Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mdisea!jackb
From: jackb@MDI.COM (Jack Brindle)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Mac on its side
Message-ID: <1991May16.171347.15211@MDI.COM>
Date: 16 May 91 17:13:47 GMT
References: <674257636.4@blkcat.FidoNet> <1991May16.010706.1651@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us>
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In article <1991May16.010706.1651@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us> alex@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Alex Pournelle) writes:
>DON.NOLL@p3425.f421.n109.z1.FidoNet.Org (DON NOLL) writes:
>
>>    Laying any Mac II, Mac IIx, or Mac IIfx on its side is dangerous!  
>>PH> This is because the hard disk is mounted with the read/write arm  
>>PH> mounted sideways.  
>
>This is mostly hooey.  If you check with your drive manufacturer--not
>Apple, but someone who knows--the drives can be oriented any way but
>face down or on their ends.  Almost all are specifically warranted in
>those three positions only, and no others.  Unless Quantum has changed
>their minds, the Pro80 and 40 are OK on their sides or bottom.

Actually, I believe Quantum states that any position MAY be used to mount
their disks. My Q280 (the 80 meg version used in original Mac IIs) works
just fine upside down. In fact, this is the only position that it won't
scream with bearing noise. Apple's warning about side-mounting the Mac II
is due to the position of the power supply. It is at the bottom in a side
mounted configuration. The heat from the supply will rise to
the disk drives instead of being sucked out by the fan. It's better,
therefore to place the Mac II on the other side, but then you won't be able
to get at the floppy disk drive.  The IIcx and IIci have their power 
supplies on the same side as the disks. No problem at all setting them on 
their sides!

Jack Brindle
ham radio: wa4fib/7