Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!brl-adm!umd5!mimsy!oddjob!gargoyle!ddsw1!karl
From: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: 60 Mb Tape drives: Archive or Wangtec?
Message-ID: <907@ddsw1.UUCP>
Date: 29 Mar 88 16:00:12 GMT
References: <2892@uwspan.UUCP>
Reply-To: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc., Mundelein, IL
Lines: 46
Summary: Look at the construction and tape handling....

In article <2892@uwspan.UUCP> plocher@uwspan.UUCP (John Plocher) writes:
>
>I'm thinking of buying a 60Mb cartrage tape backup system
>and the dealer I talked to has an Everex QIC [02 or 36] system 
>for the following prices: (rounded to nearest $50)
>
>    Archive drive	650
>    Wangtec drive	800
>
>Anyway, the question is 
>    "What is the difference between the Archive drive
>     and the Wangtec drive that justifies a $150 price difference?"

The main difference is in the mechanical construction.

Take a look at both units (if you can; I have).  With the Archive you insert
a tape, which then moves to the right on a baseplate (slides over) and
"locks" in place.  The lever on the front is only for releasing the tape
once it has been inserted.  The head is loaded by virtue of the tape
being pressed against them.  It is possible to improperly insert a tape (ie:
not lock it properly) or have one mis-register in these drives; I've had it
happen.

The Wangtek drive takes a cartridge and locks it in place without any
lateral slop; that is, you push it in (the entire tray slides in an inch or
so) and when it returns outward on spring pressure the cartridge is locked
by a tang that comes around the front of the cartridge.  The head assembly
loads during this operation as well.  These are nearly impossible to
incorrectly load (unless you insert the tape upside down!); when the
carriage returns outward it locks solidly, positively engaging the tape.

The Wangtek seems like a much nicer and more solid mechanism... whether it's
worth $150.00 more is another matter entirely.  If it was going to be used
heavily I'd probably spring for it.

WARNING:
	Make *sure* you can mount the drive successfully.  Wangtek drives
	have only the lower set of holes for rails; the Televideo 386
	systems require a special bracket.  Other systems may have the same
	problem with mounting.  No info on whether the Archive has both sets
	of holes available for rail mounting.

-----
Karl Denninger                 |  Data: +1 312 566-8912
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. | Voice: +1 312 566-8910
...ihnp4!ddsw1!karl            | "Quality solutions for work or play"