#So, What's new(COMDEX)??
16 messages in this thread
PMJI–
Could you tell me the model number of the new Toshiba CD-rom and also what
dealer is handling it.
Thanks
MEK
I think its a Toshiba 3301BC, there is a dealer mentioned in this forum.
Paul of Kodak hgas mentioned it a few times too.
There is an article in Nautilus NewsBytes Vol 12-2 about new Toshiba
drives. The number is 3401 not 3301–200ms access/300kbps transfer time.
Available in internal, external or four-pak.
Thanks for the correction on the model number for the Toshiba.
I called Toshiba earlier this week and they noted that the TXM-3401
wouldn't start shipping until sometime in Feb 93. Sounds like an
interesting drive. I'm holding off on my drive purchase until the 3401
comes out. Hope it won't be obscenely expensive…
– Mike –
I was hoping what Toshiba said in their press release about December
availability was true but I guess not. By the way, did you happen to to ask
them about the interface? Is 16 bit SCSI/2 available or even better, (wish
list) 32 bit VESA Local Bus SCSI/2? The release didn't say much about the
interfaces. The price listed was $699 for the internal, $150 or so for the
interface. It's a little obscene right now. I'm holding out for this thing
too.
Sorry Paul, I didn't ask about the interface. Certainly SCSI-2 would be
the ideal. Probably should have asked about the controller card as well,
i.e. who's controller, manufacturered by who, available drivers…
I'll try and give Toshiba a call next week again and get this clarified,
appreciate the ideas. Maybe I can get them to send a spec sheet (if it's
available). If I can get some more specifics on the TXM-3401 I'll post
here.
If you're interested, here are the phone numbers I've collected:
Toshiba (714) 455-0407
Chinon (800) 441-0222
Mitsumi (408) 970-0700
Texel (800) 886-3935
I wish you were right about December but sounds like the marketing folks
got a little anxious.
– Mike –
Sir Knight:
Your gallantry shows in the noble quest for the speedy and versatile CD-ROM
drive. In this quest a new possibility for our common cause:
CD Technology Inc. 408-752-8500 (currently offers CD-ROM w/Toshiba 3301
subsystem–maybe 3401 in future?)
In the 12/8/92 Coming Up section of PC Magazine I saw that they plan to do
one of those roundups of CD-ROM hardware and software. This may useful to
our cause.
Using my time machine here, I took a look at some previous messages and
came up with some other criteria.
Photo CD compatibility Kodak's new format for pictures
XA " ?
CD-I Phillips new format
multiple session capability ?
I know that I've seen the terms XA and CD-I but at the moment all I can
recall is that they are improved formats. I've seen multiple session come
up and am not familiar with the term. It may not be possible to find a
drive with all these capabilities.
I don't know if Mr. Rubin is still tuning into this thread but here's some
advice for his new 486 machine. Get a good VGA accelerator card. It really
does make a difference in performance for MPC applications.
Mike, I'll let you know if I come up with anything else.
/EXIT
Yes, it is a quest we embark upon to seek the elusive; and yet, journey
upon waters yet to be explored. Gallant is the deed…
In terms of Photo-CD, the ability to read CD-ROMs which have once been
written to for initial establishment of photos and not filled, then the
CD-ROM is called single session. If you should take the CD-ROM back to the
photo processor to add additonal photos then this CD-ROM then becomes a
multiple session CD-ROM. In other words, a CD-ROM written to more then
once in non consecutive time.
CD-I is Phillips new specification format for CD INTERACTIVE. You probably
have seen some CD-I units like at Sears where the folks have been playing
games on it with a television set as you walk by. It is my understanding
that VERY FEW CD-ROM drives will have the ability to be Photo-CD (multiple
-session), XA(e"X"tended "A"rchitecure), AND CD-I compatible. I think
there is only 1 or 2 drives which can do this and I don't recall which ones
they are.
The Toshiba 3401 seems to satisfy 2 of the 3 and does it quickly. This
will satisfy my requirements. I like the idea of what CD-I can do but I
think it needs further maturing and market penetration before it becomes
something I will worry about. Probably this time next year I'll need to
revisit this issue.
I agree with your comment about a good VGA accelerator card but be careful
in the one you choose. My opinion is to choose one with a FEATURE
CONNECTOR on it. Some good accelerator cards (like the ATI Graphics Ultra
(which I have)) do not have this. If you are thinking future with possibly
a NTSC video card, some NTSC cards require this option.
– Mike –
FYI for you and Paul Kudlach:
CD-I requires a complete player, not just a specific kind of CDROM drive.
It is a closed system intended to be used independently in conjunction with
your tv, and uses its own format for recordin data on the CD. A source of
confusion may be that the CD-I player happens to be a variant of the XA
format, but this does not mean you can play a CD-I disc on a pc. You
can't.
The criteria for Photo-CD compatibility are 1) XA and 2) multi-session
compatibility. The good nes is that there are increasing numbers of drives
available with these characteristics. And some, like Toshiba, have upgrade
paths that enable modification for Photo-CD multi-session capability.
Hope this helps! Best — Rich Bowers
Thanks Rich for the information. Seems like there is so much to consider
when selecting a drive it can lead to a state of no decision or possibly
wrong decision. This forum (and members like yourself) are the best way of
trying to keep it straight.
– Mike –
Thank you for information. I was getting a headache trying to sort all of
these new developments. I enjoy your appearances in Nautilus and presence
here.
Sir Knight:
Your humbled companion is grateful to find such wisdom in this journey. I
should have sought counsel long ago, for alas, I find myself in troubled
waters, and fear for my fate…
Too late! Last week I ordered a new system (local bus) with the ATI
Graphics Ultra Pro VLB and was contemplating adding a Video Blaster(?).
This quest has so many unexpected twists and turns and new bridges to
cross.
Thanks for the information on CD-I. I guess it's comparable to VIS being
brought out by Tandy. And I agree with you that it still looks like an
interesting educational and entertainment technology worth watching.
In my search for MPC-ness (I checked the libraries for the MPC
percentages-I didn't find it–maybe Mr. Bowers knows) this is what I came
up with for my current 386-25mz machine:
Not more than x% % of cpu usage My machine
Ideal MPC Standard Display 62% 30%
40% Digital audio 5% 10% ? Data Streaming 89%
30% ?
I knew that my CD-ROM was not MPC but I was surprised that my VGA was below
the ideal. My only thought with accelerated VGA was that it would lower
the load on the CPU, 386 or 486. Maybe Mr. Harris has a better insight in
this than I do and can let us know the other two MPC percentages.
Your statement really does not hold true in that in order to meet MPC
criteria, it "must use less than 40%" of the bandwidth, so therefore the
use of a 386 or 486 really makes no difference. Frank Harris Computron,
Ltd.
I thought that the use of accelerated VGA would take some of the load off
the CPU. If you mean by bandwidth percentage of CPU used by the display, my
current 386-25mz VGA display requires 62% of the CPU's time which is over
the 40% you mention when I am running an MPC application. If you mean
something else I'd appreciate being set straight. If you have the MPC % for
digital audio and data streaming I appreciate that too, because I can't
find that in the MPC documents I've looked at.
New Media magazine has it as a TXM3401E. 200ms/300kbps