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From: ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu (Ed Krimen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Wanted: Info on SyQuest drives
Message-ID: <1991May02.062642.3920@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Date: 2 May 91 06:26:42 GMT
References: <63986@bbn.BBN.COM>
Sender: news@ecst.csuchico.edu (USENET)
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Organization: California State University, Chico
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I have some knowledge of Syquest drives running on three totally different
systems. (Actually, I came across another system today that is running one.)  To
summarize, I wouldn't buy one now if I needed one.  I'd look closer at the 
Ricoh removable hard drive.

A local sysop has had nothing but trouble running his Syquest on a MS-DOS-
based system.  He went through two mechs within a couple of months time.

A friend of mine runs a Syquest on his Atari ST and it recently crashed
after about a year.

The place where I have my internship has had a Syquest on their Mac IIfx for
over a year with no problems, it seems.

I see a problem with the cartridges.  The theory is that HD platters are
supposed to be protected from dust particles, etcetera, but the Syquest
drives' shutter can be easily opened and expose the platter.  I can't
see how it can possibly protect the platter.  It's about as protective
as the shutter on a 3.5" disk!

I don't have any experience with the Ricoh drive, nor have I ever heard of
anyone actually using one, but the rumor is that they are more expensive
and more reliable than the Syquest.
-- 
   |||   Ed Krimen [ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu or al661@cleveland.freenet.edu]
   |||   Video Production Major, California State University, Chico
  / | \  SysOp, Fuji BBS: 916-894-1261