Xref: utzoo comp.unix.microport:1101 comp.unix.xenix:2799
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!rutgers!gatech!mcdchg!ddsw1!karl
From: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.microport,comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: Colorado Memory Systems Tape Drive
Summary: STAY AWAY -- these guys won't give out tech specs!
Keywords: QIC-40 tape backup colorado
Message-ID: <1469@ddsw1.UUCP>
Date: 27 Jul 88 16:33:55 GMT
References: <1377@ssc.UUCP>
Reply-To: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Distribution: na
Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc., Mundelein, IL
Lines: 41

In article <1377@ssc.UUCP> fyl@ssc.UUCP (Phil Hughes) writes:
>Anyone have any information on using a Colorado Memory Systems
>tape backup on either Microport or XENIX?  This is a QIC-40 compatible
>tape drive that, I think, plugs into the floppy disk controller.
>Inexpensive (<$300) and seems to be popular for DOS.

Well, popular for DOS it is, but here's the pitfall:

There is no driver for SCO /386 or Microport ANYTHING.

Worse yet -- they are unwilling to release *ANY* technical data on the
device.  That's right -- NOTHING.  I tried in vain with their earlier
product (the XR4) and was told that it was:
	1) Proprietary -- forget technical specs.  They're "not available",
	   even if we were willing to sign a non-disclosure on the data!
	2) They were working on a Xenix driver, but had NO IDEA when
	   it would be ready.  This was many months ago; I have not heard
	   from them since.  My sources tell me that the '386 driver is
	   STILL not out (and probably never will be).
	3) They would not release what they had ('286 Xenix driver) to me in
	   source form to hack on and convert to the '386 -- EVEN WHEN WE
	   OFFERED TO GIVE IT BACK TO THEM WHEN WE WERE DONE, and even under
	   a non-disclosure here as well.

I went all the way to their VP, and got nowhere.  I have a feeling you will
run into the same problem.  

Worse yet, I have heard reports that their Xenix/286 driver (for the XR4)
is very buggy.   Earlier we had tried the XR4 drive w/DOS -- some
controllers barfed on it, and other times we got a "Noisy tape" error
message for no apparent reason (which blows the current operation).  Not nice.

Since I'm not a glutton for punishment, I didn't bother with this drive -- 
we bought an Irwin.

Buy something else -- from someone who will at least give you some idea of
how the $%#@@ thing works!

--
Karl Denninger (ddsw1!karl) Data: (312) 566-8912, Voice: (312) 566-8910
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.    "Quality solutions at a fair price"