jru@arnav.UUCP (John Underwood) (09/30/88)
Does anyone out there know of an interface and software available to enable hard disk backup from an IBM PC compatible to a video cassette recorder? A friend told me he knew of such a system for backing up hard disks connected to a mainframe computer. Please reply by posting to this newsgroup, but be sure to include the word "tape" somewhere in your reply. -- John Underwood at&t : 1-503-684-1600 Arnav Systems, Inc uucp : ..!tektronix!nscpdc!arnav!jru 16100 SW 72nd Ave, P.O. Box 23939; Portland, OR 97223
billm@ccicpg.UUCP (Morita Bill) (10/03/88)
In article <940@arnav.UUCP> jru@arnav.UUCP (John Underwood) writes: >Does anyone out there know of an interface and software available >to enable hard disk backup from an IBM PC compatible to a video >cassette recorder? > >A friend told me he knew of such a system for backing up hard >disks connected to a mainframe computer. > >Please reply by posting to this newsgroup, but be sure to include >the word "tape" somewhere in your reply. >-- >John Underwood at&t : 1-503-684-1600 >Arnav Systems, Inc uucp : ..!tektronix!nscpdc!arnav!jru >16100 SW 72nd Ave, P.O. Box 23939; Portland, OR 97223 The there are several available. The only one that I am personally familiar with is the AlphaMicro VideoTrax (tm) system. This system will backup approximately 30 Mb of file structured data on to a standard 120 VCR tape at standard play speed. The device comes in two forms, a interface board by itself that you plug into a VCR (using a cheapo VCR is _not_ recommended) for in the neighborhood of $300-$500 or a version that includes a VCR that has been adapted for computer remote control and status checking (the board only configuration lets YOU play VCR controller with the computer giving instructions to rewind, play, record.) The product is a sound one. I used to work for AlphaMicro. Their technology is good. Their marketing used to stink. These units are available throught many Radio Shack outlets. You can find an ad for them in BYTE or you can contact AlphaMicro directly at (714) 957-8500. It is sad to note that Alpha missed the window on marketing this device. Alpha had used video technology for years on their own systems. They had a working version of this device for the PC's when PC's first started showing up with 10 Mb and 20 MB hard disks and no sensible way to back them up. The marketing department were not satisfied with the then version of the software, which used a command line interface. They demanded and got (at a 2 year delay) a fancy screen/menu version. They could have established themselves in a booming backup device market but blew it. And ah yes.. History repeats itself. The recently bungled and entry into the MAC market that was going through the same sort of transformation (to hard disks). They were originally one of 4 or 5 backup devices a one Apple trade show and were voted most interesting new (hardware) product with interest expressed directly from inside Apple. But bungle it again they did. Then next Apple trade show had 50+ such devices on display an Alpha still does not have a finished product. This product does show some promise in one area. Data broadcast. The data can be broadcast over standard video channels. Such channels exist even in the most backward of countries and the are time window on satelite transponders that are dirt cheap. You can set your recorder on timed record and retrieved the data later. Hope this helps. Sorry for venting my spleen here about the blunders of my previous manangement, but I think it makes an interesting historical note. Bill Morita
Howard.Spindel@busker.FIDONET.ORG (Howard Spindel) (10/04/88)
>From: jru@arnav.UUCP (John Underwood) >Date: 29 Sep 88 17:23:42 GMT >Organization: Arnav Systems Inc, Portland, OR >Message-ID: <940@arnav.UUCP> >Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc >Does anyone out there know of an interface and software available >to enable hard disk backup from an IBM PC compatible to a video >cassette recorder? >A friend told me he knew of such a system for backing up hard >disks connected to a mainframe computer. >Please reply by posting to this newsgroup, but be sure to include >the word "tape" somewhere in your reply Such a system is available. Check the ads in various mags. I can't swear to it but it seems to me the name of the company that made it is Alpha Micro. I also seem to remember reading a review of it which was either in BYTE or PC Tech Journal, but not too recently. -- Howard Spindel - via FidoNet node 1:105/14 UUCP: ...!{uunet!oresoft, tektronix!reed}!busker!Howard.Spindel ARPA: Howard.Spindel@busker.FIDONET.ORG \...!{uunet!oresoft, tektronix!reed}!busker!Howard.Spindel