Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!mailrus!cornell!rochester!kodak!ektools!barrett
From: barrett@ektools.UUCP (Chris Barrett)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs
Subject: HELP!!! Disk drive reliability data
Keywords: Disk drive reliability help laptop floppy
Message-ID: <1639@ektools.UUCP>
Date: 14 Dec 88 21:24:17 GMT
Organization: Eastman Kodak, Dept. 47, Rochester N.Y.
Lines: 34



HELP... We are in the process of developing a portable device that might 
use a 1.4 meg. 3.5 inch floppy disk drive for data access.  The issue of 
reliability is not fully answered by drive  manufacturer's data sheets.  
Does anyone have experience on reliability given the following application:

	1. Device will be used in offices, ambulances, military field 
	   hospitals, helicopters, and  possibly in animal barns. 

	2. Typical disk access will be infrequent.  Scheme is to dump 
	   operating data into battery backed RAM once per month.  Drive 
	   will then be unused for remainder of time.   Yes, I know this 
	   is inefficient.

	3. Typical operating temperature is 50 to 100 degrees F.

	4. Typical operating humidity range is 15 to 90% RH.

	5. Typical storage temperature (non-operating) is minus 10 to 
	   150 degrees F. 

Shock and vibration problems can be designed out be proper mounting but 
impact of climatic conditions, dirt, dust and non-use are difficult to 
anticipate.

Need data from large population of similar use devices.  Typical device 
might be a laptop computer used on a construction site.

Thanks for any help.

Chris

rochester!kodak!ektools!barrett
barrett@ektools