Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!batcomputer!theory.tn.cornell.edu!pwong
From: pwong@theory.tn.cornell.edu (Patrick Wong)
Subject: Re: External hard drive through parallel port (LONG! But SAVE it!)
Message-ID: <1991Apr12.132059.10553@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
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Organization: Cornell Theory Center
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Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1991 13:20:59 GMT

Laptop owners:

As I am pretty busy these days, I try to do a quick summary here regarding
what I have found based on my research into the subject matter for the last
few months.

For ext. (expensive) hard drives that connect to your parallel port:

company name     tel no.      approx price        comments

Liberty Systems  408-983-1127  from $899 (52 meg)  SCSI; daisy chain possible

Axonix           800-866-9797  from $599 (20 meg)  optional battery

CCSI             800-782-3525  from $295           an expansion box with
                                                   interface card installed
                                                   user has to put in a
                                                   8-bit hd controller card in
                                                   its single slot and a 3.5"
                                                   or 5.25" HD 
                                                   its drive bay.

Trantor          415-770-1400  $179                a parallel-to-SCSI adaptor
                                                   user gets his/her own ext.
                                                   SCSI drive

SPC              619-693-8611  from $495 (20 meg)  optional battery; also avail.
                                                   ext hd that uses Toshiba
                                                   100-pin expansion port

ASI              408-929-2482  from $679 (40 meg)  NOT connected to parallel
                                                   port; uses your laptop's
                                                   exp. slot or Toshiba's
                                                   100-pin port; hd is
                                                   removable; SCSI; daisy chain
                                                   possible; extra hd pack
                                                   is available

***LATEST INFO***

BSE              714-832-4316  $199                 an ext. hd drive kit that
                                                    comes with everthing except
                                                    the drive; *CUSTOM* chip;
                                                    thus fast transfer rate
                                                    (500K bytes/s); user puts
                                                    in his/her own IDE drive;
                                                    2 models supporting 2.5" and
                                                    3.5" hd; 2.5" hd model comes
                                                    with rechargeable battery


OK! Guys, that's all I have found.  If you need more info., please call
individual companies.  However, if you have experience with any of the above
units, please let me (or the whole comp.sys.laptops) know !  Thanx!

Personally, I am targeting towards BSE.  They are sending me some literature.
On the other hand, the flexibility and price offerred by CCSI are very
attractive.  Imagine, if you are tired of using the hd, remove the hd
controller card and install other card like ethernet card, game card, etc
(Remember, the slot is a full-length 8- or 16-bit slot.)  Actually, CCSI also
sells a few other models, one of which has 7 slots and 4 open drive bays for
$500.  (Remember again, these boxes are connected to parallel port and thus
data transfer to and from hd is quite slow but it works).

Disclaimer:  Sigh!  If I were cOnnected to any or all of the above companies,
             I won't be here in Ithaca doing what seems to be life-long
             PhD study at Cornell earning next to pitiful stipend.

Patrick Wong