Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!unido!uniol!rode
From: rode@uniol.UUCP (Dirk Rode)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: Re: Questions about 130mm erasable MOD
Keywords: Magneto Optical Disk ISO SPARCstation
Message-ID: <2815@uniol.UUCP>
Date: 15 Jun 90 07:13:20 GMT
References: <1674@island.uu.net>
Organization: University of Oldenburg, W-Germany
Lines: 41

Hello,

 I want to say something about your question. We have 2 drives, one
Ricoh drive (RO-5030E) and one Sony Drive (SMO-C501-00) and we want to
use both for transporting data from a PDP11-84 with RT11 to a Interactive
UNIX System (386). Also we want to use the drives for a Mac IIx.
 We have the following problems:

 The Ricoh drive (delivered by Delta Computers) cannot format a MO-Disk.
This is a very big problem for us, because of this we cannot write any
data on this drive under the PDP11 and we only can use this drive for
storing up data just as on a magnetic tape. If you use other cartridges
then the original Cartrigdes (very exspensive), you only see the error
message "incompatible cartridge".

 On the Sony drive (delivered by K&S) we can format MO-Disks. So it is
possible to write a UNIX File System on it, you can also use the PDP11
or an Atari ST File System on a Disk. No Problems. But you cannot read
a Disk for a Ricoh Drive because you get a "Medium Format Corrupted"
error message. But with a little trick you can format a Ricoh disk,
only by using the embadded SCSI Controller, but not directly under UNIX.

 Now we want to change a new cartridge for the use with an Mac II.
But they use a different format on the MO and you cannot Format a Disk
under Mac OS. I'm using an Atari ST with a ICD Host Adapter for my
experiences, and I thing the Sony drive is much better than the Ricoh
drive (no Problems with the Sony drive from K&S, only changing the
SCSI Address, connecting - running - done.)

 If you want mor information about my Problems with MO-Drives (I only know
the Ricoh and the Sony drive) write me.
 If you had other problems and you know what to do - please write me too.

mfG Diro

-- 
*  Dirk Rode                   *   UUCP: ...!unido!uniol!rode          *
*  Zwischenahner Str. 64       *   Bitnet:   077481@Doluni1.Bitnet     *
*  2910 Howiek                 *   Nickname: Waldi                     *
*  Arbeitsgruppe Rechnerbetrieb Informatik der                         *
*  Universitaet Oldenburg (FB 10 - ARBI)                               *