CompuServe Thread

#Sony Data Discman

11 messages in this thread
#13650From: Dennis McDonald, OnlineOct 8, 1991 8:54 PM
Try to ignore what people tell you about the slow seek rate for the NEC CDR-36 and try it yourself. I love the portablility; I can pop it into a nylon bag with my notebook computer and I'm off. There are 2 Replies.
#13706From: Katherine CochraneOct 10, 1991 10:45 PM
Dennis, What kind of interface does the CDR36 have that you can use with a laptop? Or perhaps I should ask what laptop you use that can interface to the CDR36? (I have a laptop I'd love to use for my CDR-35, but there's no SCSI port.) Thanks, Kathy There is 1 Reply.
#13744From: Christopher DaviesOct 12, 1991 4:22 AM
Trantor sell a parallel port SCSI adapter that you can use with any laptop (any you can still print from the parallel port). It costs around $179. Trantor are on (415) 770-1400. As well as CD-ROMS the Trantor adapter will support Bernoulli boxes, SCSI hard disks and tape drives.
#13773From: Katherine CochraneOct 13, 1991 1:32 PM
Christopher, THANK YOU!!!!! That is great news! I'll get me one of those pronto. Kathy There is 1 Reply.
#13779From: Dick EastmanOct 14, 1991 7:56 AM
FYI: We have one of the Trantor Parallel port to SCSI adapters on a Zenith 386 laptop at the office, it works well. Running off the parallel port is much slower than a normal SCSI controller, but given the slower inherent speeds of battery-operated CD-ROM drives it doesn't seem to be any big deal. It is slower than the CD-ROM drive on a desktop PC but those who have used it don't seem to complain. They seem quite satisfied to have ANY CD-ROM on a laptop. – Dick There is 1 Reply.
#13804From: Katherine CochraneOct 14, 1991 8:44 PM
Dick, Thanks for the objective review. I hadn't thought of using my CDROM with batteries, but it is capable of it. Great! I could carry the thing around to do demos of some of the stuff I do, even away from AC. Yeah, it's easy to understand the feeling of "ANY CD-ROM on a laptop" is better than none. 'Preciate it! Kathy
#13815From: Dennis McDonald, OnlineOct 15, 1991 5:51 AM
Try the Trantor parallel to SCSI card – it is the size of a couple of packs of gum, plugs into the parallel port, and lets you plug a SCSI cable into the back of it to which you can attach a terminated SCSI device such as a CD-ROM drive. There are 2 Replies.
#13825From: Katherine CochraneOct 15, 1991 9:17 PM
Thank you, Dennis. Someone else has suggested the Trantor device (sounds like something from an Asimov book, doesn't it?). I do intend to call them as soon as I have 10 minutes to myself. I appreciate you note. Is the "Online" in your signature indicative of connection with the magazine of that name? Kathy
#13837From: Mr. Deane K YamaneOct 16, 1991 5:53 AM
Dennis: Your description of the Trantor cable sounds ideal. Do you know if: (a) It works with a Bernoulli Transportable? (b) I could then "string" additional SCSI devices to it? Where does one order the Trantor cable and about how much is it? Aloha, Deane
#13743From: Christopher DaviesOct 12, 1991 3:51 AM
The CDR-36 has not made it to England yet, but I will be very tempted when it arrives. I spend a lot of time on the road so portability would be very useful. Do you know if the CDR-36 is faster than its predecessor (CDR-35 I think).
#13816From: Dennis McDonald, OnlineOct 15, 1991 5:54 AM
Yes, the CDR-36 is faster, noticeably so, but I don't have any exact numbers to quote you.