Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hpfcdc!rjn
From: rjn@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Bob Niland)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: HP: we need HP-IB on optical drives
Message-ID: <5570232@hpfcdc.HP.COM>
Date: 30 Jun 89 21:49:09 GMT
References: <210018@speclab.bgp-usgs.gov>
Organization: HP Ft. Collins, Co.
Lines: 46

re: "The new HP read/write optical disk is great, but it only comes in SCSI."

> Is there even SCSI for the 800 series?

Only as a "special" today, and I don't know the terms.


> So how about an HP-IB read/write optical disk?

At least one third party (I.E.M.)  offers MO in HP-IB CS/80.  Check any
HP-targetted trade publication for an address.  I don't have it handy.


> Or is this a message that HP-IB is going away?

We are migrating to SCSI rapidly, but the MO disks were not made SCSI-only
with that in mind.  They were designed with both HP-captive and the OEM
markets in mind.


> I am told by sales that there are no current plans for HP-IB optical!

If true, that could change.  The installed base and HP non-SCSI (e.g. HP3000)
demand is pretty high.


> Can I convert my 571 MByte disks to SCSI.

Only to differential, for which we haven't a host interface yet.


> Would speed suffer if I did?

No.

But you don't need to.  The Series 300 (and 800, when it gets SCSI) can
support HP-IB and SCSI interface mixtures on the same machine.


> How about SMD, HSMD, ESMD....?

Fast, but primitive, and not planned for any HP9000 systems.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland        rjn%hpfcrjn@hplabs.HP.COM           3404 East Harmony Road
                  [hplabs|hpu...!hpfcse]!rjn          Ft Collins CO 80525-9599