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#Iomega 150 Multidisk

11 messages in this thread
#98025From: David DetteMay 1, 1993 10:44 PM
I have recently integrated an Iomega Bernoulli 150 MultiDisk onto my Amiga's SCSI Bus. It works flawlessly, I have no problems whatsoever! But since it can Read/Write 150 Meg and 90 Meg Bernoulli Cartridges and it can also Read 44 Meg Bernoulli Cartridges, I am looking for a way to access the other capacity formats using only one Drive Name. Currently I have a Drive Name setup in the MountList for each different capacity format supported by this drive. This seems to work ok except that you need to remember what Drive Name is what format, and ignore the errors that are generated when you have a different format disk inserted. What I am looking for is a way to use one Drive Name and have it be able to adapt to the changeing capacities of the 150 Multidisk. If you have any suggestions or comments I would sure like to hear them. Thanks, David A. Dette
#98153From: Paul ToalMay 3, 1993 2:52 AM
I'm sorry I can't help you with your problem, but I was wondering if you can help me. What interface kit did you get with the 150? Did you get it for less than $799. –Paul < Motorola Inside >
#98384From: David DetteMay 4, 1993 11:12 PM
> I'm sorry I can't help you with your problem, but I was wondering if you > can help me. What interface kit did you get with the 150? Did you get it > for less than $799. Paul, I already had a SCSI (C-LTD Kronus) interface on my computer, I just added the proper DevSetup (Kronus only) and MountList information and mounted it like any other SCSI Hard Drive. I ordered the 150 Multidisk directly from Iomega for 499.00. It was part of a special upgrade offer they had. The deal was this, Trade in any older Iomega Bernoulli Box system and upgrade to the latest drive of your choice for a reduced price. I did not get an interface kit with the drive because I only upgraded the Drive not the interface. Which meant the I already had a PC2B50 interface card, which would only work with IBM Clone machines (looking ahead to the 386BB). I currently am not using this interface card for obvious reasions. Originally I did not have an Iomega Bernoulli Box to trade in, but I found some surplus computer hardware from a local company (Boeing) that had some old 10 + 10 Bernoulli Boxes for $50.00. Couldn't pass that deal up! Oh ya, since the Iomega 150 Multidisk can Read & Write 150 Meg as well as the 90 Meg cartridges, and can Read NOT Write the 44 Meg Cartridges, you will need to setup different drive identifiers in the Mountlist depending on the cartridge capacity that you wish to read. Which brings me back to my original question. Hope this answers your questions. Later, David A. Dette
#98627From: Paul ToalMay 7, 1993 1:45 AM
Thanks for filling in the gaps. –Paul < Motorola Inside >
#98781From: Paul ToalMay 8, 1993 5:24 AM
I now see that Bernoulli includes Corel Draw with their drives. Cool deal, huh?
#98899From: David DetteMay 8, 1993 7:36 PM
On the 150 Meg Disk included with my drive, they loaded 3/4 full of share ware DOS stuff. Ashamed I had to just format it! Hah, But I copied it off first. Got to keep an eye open for the future. I wasn't aware of the Corel Draw deal though. I wonder why we don't see more Amiga users, using Bernoulli drives on their hardware. I was never impressed with the Syquest drives. And I just couldn't pass up the Bernoulli Upgrade deal. David A. Dette
#98954From: donnellanMay 9, 1993 11:49 AM
I live in Germany and have NEVER seen a Bernouli drive on sale here. I know who Bernoulli was and what he discovered but is there a company called Bernoulli or is that a general description for those drives? BTW I'm very happy with my Syquest and wouldn't trade it in for the world. Ok it's only 88megs but its fast (20ms), reliable, SCSI, and sturdy! So my q. is why you never liked Syquest. How much are Bernoulli drives in U$ and how large are they? Are they available in a range of flavours??? (AT/SCSI) Say "on ara!" Sean
#99201From: David DetteMay 10, 1993 10:40 PM
The Bernoulli Drive is made by a company called Iomega. And it's not so much that I never liked Syquest, but more a case that I have had good service from the Iomega Bernoulli Drives. Iomega has been makeing Bernoulli Drives since about 1984. I have used the original 10+10 Bernoulli when it was first released. This model was a dual drive unit which used 8 inch cartridges with a 10 Meg per cartridge capacity. Later they released an 8 inch 20 Meg. Version. These units were not to Amiga friendly, and were mainly used on IBM's and Clones. But when the 5 1/4 inch 20 Meg was released, Iomega started supporting the Apple Mcintosh. They started paying greater attention to sticking with the SCSI specification. Which made the drives work better with the Amiga. Since then they have a 5 1/4inch 44 Meg, 5 1/4inch 90 Meg, and now the 5 1/4 inch Multidisk 150. We use many Bernoulli drives of various capacities at work. And I am glad now that I can use them on my Amiga. Prices of the drives will vary, and some of the old formats are no longer available. Best thing to do is to get an American Mag. and check the Mail Order Prices. Hope this helps, David A. Dette
#99329From: donnellanMay 11, 1993 7:06 PM
Well I recon that that answers my question in full :-). I'll pop off to my international mag store in a week or so and I'll have a look in amiga world or somthing like that and maybe it'll be interessting.. although I already have a fine Sypquest 88. I was thinking af getting a DAT streamer instead of a new drive as they store 1.3Gigs with a seek time of 30secs! Not too bad ehh? Thanks for the mail. Sean.
#98996From: Brian CowanMay 9, 1993 7:48 PM
Well, one of the rather annoying things about the IOMega drives was that their earlier Bernoulli drives would only operate satisfactorily if you used THEIR "scsi" controller. Of course, this wouldn't work with anyone else's drives. This is one of the reasons Syquest became a "standard" removable drive on Macs, Atari ST's, and Amigas. Perhaps their new drive is better, but I personally doubt it. // Brian — Cruising on AutoPilot….. \X/
#99202From: David DetteMay 10, 1993 10:41 PM
You are right of course about the compatability of the the very early model Bernoulli drives. But Iomega has seen the error of their ways when they started supporting the Apple Mcintosh. This opened the door for the Amiga to use these drives. But it is now possible to use the Iomega Bernoulli drives made for the IBM/Clone market as they are now fully SCSI compatable. The Bernoulli drives made for the Mcintosh cost more than the IBM/Clone equivalent, thus pricing the drives higher that the Syquest. But since the all Bernoulli drives are now SCSI compatable, using the Mcintosh version is no longer a requirement. The IBM/Clone version is price competive with the Syquest, at least it was for me since I took advantage of the trade up offer. David A. Dette