Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!spool2.mu.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cunixd.cc.columbia.edu!mkg4
From: mkg4@cunixd.cc.columbia.edu (Michael K Gavin)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: Question about SCSI for IBM compatibles
Message-ID: <1991Jan7.000043.28911@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
Date: 7 Jan 91 00:00:43 GMT
Sender: mkg4@cunixd.cc.columbia.edu
Distribution: comp.periphs.scsi
Organization: Columbia University
Lines: 23

I'm thinking about upgrading my '386 to a SCSI hard drive, and some time
in the fairly near future adding a CD Rom drive and possibly a tape drive
for backup purposes.  I'm attracted to SCSI because of the theoretical
possibility of attaching all three devices to one controller (host?).  
But I hear ominous rumblings that because of compatibility problems the
possibility is still theoretical.

I've tried to do my homework by reading a couple of articles in Byte magazine,
and scouring this net and BIX for information.  So I'm vaguely aware of
standardization efforts like ASPI (right acronym?) and SCSI-2, but I don't
know what these have to do with currently available technology.  So, my
question is: should I take the plunge now, or wait until SCSI-2 or whatever
becomes a reality?  I'm looking at the Adaptec 1542 SCSI adapter, and a
Toshiba 100 MB hard drive.  Any comments on these products?  Any information
on whether I will actually be able to hook up a CD rom and/or tape drive to
the Adaptec host?  If so, which ones?  Thanks for any help.




                                    Mike Gavin
                                    mkg4@cunixd.cc.columbia.edu
                                    uunet!columbia.edu!mkg4