[net.micro.mac] MacSCSI update

bass@dmsd.UUCP (John Bass) (09/17/85)

We have been taking a lot of calls at Fastime about the MacSCSI board --
most of the questions are the same -- to help other readers of the net
who are interested (and to save many more telephone calls!) here is the info:

	1) The MacSCSI board and software was done in a few days for my
	own use -- it looked like a good thing to publish in DDJ.
	This was a Q&D implementation to minimize cost and effort, it
	has been a lot of fun, and seems to have helped a fair number of
	folks get a cheap hard disk.

	The Basic MacSCSI board can be obtained assembled and tested
	along with the sources published in DDJ for $150.00 plus $10.00
	COD shipping from Fastime (address below). We offer an 8% discount
	for moneyorder/cashiers-check with order, which makes the kit
	$138.00 plus $5.00 shipping for folks outside Calif -- Calif
	residents need to add 6% sales tax ($8.28).

	From the rush produced by the DDJ article we are back ordered
	about 3 weeks on the second build of 100 units. We ship prepaid
	orders first priority and COD orders as extra units are available.
	This is done since we are required by law to promtly ship prepaid
	mail orders, it takes 6 weeks to get our money from UPS COD
	shipments, --AND-- We feel people should get units in the order they
	pay for them.

	2) Most any hard disk and sasi/scsi controller can be used -- I used
	the Xebec/Seagate because I had one and it was by far the easiest
	to get running. To customize the (XEBEC) S1410.c routine for other 
	controllers and drives you need to add some C code to handle bad track
	or bad sector allocations (very drive/controller specific) -- plus -- 
	issue some form of set-media type command (again very drive/controller 
	specific).  The SCSI standard was lacking in this area and every 
	controller is different. A group has recently published a "uniform 
	command set" addendum to the standard so it might get better in a 
	couple years.

	3) We are just finishing the second release of the software which
	includes the bad track/sector support for most of the common controllers
	plus upto 16 fixed partitions assigned at format time. The partitions
	are activated from a desk accessory. This product is released as
	preconfigured binaries for several common controllers. Also included
	are un-linked Aztec C binaries for the format and driver routines plus
	source to the controller interface routines (S1410.c in the DDJ piece).
	The original price was $20.00 (a mistake for several reasons) which
	we will honor for all pre-paid orders that include a MacSCSI board
	which we recieve by the end of Sept. After that the price will 
	be $75.00.

	4) We have drive kits that are new parts and not particularly cheap
	since we are not buying a high volumes. You can generally do better
	by shopping around and doing a little programming to adapt your
	drive controller combination -- maybe people will post their versions
	of S1410.c for other configurations for the less skilled users.

	5) This board will probably NOT work with the new apple roms when
	they are released since the board uses the second half of the rom's
	address space.

	For use with the new roms and to make internal upgrades easy --
	We are currently starting a second generation host adapter very 
	much like a well known internal drive company. It will also use
	an AP clip over the M68000 and include roms for self boot. We are
	thinking about a 1mb ram upgrade and video conversion circuit as
	an option. Since the Clip is $70 and it has much more logic we
	think the price for the new host adapter will be about $350
	mail order from Fastime -- ram versions a little more expensive.
	We expect these boards to be available mid-late fall -- mostly
	depending on when Apple releases the new roms. At that time we will
	offer a 10mb internal drive upgrade kit (like some other well known
	firm) priced between $1000 and $1500 mail order.

	We expect the first build of some beta 50 units sometime in October
	and currently offer a first-come first-serve upgrade for existing
	MacSCSI users willing to be host adapter beta sites for $250.
	After that we will offer an $80 credit on MacSCSI upgrades for owners
	of the current board.

	6) We have a 16bit-in and 32bit-out SCSI parallel card just being
	completed, if any one is interested in parallel I/O for the mac.
	Each 8 bit port has a read/write strobe on the connector and
	handshake line. Write for the SCSI2X4 lit.

John Bass
Fastime Computer Services and Supplies
PO. Box 12508
San Luis Obispo, Ca 93406

For info write Chris (dmsd!fastime!duncan) or Mary (fastime!mary)
or call (805) 546-9141.