Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!oberon!cit-vax!ucla-cs!zen!ucbvax!fizbin.DEC.COM!binder
From: binder@fizbin.DEC.COM ("A few frilly words...")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: RE: Apple Drive bashing
Message-ID: <8709091410.AA15207@decwrl.dec.com>
Date: Wed, 9-Sep-87 13:03:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.8709091410.AA15207
Posted: Wed Sep  9 13:03:00 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Sep-87 04:34:25 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 18

>> "We'll just ram the head against the physical stop 39 times," [Apple] said.
>> "It can't possibly do any harm; just give the user indigestion."
 
> Being an Apple owner [Yes, I still have my ][+...], I've always wondered
> about that.  Why 39 times (or whatever it may be)?  Was there a scientific
> method used, or did the number just look good to somebody?
 
39 is a good number because the Apple floppy drive has 35 tracks.  No matter 
where you are, 34 whacks will get you home, with a few more for good measure.
The fact that certain third party drives have 40 tracks is not a problem - 39
will get them home, too, although with no margin for error.

Cheers,
Dick Binder   (The Stainless Steel Rat)

DEC Enet:	FIZBIN::BINDER
UUCP:		{ decvax, allegra, ucbvax... }!decwrl!fizbin.dec.com!binder
ARPA:		binder%fizbin.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM