JUST SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT OUTPOST: SEAGATE HAS TOLD THEM THAT ALL THEIR DRIVES HAVE 5 YEAR WARRANTIES: IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT THE BOX SAYS!!!
This is from Seagates Website FAQ on warranties:
What products will now carry a 5-year warranty?
All products that are available thru channels with the exception of external hard drives sold thru retail outlets.
Will hard drives with high capacity, SATA, or larger cache continue to offer a longer warranty than other drives?
No, all drives will have a 5-year warranty.
Does the 5-year warranty apply to a Retail Kit purchased after the new warranty date, even if the printed box indicates only a 3-year warranty?
Yes.
Does the 5-year warranty apply to products that customers may have bought just last week?
The warranty is retroactive to all eligible drives shipped after June 1, 2004.