barrett@ektools.UUCP (Chris Barrett) (12/15/88)
HELP... We are in the process of developing a portable device that might use a 1.4 meg. 3.5 inch floppy disk drive for data access. The issue of reliability is not fully answered by drive manufacturer's data sheets. Does anyone have experience on reliability given the following application: 1. Device will be used in offices, ambulances, military field hospitals, helicopters, and possibly in animal barns. 2. Typical disk access will be infrequent. Scheme is to dump operating data into battery backed RAM once per month. Drive will then be unused for remainder of time. Yes, I know this is inefficient. 3. Typical operating temperature is 50 to 100 degrees F. 4. Typical operating humidity range is 15 to 90% RH. 5. Typical storage temperature (non-operating) is minus 10 to 150 degrees F. Shock and vibration problems can be designed out be proper mounting but impact of climatic conditions, dirt, dust and non-use are difficult to anticipate. Need data from large population of similar use devices. Typical device might be a laptop computer used on a construction site. Thanks for any help. Chris rochester!kodak!ektools!barrett barrett@ektools
campbelr@hpsel1.HP.COM (Bob Campbell) (12/16/88)
From what you describe, a disk might not be the best solution. Have you consider using tape instead? Bob Campbell Some times I wish that I could stop you from campbelr@hpda.hp.com talking, when I hear the silly things you say. Hewlett Packard - Elvis Costello