Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site mhuxt.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!evans
From: evans@mhuxt.UUCP (crandall)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: MacBottom  -- very short review
Message-ID: <1037@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Aug-85 19:42:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.1037
Posted: Mon Aug  5 19:42:10 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Aug-85 12:35:44 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 31

We have just received our MacBottom and I have had a few hours to fool
around with it. These are initial comments, a more complete review will
follow..

The unit is quite compact and light - it serves as a plinth that the Mac
sits on top of. You can connect it to either the printer or communications
port. If connected to the printer port it serves as a print spooler.
Power comes from a separate cable, but the off/on signal comes from the
Mac itself.

The thing is reasonably quiet as hard disks go -- I'm sensitive to noise
and don't find the unit as objectionable as the IBM PC fan. It also seems
fast for a Macdrive -- I haven't timed anything, but it seems much faster
than a Tecmar unit I used several months ago (it doesn't "feel" as fast
as the Hyperdrive -- I can't see how it could compete considering its
serial port connection). You have to use a startup disk to boot the thing,
but you do get variable sized volumes, disk backup and everyathing else
that the early first generation drives lacked.

The fact that I got my unit should be great news for all of you people
waiting for Apple's 20 Meg drive. I have a history of buying things just
as something is introduced with a much better price/performance ratio.


		more later as I shake it down

		Steve Crandall
		ihnp4!mhuxt!evans

the opinions above are entirely my own and lack any coupling with the
opinions of my employeer, wife, or ferrets