Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!know!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!batcomputer!pwong
From: pwong@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Patrick Wong)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Interfacing to the T1000SE 100-pin connector
Message-ID: <1990Oct2.123308.20097@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Date: 2 Oct 90 12:33:08 GMT
References: <1990Oct2.005928.7722@athena.mit.edu>
Organization: Cornell Theory Center
Lines: 71

In article <1990Oct2.005928.7722@athena.mit.edu> pae@athena.mit.edu (Philip Earnhardt) writes:
>I've been looking for a mechanism to connect a (non-portable) hard disk to
>my T1000SE for a while. I wanted to do this through the 100-pin connector
>to not tie up either the serial or parallel ports and to minimize data
>transfer latency that would be introduced by the interface.
>
Yes, it is possible.  There is a product sold by Systems Peripherals
Consultants (800-345-0824) in CA which consists of an adapter card to
be plugged to the 100-pin connector, a ribbon cable to go from the card
to the hard disk, and a power supply for the hard disk.
>
>There appears to be a solution on the horizon! Connect Computer Company is now
>selling a product called WONUnder cradle, which provides a single 8-bit XT
>card slot. The company has successfully plugged in a variety of cards from
>VGA controllers to network cards.
>
Yes, I also contact them earlier and basically I found what you found about
features and limitations of WONUnder box.
>
>They also tried the Plus Hard Card, but it didn't work. They claimed that
>the T1000SE thought that there were already 2 hard drives on the machine and
>wouldn't configure a third. I've managed to avoid the Wonderful World of
>DOS Drivers for most of my career...does anyone have any ideas if this is
>something they can fix via a config change? Doesn't the T1000XE have the same
>ROM Disk/RAM Disk setup?
>
If all you need is just an ext. hard drive using the 100-pin connector,
it is cheaper to buy an ext. hard drive than to buy any expansion chasis
plus a hard card (assuming the expansion chasis works with hard card).
(See the price below)
>
>Anyhow, CCC has shipped one of these beasties off to Toshiba. If a disk drive
>can be configured, they should figure out how to do it. Also, Toshiba's 
>"official" docking station for the T1000SE is now available in Japan. It
>covers the entire back of the machine, so it must have pass-throughs for
>all of the connectors. The Japanese cost is a bit over $1000 US. Ouch!
>I believe that's for 3 8-bit slots. The WONUnder appears to cost around
>$300 on the street. There's on ad in the October issue of Computer Shopper
>that lists the WONUnder...Excel Micro on Page 208P.
>
The Toshiba docking station (called "DeskStation") should be available
sometime this month (or next month).  It has TWO 16-bit full length
slots (16 bits because the DeskStation is supposed to be usable on T1200XE).
The list price is US$1199.

Yet another company called Advent Products, Inc. is going to sell a
expansion chasis with THREE full length slots (both an 8-bit and a 16-bit
versions will be available) some time this month.  The price will be
$495 for the 8-bit and $595 (?) for the 16-bit.  Their phone number
is 714-630-0446 (in Anaheim, CA).  They claim that they have no problem
in using a PLUS hardcard in their box.
>
>Anyhow, I'll keep in touch with CCC to see when they have figured out the
>hard disk configuration problem. This sounds like the cheapest way for
>someone to add "just one card" to their T1000SE.
>
Anyway, going back to the issue of ext. hard drive (a cheaper solution
in my opinion).  This product (marketed by Systems Peripherals
Consultants) is called Quickbrick(tm) and the price is $495 for 20 meg.
and $695 for 40 meg. (The 20 meg. is out of stock last time I called).
>
>Phil Earnhardt          Netwise, Inc.  2477 55th St.  Boulder, CO 80301
>Phone:303-442-8280      UUCP: onecom!wldrdg!pae
>My opinions do not reflect any official position of Netwise.

Patrick Wong
pcw@squid.graphics.cornell.edu

Disclaimer:  I have no connection with all the companies mentioned in the
             posting.  I am just another guy interested in putting a T1000SE
             into good use.