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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: The New IBM Wonder-Toys
Message-ID: <1711@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Apr-87 14:56:43 EST
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.1711
Posted: Wed Apr 22 14:56:43 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Apr-87 03:20:08 EST
References: <1177@spice.cs.cmu.edu> <1495@cadovax.UUCP> <1571@munnari.oz>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Distribution: world
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 34
Keywords: IBM PS/2 3.5" disks

In article <1571@munnari.oz> mb@munnari.UUCP (Michael Bednarek) writes:
>In article <1495@cadovax.UUCP> keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle) writes:
>>What I thought was funny was watching the IBM salesman on 'The Computer
>>Show' demonstrate the advantages of the new 3-1/2 inch drive "See, you 
>>can put them in your pocket" and being reminded of the Apple guys doing
>>that some 3 years ago.
>>
>>Keith Doyle
>
>I think IBM should be applauded for doing the right thing.
>( ... more joy about one repentant sinner ... )
>
>And, as a flow-on, 90mm disks (as IBM calls them here) should now
>become real cheap?

Huh?  The diskettes have already been getting pretty cheap without IBM's help.

Likewise drive prices have been steadily descending, mostly due to competition
between Japanese vendors.  IBM is using custom mechanisms that don't use the
standard power and signal cable arrangement.  Avoiding standardization doesn't
help lower overall prices.

Likewise the PS/30 has a non-standard 3.5" hard drive.  This means the average
dealer or customer can't just buy a generic drive and stick it in.  Now there
will have to be ST506 3.5" drives, SCSI 3.5" drives and IBM 3.5" hard drives.

Sometimes IBM leads and sometimes they follow.  Most of the time they try real
hard to watch their ass and protect their profits.  I wouldn't be surprised if
their 3.5" drives spin backwards 8-).

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)