#Big Flaw in Sony Package
12 messages in this thread
Phil,
I don't remember the context of this thread and am not sure of the buffer
size, probably 64k. The access time is too slow (500-600 ms) that I didn't
even consider it…
Greg
There is 1 Reply.
does MPC have a spec for access time as well as data transfer…
again, I wonder how the nec-36 compares to the sony 7205 bundle…
There is 1 Reply.
Phil,
Yes, the specs say <1 sec access time (way too high), 150k/sec transfer
rate (almost every one can do that). One item not mentioned, but which many
people (including myself) are getting burned on, is the buffer size. I
don't know if the NEC drive is completely MPC-compatible (it's too slow
anyway) but I KNOW the Sony bundle is NOT. Do not get it if you want to do
MM Windows right away. They have mentioned some sort of upgrade in about 5
mos.
Greg
There are 2 Replies.
Can you elaborate on what you know of the "upgrade in about
5 months"?
I just got their package, and I am quite impressed with it,
even running NG Mammals (the video is not totally smooth, but
it certainly is good enough for this application).
There are packages with soundboards & MPC compatible drives for
about $700, but they have just one or two disks (albeit good ones).
I opted for more software now, and a possible upgrade to truly
MPC compatible when the bank account recovers…
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Re: buffer size in the NEC portable …
Just got a catalog from CD ROM, Inc., which has a centerfold ad on NEC
drives. The Intersect CDR-36 (the portable) specs include:
500 ms average access time
150 KB/sec data transfer rate
64 KB cache memory
Specs for the non-portable CDR-73 and -83 show 300 ms access, same transfer
rate, same size cache.
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John,
Yeah, put the -73 and -83 still apparently don't do video too well. But
then again, PC Rag said that and their article on CD-ROM drives was
confusing and misleading…
Greg
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If the NECs don't do video well, even with a 64K cache and good access
times, what's the trick?
I'm hoping to buy a CD-ROM drive in the next six months or so, and it would
sure be nice to be able to tell from looking at the specs whether a drive
would do video or not. If you can't tell from the specs, I'd sure like to
find a review that judges the drives on their presentation of animation.
Seen anything good?
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John,
That's the thing – it's becoming apparent that you can't tell just from
the specs. There are really only a couple of guidelines that seem to work.
First, check around to see if anyone has tried a particular drive with MM
Windows and know what they're talking about. Second, I BELIEVE that all
MPC-compatible devices will have a sticker attached (like the titles
themselves that are starting to show up, i.e. – Multimedia Beethoven) or
they can claim, legally, that they are "MPC-compatible".
At any rate, I'll be trying out the Toshiba 3301 this weekend and will
try to let you know how it goes. Others are using the drive (even with
Mammals) and seem to be quite satisfied.
Finally, all of this is still relatively new. I think in the coming
months you'll see everyone (including magazine reviewers) get a handle on
what is going on and it should be easier to tell what will work and what
won't.
Good luck…
Greg
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Will be interested to hear how the Toshiba works.
Sounds like it's a good thing I don't have money burning holes in my pocket
right now. Maybe by the time I'm ready to buy, the choices will be
clearer.
re: video problems with NEC-73/83 CD-ROM….believe it.
an NEC owner.