Space, the next frontier

From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
Date: Mon May 24 22:19:02 1999

<>And you have to know that little detail beforhand. Then there is the
<>matter of formatting as some can't (require the disk to be formatted else
<>where) and some require special software if they can.
<
<Now, I've heard of this before, but I can't understand why anyone would
<want to do this. And, where is 'else where'?

Simple, the disk is factory supplied with the correct base formatting.
For example the average PDP-11 user or MicroVAX user cannot format the MFM
hard disks used in some subsystem without special formatting software that
is part of a diagnostic package. Or the case of the DEC 8" floppies
most of the systems (RX01/02) cannot format them at all. This has occured
elsewhere in the industry over the years. There are two cases for doing
this, your locked into sole sourced media (TU58 for example) or for lack of
capability incorperated into the hardware. Some cases like a few of the
removeable platter packs, the servo information required for head
positioning is done as a seperate manufacturing operation and cannot
easily be put in the drive.

Allison
Received on Mon May 24 1999 - 22:19:02 BST