cck@cunixc.columbia.edu (Charlie C. Kim) (09/21/87)
Does anyone out there have any experience with the DaynaFile from Dayna Communications? Both positive and negative responses are more than welcome. I will summarize and post to the net if there are any comments. For those of you who haven't heard of it, the DaynaFile is a SCSI diskette drive. Big deal huh? Well, actually it is because the diskette drive is a one of: o IBM (compatible) 5.25" 1.2MB (High density) $695 o " " 5.25" 360KB (Low density) $595 o IBM (compatable) 3.5" 720KB (Double density) $695 I've also been told that 3.5" 1.44MB (High density is possible). In other words, you have access to MS-DOS floppies on the Macintosh. In addition, they will package two drives of the above into one "case" (I assume as a single SCSI device) for a lower price: for example: 360KB 5.25" + 720K 3.5" @ $849.00. Educational discounts are probably available. The salesman indicated that they were selling very fast - delivery is about 6-7 weeks at the present time. Interface on the Macintosh is at the "finder" level. In other words, they have software that make these look like Macintosh volumes. You can read or write from the drive(s). Evidently, it works, to some extent at least, with AST board (Mac II version as I remember). Evidently Macintosh files are stored in some special format (salesman didn't really know) on the MS-DOS floppies that preserves all necessary informatino. Take this with a grain of salt. The implications are two fold: 1) you will be able to read and write MS-DOS floppies on your Mac 2) you will be able to convert from the 5.25" to the 3.5" MSDOS formats if you purchase the "two" drive setup (or if you purchase two seperate drives). Information about the software is sketchy to say the best, but is probably just a driver. Indications are that it is installed as an INIT resource. This could be of great utility if the hardware and software is reliable. (And the thing to really worry about is the software). The number for Dayna Communications is 1-801-531-0203 (Utah). Charlie C. Kim User Services Columbia University
cck@cunixc.columbia.edu (Charlie C. Kim) (09/21/87)
Important addition: evidently, due to the way the software or hardware works, you cannot read/write a 360KB 5.25" floppy on the 1.2MB 5.25" floppy drive. The salesman wasn't clear about 1.44MB and 720KB 3.5" floppies, but assume the same holds. Charlie C. Kim User Services Columbia University Return path: rutgers!columbia!cck, cck@columbia.edu