recently I got Final Fantasy XI for ps2. I noticed that it came with a Sony branded hard drive. A few days later I found another Copy with the hard drive and the network adapter for $15. When I got it home I noticed the hard drive was different. But it is also a Sony branded hard drive. Did Sony Ship a lot of different hard drives for the ps2? If So what is the different between them all besides the Sony/PS2 firmware on it? If this is in the wrong place please move this. The only reason I posted this here was because I haven't seen that many official ps2 hard drives so I assumed they were or are rare.
1) Not rare (every copy of FF Online came with one). 2) Sony sourced a few different versions. All functionally identical. Difference between a Sony branded drive and a non Sony branded one is the latter's inability to work with official software (aside from the Linux kit). -hl718
If you want to learn about the PS2's internals, it's nifty, but limited. If you want to have a usable Linux system, get a cheap PC. Because a full Linux kit is something of a collector's item you should probably focus on finding a cheap TOOL if you really want to get to know the PS2 inside and out. The TOOL will be slightly more expensive, but won't be limited. If you just want to check out Linux on the PS2 for curiosity, keep an eye out for a loose disc copy. -hl718
A non official hard drive can work just fine with official software if formated with the official disk.
Unless you have a PS2 modded with a modchip that has Auto-ATAD patching feature (i do). Then you can use all official hdd features (except FFXI / BBNavigator), like extra Socom2 Maps, Resident Evil Outbreak #1 / #2 install feature (reduces loadtimes), ESPN 2K5 game series (reduce load times,video cutscenes), custom soundtracks (in some japanese games),... More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2_Expansion_Bay Still, the best feature of the Browser 2.0 (that comes on the HDD Utility Disc 1.10) is to be able to backup PS1 and PS2 saves on the hard drive. Have all my saved there (don't need tons of memory cards). I also made a backup of all of them in one USB drive (using Codebreaker 9.0), but that's another story :thumbsup:
