represents the famed characters with three iconic Lightsaber designs built on swappable heatsink faceplates so gamers can choose a design inspired by the Jedi or Sith that fits their collection at any moment. The drive includes customisable RGB LED lighting that shines through the faceplate to bring a galaxy of atmosphere to battle stations. The unique loading mechanism that attaches the interchangeable faceplates to the SSD and the heatsink were engineered and developed by EKWB. The integrated passive heatsink minimises thermal throttling and maintains peak performance for longer periods of time.



With up to 2 TB of capacity and delivering sequential read speeds of up to 7,300 MB/s, the drive enables gamers to harness the full power of PCIe Gen 4 to dominate next-generation games and applications. Offering a high endurance rating of up to 2550 total bytes written (TBW), the special edition drive includes Seagate's five-year limited warranty and three-years of Rescue Data Recovery Services so users have peace of mind as they choose their light side or dark side gaming destiny.

The Lightsaber Collection Special Edition FireCuda PCIE Gen 4 NVMe SSD is available today for $184.99 (1 TB) and $289.99 (2 TB).

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[LabRat 891]

Seagate, one of the original leaders in storage technologies
is doing licensed-product deals with Disney...

Maybe, they can get into the gamer audio market and revive the Disney Sound Source, while they're at it. Ya know, actual technology development, but still aimed at children.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen :smh:

 

[TheLostSwede]

Seagate, one of the original leaders in storage technologies
is doing licensed-product deals with Disney...

Maybe, they can get into the gamer audio market and revive the Disney Sound Source, while they're at it. Ya know, actual technology development, but still aimed at children.
View attachment 290508

Oh, how the mighty have fallen :smh:

I actually built something like that myself back in the day, but it needed to be connected to an amplifier to work, which I guess is built into the speaker in this case.
Pretty much this, but mine didn't use a PCB, but the parallel port had a housing to hold the components.

The LPT DAC

About 30 years ago, before every computer had CD quality audio built in, audio cards and chips were technological marvels. MIDI chips, FM synthesis, and synths on a chip reigned supreme but one lit…

hackaday.com

 

[LabRat 891]

I actually built something like that myself back in the day, but it needed to be connected to an amplifier to work, which I guess is built into the speaker in this case.
Pretty much this, but mine didn't use a PCB, but the parallel port had a housing to hold the components.

The LPT DAC

About 30 years ago, before every computer had CD quality audio built in, audio cards and chips were technological marvels. MIDI chips, FM synthesis, and synths on a chip reigned supreme but one lit…

hackaday.com

Derivative/DIY copy of the Covox Speech Thing, right? I knew of the Disney Sound Source as I had one on my 286 and/or 386, when I was a little one playing educational games my Dad bought for me.
(some of my earliest and most fond computer-related memories )

I miss when ingenious simplicity and silly names were more than enough to move an entire industry forward.
(I was barely old enough to consciously remember, but I can still recall how quick tech moved back in the early-mid 90s.)

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

These would have probably sold really well a decade ago.

Now? Stor Wors is a dying brand. Disney has thoroughly run it into the ground, streaming numbers are abysmal, merchandise sales are de railed, and most of the hard fans that would like something like this have moved on.

Why would I pay more for a SSD with a tacky lightsaber add on?

 

[bug]

Can you imagine an entire department tasked with hiring graphical artists to come up with concepts, selecting a "winner" to create a sticker to put on something that will probably end up under a heatsink? Can you imagine some of the meetings that happen within said department?

 

[LabRat 891]

Can you imagine an entire department tasked with hiring graphical artists to come up with concepts, selecting a "winner" to create a sticker to put on something that will probably end up under a heatsink? Can you imagine some of the meetings that happen within said department?

There is a well-known comic about modern marketing, that probably comes close. I'd post it, but I fear I may ruffle some feathers doing so.

If ya know of it, you'll recognize:
"Are you sure this will help us sell more burgers?"
"Burgers?"

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

There is a well-known comic about modern marketing, that probably comes close. I'd post it, but I fear I may ruffle some feathers doing so.

If ya know of it, you'll recognize:
"Are you sure this will help us sell more burgers?"
"Burgers?"

And ironically, life imitates art with the latest MC'Ds commercial.....

 

[bug]

There is a well-known comic about modern marketing, that probably comes close. I'd post it, but I fear I may ruffle some feathers doing so.

If ya know of it, you'll recognize:
"Are you sure this will help us sell more burgers?"
"Burgers?"

I didn't know it, but I looked it up now

 

[bonehead123]

available today for $184.99 (1 TB) and $289.99 (2 TB)

Well, can anyone say "O.U.C.H."

Those prices will surely pay for the licensing fees, yes ?

Cause SSD prices have been dropping like rocks recently, and there are many top-tier drives available for way less $$, even with cool looking heatsinks.

I know this cause I just bought a bunch 2 weeks ago from da 'Zon & WD Direct

 

[john_]

In any case anyone is having a difficulty understanding why Seagate is non existed in SSDs, this should make it clear.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

I'm a Star Wars fan but....$184 for 1TB? Not only "no!" but "fuck no!". Plus there's only 3 sabers? How about Yoda, Mace, Ashoka, Qui-Gon, Kylo, Maul, Dooku? Granted, I still wouldn't spend $184 for a 1TB even if there were all these characters to choose from but at least there would be more options....

 

[sLowEnd]

That's a huge markup for an underwhelming design

 

[LabRat 891]

That's a huge markup for an underwhelming design

Giveth to The Mouse, that belongs to The Mouse

 

[TechLurker]

I'm ever so slightly disappointed that the "lightsaber" part isn't a half-cylindrical bit of acrylic rising above the slab in order to bounce a bit more light and make it more lightsaber-ish.

And as a long-time fan of Vader since childhood, that Vader drive would be tempting. The real issue though is a lack of any actual space to display it, short of doing some kind of ghetto "vertical mount M2" to make it stand out, as the M2 slots on my mobo are either covered up by a 10G Ethernet card or the built-in heatsink. Which ultimately makes the concept pointless from a practical sense.

 

[bug]

I'm a Star Wars fan but....$184 for 1TB? Not only "no!" but "fuck no!". Plus there's only 3 sabers? How about Yoda, Mace, Ashoka, Qui-Gon, Kylo, Maul, Dooku? Granted, I still wouldn't spend $184 for a 1TB even if there were all these characters to choose from but at least there would be more options....

Eagerly awaiting for Vader to sue over appropriation of his lightsaber by Obi-Wan and users having to alter their Luke Skywalker drives to reflect reality

 

[Easo]

Star Wars and dying brand? People, common... Mandalorian, Andor, heck, even Clone Wars/Bad Batch has done more than enough to keep it alive.

 

[bug]

Star Wars and dying brand? People, common... Mandalorian, Andor, heck, even Clone Wars/Bad Batch has done more than enough to keep it alive.

It's keeping alive some franchise, but the Star Wars I love is done.