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From: tankus@hsi.UUCP (Ed Tankus)
Newsgroups: net.unix,net.unix-wizards
Subject: Re: Micro-Vax Tape Cartridges
Message-ID: <308@hsi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Feb-86 12:47:51 EST
Article-I.D.: hsi.308
Posted: Thu Feb  6 12:47:51 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Feb-86 08:25:45 EST
References: <2977@ncsu.UUCP> <312@bunny.UUCP> <2591@ukma.UUCP> <306@gould9.UUCP>
Organization: Health Systems Int., New Haven, CT.
Lines: 29
Xref: watmath net.unix:7058 net.unix-wizards:16696

> In article <2591@ukma.UUCP>, sean@ukma.UUCP (Sean Casey) writes:
> > Indeed, TK50 cartridges are available ONLY from Digital for $29.  
> 
> Not strictly true.  I was quoted 2 months delivery from DEC, and got
> 2 week delivery from an OEM (a lucky break, admittedly).
> 
> -- 
> 	Joel West	 	(619) 457-9681
> 	CACI, Inc. Federal, 3344 N. Torrey Pines Ct., La Jolla, CA  92037
> 	{cbosgd,ihnp4,pyramid,sdcsvax,ucla-cs}!gould9!joel
> 	gould9!joel@nosc.ARPA

As I understand it, the reason for the shortage is because the tape maker (3M)
recalled most of the tapes. You should be careful when buying TK50 cartridges:
if they don't say DEC (Digital, etc.) you could be buying an UNFORMATTED tape.
That's right. These tapes ARE preformatted. Formatting a tape can ONLY be done
under VMS (from what I am told) and these routines may not generally be
available to the public.


Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with DEC. This is a buyer-beware public service
            announcement.
-- 

    "   For every word there is a song upon which inspiration lies ..."

    Ed Tankus
    Net  :  {noao!ihnp4!yale!}!hsi!tankus
    Snail:  Health Systems Int'l, 100 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511