Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!munnari.oz.au!uhccux!uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu From: kiki@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jack W. Wine) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: TEAC SCSI floppy summary Message-ID: <12649@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> Date: 25 Apr 91 07:48:20 GMT Sender: news@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu Organization: University of Hawaii Lines: 85 Thanks very much for all the comments and suggestions. This summary is posted now because there are questions about the ASCI/SCSI protocols and TOS and Amiga OS that would be better handled by this newsgroup. Some people may be happy with the following price schedule obtained from a TEAC distributor in Anaheim, CA, J.D. Hannam [(714) 632-3458]: -------------------------------------------------- | 2.88MB 3.5" SCSI | 1.44MB 3.5" SCSI quantity | (FD-235JS-501) | (FD-235HS) -------------------------------------------------- 1 $192 $157 2-10 $185 $151 50 $180 $147 100 $176 $144 -------------------------------------------------- The single quantity prices are low enough so that a group purchase is not necessary. The salesperson, Tim, at J.D. Hannam, also said that they have only about 10 drives in stock and another shipment is expected in the third week of May. They also have a pickup window, so you can fetch your drive immediately. Price quotes from Western Micro [(619) 453-8430] are about $30 higher in all categories. There is an East Coast TEAC distributor, Krystal, with phone number (212) 385-1900. Most people might want to wait until some interfacing problems are resolved. The following things are required to operate the SCSI floppies: 1) SCSI adaptor (ICD is popular and ~$100) 2) SCSI floppy driver and formatting software (NOT YET AVAILABLE) A powered case and SCSI cable are also required, although many people want to install the drive internally in a ST or PC tower case and use it as their "A" (but actually "C") drive, if possible. Hopefully, anyone knowledgeable about the ST TOS and ASCI-SCSI protocols will offer us help. The basic question is whether anyone is willing to write the driver and formatter programs. Another concerns the procedure TOS performs at bootup. Will TOS interrogate the SCSI floppy and obtain its parameters? If so, then will it be able to boot up as a "C" drive with a formatted disk? Is a driver program needed at all, if the previous two questions are af- firmative? Regarding the practicality of a 2.88MB drive: It seems that people have widely differing opinions on the SCSI floppies and the reactions range from "great" to one in the followup post: "crazy." :D Comparisons were often made between other drives with removeable media, such as the Syquest and the expected Insite Floptical, both of which are faster and have higher storage. The Syquest (~$375 bare), was said to have problems with reliability as well as costlier disks (~$70). The Insite Floptical will not be in full production until August (although Arrow Electronics is plan- ning to sell the bare drive in June for $490, as well as an evaluation kit which includes a drive, single disk, utility software, OEM and programmer's manual, and mounting hardware for $685). The floptical disks, which hold about 21MB of data, will supposedly sell in the range of $20-25. The range of reactions seem to stem from the fact that the 2.88MB floppy is an interim technology, so that people with fast, hard drives will see it one way, while people using 720K or low capacity hard drives will appreciate it more. For people who prefer other manufacturers (Sony and Toshiba have indicated that they do not make embedded-SCSI floppies): Chinon (213) 533-0274 Citizen (213) 453-0614 Epson (213) 534-4500 Mitsubishi (213) 515-3993 Panasonic (408) 262-2200 Sony (408) 432-0190 Toshiba (714) 583-3000 YE Data (404) 446-8655 The following is a list of 4MB ED (Extra-high Density) disk distributors: Azerty 800 888-8080 Digi. Stor. 800 232-DISK Intec (317) 290-0500 Neamco 800 225-2478 Thanks again to everyone for the information, which is believed to be accu- rate, but any correction and verification is welcomed.