DMI 128Mg MagOptic Drive
19 messages in this thread
In Oct. 1992 Amiga World, Sheldon Leemon wrote up a 128 MB Magneto
Optical Drive by Digital Micronics. I'm interested in acquiring one,
but I've seen no ads anywhere offering them for sale. Does anyone have
any knowledge as to why?
Thanks and regards.
Regards Tom (via Whap!)
I don't know if this really answers your question but there's no need to
buy the DMI Optical Drive. I have a Mass Microsystems 128 MO Drive and am
very happy with it. Any good Mac magazine has various adds on 128 meg MO
drives.
Of course, they won't have Amiga support. Might is rtunning flawlessly and
I have had no need to call these other 3rd parties for any info on what to
do.
Miguel
Miguel:
Thanks for the info. I'll pick up a Mac mag and check the ads. What
did you have to pay for your Mass? I've checked Abel, found the DMI is
a special order, and that it will run $1616.00. Apparently, they are
not deeply discounted. Did you require special software, or is this a
matter of plugging in the SCSI, checking the terminating resistors and
running the standard DOS format program?
Regards Tom (via Whap!)
Thomas,
I've been following your interest in the DMI 128Mg MO drive. About two
weeks before your message, I posted a similar message inquiring if anyone
had experience with this drive since I am currently interested in
purchasing additional disk storage. Unfortunately, I received no replies
from anyone using the DMI drive. I have a brochure on the drive sent to
me by one of the forum members and it appears to be rather slow. This
appears to be confirmed in a review of the drive in the October Amiga
World. There are rumors that Syquest is planning to soon introduce a 128
Meg removable 3.5 in drive system. This would be ideal for me and I am
looking forward to seeing if these rumors are true. I'll be interested to
see what drive you finally decide upon and how you like it.
Tom
Where did you here this rumor about a Syquest 128meg 3.5" removable HD.
Is it supposed to be a MO drive? I guess it would have to be for a 3.5"
drive. I was thinking of getting a Syquest 88meg HD. It seems to be a
very cost effective way to go ($$$ per meg) that is.
//
Lee Olsen / Orlando, FL – on AutoPilot \X/
Lee,
T heard the rumor of a Syquest 3.5 in. removable here on one of the CIS
forums. I would stress that what I have heard is only a rumor. I have a
Squest 44 Meg and I have been very happy with its performance. In fact, I
too may ultimately wind up purchasing a Syquest 88 Meg to supplement the
44 Meg. I simply like the idea of more storage space on a smaller
medium.
Tom
Tom:
Probably the reason you received no replies to your inquiries is that
the DMI is apparently a special order item. (See my note to Manuel) I
asked my secretary to grill her husband on the MASS MO drive, allegedly to
be found for sale in various Mac mags. Her husband is a MacBug (AT&T
engineers apparently use the Macintosh… 😎 …) and may be able to send
me some data regarding it. If so, I will pass it along. (I assume, also,
you mean that Syquest may be coming up with a 128 MO! removable.)
Check on any replies to a query I will pose tonight to "ALL" regarding
using my DAT tape recorder for mass storage. The same answer should apply
to these Sony Mini-Disks that will be made available to us peons, if they
can get "our" Congress to levy the "Let's Help Poor Sony Corp." audio media
tax. 8-(
Regards Tom (via Whap!)
Tom,
Thanks for the info regarding MagOptic drives and the DMI 128 in
particular. I'll stay tuned for further information on new storage
devices.
Tom
All this talk about 128 MB Syquests fails to address that MO are very
stable as opposed to Syquests which I have had go bad on me every now and
then.
Also, let's assume you pay 3x more for an optical (at this point in time)
the media is close to half as expensive than 44MB drive, yet holds close
to 3x the storage. They're also a fraction of the mass of a syquest.
Besides, if I had to do 5.25" media all over again, I'd go bernouilli.
They're very stable as well (remember those ads showing one being dropped
while reading! Maybe not true, but it still looked great!)
They were designed better too (uh-oh, Beta vs. VHS all over again!)
ANyway, by the time the 128 MB Syquests do come out, we'll have dual sided
opticals, meaning 256MB 3.5" MO Disk drives!
Miguel
They already do have 256MB 3.5" MO disk drives. The ad I'm looking at is
near the back of an issue MacWorld. It's being distributed by Ocean
MicroSystems, Inc. (800-944-6232). It's called The 'Vista V256'. It'll
read/write the standard 128MB disks as well. The price is $1748.00,
additional 256MB cartridges are $89.00. Transfer rates are up to 1.2MB
per second.
//
Lee Olsen / Orlando, FL – on AutoPilot \X/
I've seen the ad, but they are definitely non-standard. I wouldn't trust
any claims of compatability unless some mag runs some tests.
Mig
Miguel:
I agree with you all the way. I got my ample-size nose into the M.O.
chase primarily to enjoy "Peace Of Mind(?)" of incorruptible data.
Brute speed is a secondary consideration.
Regards Tom (via Whap!)
Tom:
About $1500 for the MASS drive.
Yep, you just plug it in, load it's specs through the HD Toolbox,
low-level format and then standard format.
Nothing simpler!
Miguel
Miguel:
> load it's specs through the HD Toolbox <
Are you saying that this data is included somewhere in the 2.0 pack?
(I guess I sound a bit unpatriotic, inasmuch as I'm still enjoying 1.3)
😎
Regards Tom (via Whap!)
HD Toolbox will query the SCSI device you are working on and try to deduce
it's parameters. This is what I mean. Since 128MO's are still new, CBM
did not include a parameter setting for it within HD Toolbox. Therefore,
you have to get the settings from the drive itself.
Mig
Miguel:
> HD Toolbox will query the SCSI device..to deduce it's parameters. <
Gotcha. Thanks. I did see where there was JUST put into place an ISO
standard for the 3-1/2 inch M.O. where they are fixed at 256 Megs. It
has to do with the size and spacing of the 'pits.' Hopefully, a
revised HD_Toolbox will be made available to reflect this. The problem
lies in the fact the M.O. devices all appear to be SCSI, and CBM really
doesn't seem very enthusiastic about that type interface. I could have
a pretty long wait. Maybe the A5000? 😎
Regards Tom (via Whap!)
C= currently produces the best SCSI interface in the personal computer
marketplace. Really high performance drives like the Ami and all but blow
up other machines. The "other guys" are getting better but the Ami is
still the winner with SCSI.
-bill
Miguel,
I believe the 3.5" MOs come in both 512 and 1024 bute block varieties. I
understand that the Amiga generally will only accept the 512 block variety
– at least that was what I heard. If anyone can either refute or provide
the rationale I would be most appreciative.
wmc – via Autopilot!