8 Nov
2001
8 Nov
'01
1:36 p.m.
Don Maslin wrote:
On Thu, 8 Nov 2001, Eric Chomko wrote:
Yes, I got those from earlier posts. Cost differntial?
Eric
Don Maslin wrote:
Certainly! Both the lead screw and the capstan/split-band positioners
were available. On Wed, 7 Nov 2001, Eric Chomko wrote:
Good point! But doesn't that make it interesting now in 2001? I mean the slide
rule
compared to the electronic caluclator makes the slide rule seem like a lousy design.
Aren't slide rules interesting today.
Did an alternative exist, in 1974, to the spiral cam head positioner?
Eric
Allison wrote:
> General comment,
>
> Most 8" systems were expected be and behaved reliably and have
> at least 250k of space.
>
> Most 5.25" systems could be reliable but, often weren't. I'll
restrict
> comments to 5.25" for the later reason.
>
> Most of the complaints I've had with disk systems be they Apple or not
> were often in this order.
>
> 1- Drives (SA400 was pure garbage!!!)
Whoa! I bought my Smoke Signal Broadcasting disk system back in 1978
with two SA400 drives. I added a third drive in the late 80s. To this day
all three drives work great. I did switch drives 0 and 2 to allow the most
used drive to get less use and the newest drive to become the main drive.
But, I'd hardly call a disk drive "pure garbage" that has lasted for 12
and
23 years! And that is in lieu of the fact that they had a 5 year life
expectency.
my 2 cents...
And worth every penny of it :) But the fact is, that despite your
fortunate experience, the spiral cam head positioner was probably the
worst idea since the stone wheel!
- don
- don