Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!pepper!cmcmanis
From: cmcmanis%pepper@Sun.COM (Chuck McManis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: ST hard disk prices..:-(
Message-ID: <45465@sun.uucp>
Date: 15 Mar 88 01:51:58 GMT
References: <409@ole.UUCP> <8185@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Sender: news@sun.uucp
Reply-To: cmcmanis@sun.UUCP (Chuck McManis)
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Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mountain View
Lines: 51

I'm not trying to pick on anyone here, but lets look at the numbers shall
we?

In article <8185@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> (Andrew Weaver) writes:
->In article <409@ole.UUCP> deep@ole.UUCP (Pradeep Chilka) writes:
->>Why oh why does Atari charge an arm and a leg for their hard 
->>disk drives ~600-800 when I can get a 20MB hard disk for an AT 
->>for less than $300? 

Ok, our target is $600. What we need is a drive, controller, SCSI->ST506
interface, powersupply, Box and cables.

->                   ...However, there _are_ alternatives.  Take it from
->one who found out!  You can be saved from Atari's collective greed by
->finding your favorite 20Mb (or 30Mb or higher) hard drive mechanism, some
->available for under $250 retail via mail order or even less used, and
->purchasing the Berkeley Microsystems BMS-100 ASCI to SCSI converter
->board.  This, along with a SCSI to ST506 converter board, allows you
->to attach industry standard hard drive mechanisms to your ST.  I think
->the BMS-100 board is around $125 by itself, or $250 with the SCSI to
->ST506 board.  I mention that these are available separately because
->there are cheaper SCSI-to-ST506 converter boards. (<$100 from what I
->have heard.)  

Actually finding a SCSI->ST506 less than $100 is tough, SASI->ST506 it's
possible but you don't want SASI you want SCSI.

->	The point is, if you can find a decently priced mechanism, from
->$200 to $300, you can come up with a hard drive for less than what Atari
->charges.  Of course, you also need a power supply and a smidgen of
->technological prowess (or just plain bravado :-) and you can have a cheapo
->hard drive.

But wait a minute, let's see what we have
	20Meg Drive	$250
	BMS Controller	$250 (all PC drives are ST506)
	Power Supply	 $25
        Case		 $25 (or buy a PC clone case with supply for $40)
	Cable/Connectors $15 (you crimp them together)
		============
	    Total	$565. Holy Shit Batman I'm saving a measly $35!   

No, the answer to the original question which was "Why are PC drives so much
cheaper" is that all you get when you get a PC drive is the mechanism. You
don't get a power supply and a box and a special controller. Atari drive 
suppliers have to supply a complete system. A better comparison is with
Macintosh drives, which also have to supply a case and supply etc.

--Chuck McManis
uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis   BIX: cmcmanis  ARPAnet: cmcmanis@sun.com
These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you.