Using old disks drives

Or if you're able (i.e. you're not on a PDP-8, or running an OS that requires an RL01) you can simply put in a SCSI adapter and use SCSI drives. While I have RL01 and RL02 drives on my PDP-11/44, I'd much rather use the SCSI HD it has (once I get access back to the system, it's buried in my parents garage). Also it's not simply power, my PDP-11/73 runs significantly quieter with SCSI drives than it did with MFM or ESDI drives. Not sure if going to SCSI effected the noise level on teh /23+ as I never had anything else in the BA23 chassis, and it has been about 10 years since I ran my VAXstation II/RRC. Additionally SCSI allows for CD-ROM's and DAT or 8mm tape drives. Another advantage to SCSI is the ability to hook the drive up to a Linux box, and use 'dd' to image it, and have an image you can use under SIMH. I tend to suspect that modern drives run a lot cooler as well, and for me, cooling is a major concern. Which is why the /73 and /23+ tend to only be run in the Winter. Oh, and lets not forget weight, some of us run our machines where we need to worry about the amount of weight we are putting on the floor. Personally I like running my PDP-11's with VT420's and SCSI, neither of which are really that "correct" for the systems, but who cares, I run them to use them. At the same time my intention is for the PDP-11/44 to become part of an exhibit once the library gets its building, and I have a DECwriter II and VT100's for when that happens. Zane