Does this mean my DLT is in fact NEW?

[sdsumike619]

The report below is from xTalk, part of a full diagnostic check on my new DLT. I would like to assume that the lines I made bold are saying that the drive has 0 hours of use. Am I accurate in this assumption?

Drive Information Report
Drive Type ---------------- : DLT8000
Drive Serial Number ------- : DFF22P5123
Device Type --------------- : Tape
ANSI Version -------------- : SPC-2
Media Changer Present ----- : No
SftRe --------------------- : No
Tagged Command Queuing ---- : No
Linked Commands Support --- : Yes
Synchronous Data Transfers : Yes
16-bit Data Transfer ------ : Yes
32-bit Data Transfer ------ : No
Relative Addressing ------- : No
Vendor ID ---------------- : QUANTUM
Product ID ---------------- : DLT8000
Product Revision Level ---- : 0250
Product Family ------------ : 40.0 / 80.0 GB
Brick Revision ------------ : A003
Released Firmware --------- : Released Code Vxxx
Firmware Major Version ---- : 80
Firmware Minor Version ---- : 0
EEPROM Fmt Major Version -- : 5
EEPROM Fmt Minor Version -- : 34
Firmware Personality ------ : 4
Firmware SubPersonality --- : 1
TapeDir Format Version ---- : 0
Controller HW Version ----- : 3
Drive EEPROM Version ------ : 156
Drive HW Version ---------- : 3
Media Loader FW Version --- : 0
Media Loader HW Version --- : 0
Media Loader Mech Version - : 0
Loader Present ------------ : No
Library Present ----------- : No
Module Revision ----------- : A003
Servo FW Checksum --------- : 000036AFh
Servo EEPROM Checksum ----- : 0000E35Ch
Controller FW Checksum ---- : E17DC698h
Controller FW Build Date -- : 12-SEP-2001 5:36:44
Power On Hours ------------ : 0
Tape Motion Hours --------- : 0
# of Tape Loads ----------- : 3
MB Written ---------------- : 0
MB Read ------------------- : 0

[Nelson37]

Yes, that is in fact what it says.

Whether this is accurate or not, is another matter. Chips can be flashed or replaced, electronics can be exchanged while mechanical parts are not. The firmware build date is alarmingly old.

If you are seriously concerned that your new drive may not actually be new, you're buying from the wrong vendor.

Personally, I have little use for tape drives of any kind. Too expensive, too many failures, multi-GB hard drives too inexpensive.

Remember NOT to push the tape all the way in. Let the mechanical loader pull it in, insert Gently.

[sdsumike619]

Well, I bought it on ebay for $69. Before I bought, I asked the seller to confirm that it was new, he said yes. The thing looks brand new, not a scratch or any sign of anything at all. The fact that the firmware is amazingly old actually reinforces that it's old new stock. Heck, the SCSI card and terminator plug added up to more money than the tape drive itself! But for the price I paid, I'll take a shot!