modern removable media drives

From: Mark <mark_k_at_iname.com>
Date: Sun Nov 15 08:33:01 1998

On 13 Nov 1998 Eric Smith wrote:
>That's my point. The Syquest SyJet and Sparq drives, and the Iomgea
>Jaz drive, appear to use what you have listed as configuration 2.
>They have to, in order to get .75 to 1.0G density per platter.
>Configuration 1 can't get the head close enough to the media. And even
>if they did use configuration 1 and get the head close enough to the
>media, then it would be just as susceptible to foreign particles as
>configuration 2.
>
>That's precisely why they are so f*&#ing unreliable.
>
>Out of over 30 SyJet and Sparq drives, I don't think we've had a single
>one last more than 100 cartridge insert/eject cycles.

I'm surprised more people don't use MO (magneto-optical) drives. 640MB on a
3.5" MO disk, no head contact with disk surface (data read using laser), not
susceptible to magnetic fields, media life at least 30 years, cheap media
compared to Jaz, Zip etc. (12 pounds for a 640MB disk)

If the disk surface ever gets really dusty (and this will take a very long
time) you can just use a cleaning kit; basically this involves wiping the disk
surface with a cloth moistened with fluid, like you would to clean a CD-ROM
disc.


-- Mark
Received on Sun Nov 15 1998 - 08:33:01 GMT