jeff@drexel.UUCP (Jeff White) (11/25/87)
One of the companies I work for has a Bernoulli Box which they use among
3 different computers (each computer has its own interface board, software,
and cable). Since they will be using it daily on 2 of the systems, they need
a way to be able to easily move it. The connector going into the Bernoulli
is a DB37 (37 pin) male, and from experience I have found out that if the
cable is not completely inserted into the connector on the drive (ie. by
screwing the cable into the connector), the drive will not work, and often an
attempt to use it will crash the system (I found this out the first time I
disconnect it from one system and reconnected it without screwing it in).
Since the users are just business persons (ie. no computer specialists), I
don't think they will be very eager to use the box if it means constant use
of a screwdriver.
What I am looking for, then, is some type of cable that would allow quicker
disconnect/reconnect, while still assuring a positive connection. What I
firt thought of would be a DB37 cable to thumbscrews instead of regular screws
(the type of connectors that first appeared wth the Macintosh's). However,
I've only been able to find thumbscrews on 9 and 25 pin connectors, not 37.
(Note - I did call Iomega, the company that makes Bernoulli drives, figuring
they might be the best source, but their cables are still all screws). My
next choice would be a generic quick disconnector that could interface to
the present 37 pin connectors, ie.
DB37 female <----> quick (M/F) <-> quick (F/M) <----> DB37 male
Considersations are price (remember that 3 systems are involved), ease
of use, quality/reliability, and appearance. The systems are far enough
apart that a switchbox is out of the question. I'd appreciate any
recommendations people might have.
Jeff White
Drexel University - ECE Dept.
rutgers!bpa!drexel!jeff