#Mitsumi v Phillips
9 messages in this thread
Roger, Jumping in…. You realize you can get the Toshiba 3401b with a PAS 16
card for $599 from a couple of outfits, don't you? Slightly better performance
than the Texel. One of the mail order deals I'm award of includes some software
titles, speakers, et.al. If you want more info, let me knowI've got a Tosh and
like it a lot.
Bob
Bob
Sure, I'm interested! I don't know about all of the differences but I believe
the 3401 is caddy-less and it appears to me that it enjoys better driver
support.
Thanks -Roger
Noticed your offer of advice on the Toshiba 3401B packaged with the PAS 16.
I'm contemplating adding this grouping to a new DEC 466dxMTE (EISA/VESA) with
SCSI hard drive. Would very much appreciate your input.
Thanks!
A DEC MTE? I've got one landing on my desk later this week! I hope… DEC is
famous for missing deadlines on shipping. Anyhow, it's a great machine, II just
took delivery on 200 of them at the office and the jerks didn't ship the one
for home… Sigh.
I popped on open and everything is slicker than heck on the inside. One of the
best designed motherboard/slots/bay assemblies I've ever seen. One of the dual
fans sits right nex to the 486 so you shouldn't have to worry about heat, etc.
Far as the DEC/Tosh/PAS 16 is concerned, I'd do it. I don't have a PAS 16 card
(already being a Soundblaster owner before I got my Tosh). However folks
hereabouts seem to love 'em. I'd consider putting the Tosh SCSI card on the PAS
16 rather than on the main SCSI controller for the hard drive. Many people
think CD-ROM performs better with it's own controller and the one on the PAS16
is plenty fast enough to handle the transfer speeds from the Tosh.
If you haven't purchased the MTE yet, let me know and I'll give you detailed
info about my experiences with 'em. We're knee deep in them at work and over
the next few weeks they'll be installed. If I get my system for home in time,
I'll let you know if there are any hidden glitches with regard to installing a
Tosh in an MTE. But frankly, I don't expect anything. It's a screaming machine,
ya know? Bob
Bob,
Thanks for your quick reply. (Boy, you get up awfully early on Sunday!) I've
just ordered the DEC MTE, which they claim should get here on August 13. I
wasn't aware that their shipping record leaves something to be desired. I
suppose patience is a virtue. At any rate, you should have quite a bit of
hands-on experience by the time my DEC arrives, and I'd welcome any insights
you'd be willing to share.
>> I'd consider putting the Tosh SCSI card on the PAS 16 rather than on the
main SCSI controller for the hard drive.<< I'm not much of a techie; will it
be easy enough for an eager novice to figure out how to do this?
Finally, any suggestions on where to go for a good price on the Tosh/PAS 16
combination? Is it worth looking for a bundle that includes various CD-ROM
titles?
Thanks again for your help. Good luck getting all those DECs up and running!
Lindley
Yeah, I stay up late, get up early and it's about the only way I can get
everything done. Sigh….
Anyhow, the installation of the PAS16 and the Tosh should be a breeze. Almost
certainly it'll be easier than daisy chaining a Tosh with a hard disk and
floppies.
I do know a couple of places with good prices on the drive, but I don't have
the information handy. I'll dig it up and post it for you tomorrow. A few
outfits offer a $599 price for a Tosh/PAS16, drivers, a caddy, and a couple of
software titles. It beats the heck out of most of the prices you'll find.
Until tomorrow… Bob
Bob:
Thanks. I'm off to Europe today for a few days of business. Back Friday. See
ya then.
Lindley
Lindley, Here's some information. Megamedia advertises a 3401b with a trantor
t-130b controller, a caddy, SCSI cable and San Diego Zoo, the Animals for $479.
It's a good price, because the Trantor card usually costs $79. This means the
Tosh costs about $400. The same company advertises a 3401B with a PAS 16,
caddy, cables and King's Quest/Mayo Family Clinic/and the Animals for $599.
It's a very good price, but the software isn't the best for a basic starter
unit. They might allow swapping titles, I don't know. Megamedia can be reached
at 1-800-634-2633. They have a 30 day money back guarantee in their ads, but be
sure to get mail order companies to specify their policies (i.e. restocking
fees) on the phone.
MPS Multimedia out of San Francisco advertises they'll meet any price. Their
list for the Tosh is higher, but when I called them about the Megamedia ad the
did indeed meet the price. I like these folks and have done business w with
them. They don't have a 30-day money back with no restocking, but when I had to
send a drive back to them once they didn't give me any hassle and they didn't
charge a restocking fee. Ask for Jeff, he knows more than some of the other
people who answer the phone there. The number is 1-800-533-4677.
Then there's an outfit called Softec Plus. They too advertise they'll beat any
price. I mention them because they are local to me (local being Tucson AZ) and
they're a smaller outfit run by real nice folks. (No, I have no relationship
with them other than being a customer). They've been in b business for 4 years
(the stone age in CD-ROM). They should have a decent price on the Tosh/PAS 16
configuration. The real reason you should be aaware of them is their software
and caddy prices. Their software sells —- single title — for about the same
price as most companies advertise in bundles. Their list is extensive. Better
still, they offer good caddies at a great price — $4.75 per. That's opposed
to $10 and up elsewhere. Remember the Tosh uses caddies, so you'll want to buy
a fee. Get 'em here.
Also, as you may have noticed elsewhere you need to buy a Tosh manufactured
after the middle of April. The earlier models had a firmware glitch. As a
practical matter, most of the drives out there are probably recently built, but
ask anyway. Hope this helps,
Bob
Darn it, Lindley, I forgot to give you Softec's number. It's 1-800-779- 1991
Hope Europe was nice, Bob