sambo@ukma.UUCP (Father of micro-ln) (09/09/85)
I have just ordered a Zenith Z-158, which I plan to take with me to Honduras
in December. I need to get a hard disk, because this computer will be the
only one available to me, and a hard disk is necessary for any serious work.
The problem is that the electrical situation is not very good. There are
literally several blackouts every single day, and the voltage varies quite a
bit. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to get a continuous-duty UPS.
I do plan to get something similar to a constant voltage transformer. I feel
having clean voltage is more important than having battery back up. Therefore,
my computer system will be vulnerable to blackouts. I am afraid this will
wreak havoc on the hard disk, which is unacceptable because repair will be
very difficult, costly, and time consuming.
I have heard about CDC's WREN series of hard disks. These are supposed to
move the heads to their landing zone whenever there is a power outage. Does
anyone have any comments or recommendations for any particular hard disks for
my situation? Ideally, the hard disk should cost as little as possible.
I also need to think in terms of backup for the hard disk. I have some lit-
erature on the SyQuest 306R removable cartridge hard disk. Any suggestions?
Again, the same criteria applies to the selection of a backup method as to
the selection of a hard disk.
Finally, can PC-DOS handle a hard disk as large as 20 MBytes? The smallest
hard disk in CDC's WREN series is 20 MBytes.
--
Samuel A. Figueroa, Dept. of CS, Univ. of KY, Lexington, KY 40506-0027
ARPA: ukma!sambo<@ANL-MCS>, or sambo%ukma.uucp@anl-mcs.arpa,
or even anlams!ukma!sambo@ucbvax.arpa
UUCP: {ucbvax,unmvax,boulder,oddjob}!anlams!ukma!sambo,
or cbosgd!ukma!sambo
"Micro-ln is great, if only people would start using it."