Stefan Mileschin

Buffalo unveiled six new external hard drive models under its HD-QLU3/R5 series, HD-WL6TU3/R1 series, and HD-LBV3.0TU3J series. These new models are apparently re-badged variants of previously launched models in their respective DriveStation series, but come with different (read: increased) pricing, and probably different product warranties, too.

Apparently the move to launch new (re-badged) products comes in the wake of the company reacting to sky-rocketing prices of hard disk drives (HDDs) sourced in bulk from suppliers manufacturing in Thailand, whose manufacturing facilities suffered catastrophic damage in floods last year. That, coupled with increased demand resulted in the "new" drives carrying prices roughly 50 percent higher than the models they're replacing. The new models can be identified by a "J" suffix over existing part numbers.

http://www.techpowerup.com/158945/Bu...ve-Models.html