CompuServe Messages

Hi! I am looking into magneto-optical (MO) drives and would like to hear some feedback on them…especially when used for daily data retrieval instead of just backups. (Essentially, I am running out of hard disk space on my portable – it's already STACked – and am exploring ways to augment my storage. SCSI-2 would be the perferable interface, since my portable already has a built-in port. I would primarily use a magneto-optical drive to create and store projects from 3D Studio and Ventura Publisher. What are the advantages/disadvantages of the 3.5 vs. 5.25 MO drives? (I understand that 3.5 drives hold 128 MB while the 5.25 holds 600 MB (300 MB/side) – but that the 5.25's are signifcantly slower than the smaller format). What manufacturers/models would you recommend? I have seen ads for drives by Pinnacle Micro, Sony, Peripheral Land, Procom Technology, MicroNet Technology, and Mass Optical Storage Technologies (MOST). MOST claims to have a "free form" mode that stores 256 MB on a 3.5 MO disk, but what is "free form" and what does this proprietary method mean for compatibility? Can MO drives be STACKED? STAC Electronics thinks they can, but doesn't seem to know for sure. And finally, what other issues or technologies should I consider? Again, my primary aim is additional secondary storage… I am attracted to MO since it seems to offer both reliable backup and "unlimited" secondary storage – all through a SCSI-2 port. Thanks in advance! Ceyan