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From: tcsc@tcsc3b2.tcsc.com (The Computer Solution Co.)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Disk space for FREE (was Re: super high density formatters)
Message-ID: <1990Nov21.023456.28006@tcsc3b2.tcsc.com>
Date: 21 Nov 90 02:34:56 GMT
References: <1990Nov16.035524.22022@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> <4319@ruuinf.cs.ruu.nl> <17184@hydra.gatech.EDU> <1990Nov18.100239.10040@corp.telecom.co.nz>
Organization: The Computer Solution Company, Inc.
Lines: 46

stephen@corp.telecom.co.nz (Richard Stephen) writes:

>In <17184@hydra.gatech.EDU> scott@kong.gatech.edu (Scott Coulter) writes:

>Back in the February 1989 BYTE, page 30, there is an advert from an outfit
>called Biological Engineering Inc, Co. (In Co - (303) 872 8945 or
>800-537-4226) that advertised a "Double Disk Converter". I sent for one of
>these gadgets ($29.95 + $3.50 s&h) to see what it was all about. I use it
>to punch the 2nd hole. The device is simply a pressesd metal plate with a
>spring loaded handle that pushes a hollow-ground steel tool the size of
>existing hole throught the case. Creates a neat hole with note ragged bits
>to drop into the case. It also does not load or distort the disc case.

>The advert says they checked out the media of both 720k and 1.44 MB discs
>and found no difference. They say they tested a 1000 discs and only one
>would not format and two had one bad track but none lost any data.

I have also purchased one of these devices.  However, I may have had
slightly more experience with it.  I purchase the cheapest 3.5" disks
available (usually from MEI in Columbus, OH) and do the hole punching.
Over the past 2 years, we have processed nearly 1000 such disks.  They
are used in house on both MS-DOG and Unix systems.  We also use them for
distribution of software.  So far, only one disk has failed to format.
(After covering the extra hole, it wouldn't even format at low density).
No disk read error has happened on any local or customer system.

I checked my experience with the regional rep for one of the largest
(US) suppliers of media.  He checked with the factory (in St. Paul) and
found that the difference is in the warranty, not in the media.  They
will replace any diskette which fails at the density for which it was
purchased.  Diskettes which have been modified will not be replaced.

This amounts to the most expensive insurance I have ever seen.  We
usually pay about half a buck for 3.5" diskettes in bulk.  I've seen
the HD's for sale in similar quantities for more than twice that price.
Based on my experience and that of a number of others, I believe that
the disk manufacturers and distributors have perpetuated a myth to their
own substantial financial benefit.  
_______________________________________________________________________________
David P.  Romig                 INTERNET: tcsc@tcsc3b2.tcsc.com
The Computer Solution Co.         USENET: ...!tcsc3b2!tcsc
P.O. Box 716                     ATTMAIL: attmail!tcsc3b2!tcsc
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Voice: 804-794-3491 x31              Fax: (804)794-6194
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