burgin@ecsvax.UUCP (Robert Burgin) (12/19/87)
Two questions:
(1) Can someone tell me the pros and cons of operating
a microcomputer like the IBM PC with the unit
standing on its side? Is there anything wrong
in doing this?
(2) Can someone tell me the pros and cons of a bus
vs serial mouse? Aside from the obvious question
of whether one has a slot or port to spare.
Thanks.
--rbjohn@wa3wbu.UUCP (John Gayman) (12/20/87)
In article <4334@ecsvax.UUCP>, burgin@ecsvax.UUCP (Robert Burgin) writes: > > (1) Can someone tell me the pros and cons of operating > a microcomputer like the IBM PC with the unit > standing on its side? Is there anything wrong The biggest problem with running the computers on end lies with the hard disk. You will probably experience a higher degree of lost data due to the fact that the data will have a harder time hanging onto the surface of the disk when on end. [Disclaimer] : Please completely ignore the above statement. Usually the biggest concern in running on end is with the hard disk. I have seem equipment with disk drives mounted both horizontally and vertically and have found no evidence that it makes a difference. The Pros of operating this way is it gives you more table space, the Cons: I know of none. John -- John Gayman, WA3WBU | UUCP: uunet!wa3wbu!john 1869 Valley Rd. | ARPA: wa3wbu!john@uunet.UU.NET Marysville, PA 17053 | Packet: WA3WBU @ AK3P
wheels@mks.UUCP (Gerry Wheeler) (12/22/87)
In article <435@wa3wbu.UUCP>, john@wa3wbu.UUCP (John Gayman) writes: > In article <4334@ecsvax.UUCP>, burgin@ecsvax.UUCP (Robert Burgin) writes: > > (1) Can someone tell me the pros and cons of operating a microcomputer > > standing on its side? > I have seen equipment with disk drives mounted both horizontally and > vertically and have found no evidence that it makes a difference. > > John As long as you're talking about "vertically" meaning "on its side", I think you're right. However, I have heard that drives should not be mounted "vertically" as in "with the little LED on top". It seems that gravity pulls the heads off the track if you do that. So, you can stand your PC on its side, with the power switch on top (assuming you have a normally-placed switch) with no problem. (You can also place it with the power switch on the bottom, as long as you don't use the switch too much. :-) -- Gerry Wheeler Phone: (519)884-2251 Mortice Kern Systems Inc. UUCP: uunet!watmath!mks!wheels 35 King St. North BIX: join mks Waterloo, Ontario N2J 2W9 CompuServe: 73260,1043
walt_waldo_novinger@cup.portal.com (12/23/87)
Although many of us have simply turned our PC's equipped with a hard disk on their sides and have been successful, I usually recommend that a backup be done and the disk re-formatted in its new position. Gravity *may* cause the head positioning mechanism to "sag" enough to position the head slightly off-track, resulting in read/write errors. If the disk is formatted with the (possibly) sagging head, the chances of this occuring should be minimized. Other than this potential problem, hard disks seem to be happy on their sides. ======================================================================== Walt Novinger sun!cup.portal.com!waldo "The real world is 680 Sylvan Ave. #17 waldo@cup.portal.com NOT user-friendly" Mountain View, CA 94041 (415) 964-9377 Kelvin Throop ========================================================================