lindahl@arrisun3.utarl.edu (Charlie S. Lindahl) (02/16/91)
All: I have noticed several questions from the net about using SYQUEST 45 Megabyte removeable drives on the NeXT. I had NOT seen any definitive answers to previous queries, so I decided to investigate on my own. First, the drives: the SYQUEST 45 Megabyte mechanism is one of the most popular removeable mediums in the Macintosh world (and is rapidly spreading in the PC world, as well). It is a "standard" SCSI drive, with 20ms access times and a physical format about the size of the NeXT optical. Prices: I've seen SYQUEST drives for as low as $500 (including one disk) in Mac magazines (usual price is ~$600 for "name" brands, such as EHMAN and CUTTING EDGE). The disks are readily available from a number of sources overnight for about $70. Peripheral Land (PLI) has announced their own version of the SYQUEST mechanism (advertised in the back page of the first issue of NeXTWorld). My personal opinion, based on readings in the net, magazines, and the VERY quick & competent phone support I received while asking PLI this question, is that PLI is a good, established company with excellent technical support; their hard disks have a very good reputation in the Mac world (note: NOT the least expensive, but very reliable). Their phone number is 1-800-288-8754. Now for NeXT support news: according to PLI technical support, SYQUEST drives ARE SUPPORTED in the current (2.0) release of the NeXT OS. I have one report from Iowa (Dave at University of Iowa, isca@icaen.uiowa.edu -- thanx, Dave!) saying that he has successfully used a Mass Micro SYSQUEST drive on the NeXT just by plugging in the drive and doing a format on the medium. I have yet to load 2.0 on my cube (awaiting permission to change OS's, should come this week), so I haven't tried it yet; however, I wanted to post this on the net to other interested parties. Hope this helps someone! I expect to use my drives (I have 3 for our Macs) for backup ... If anyone else has successfully used other SYQUEST-based drives on the NeXT (or has direct experience with the PLI drives), please send me EMAIL and I'll summarize to the net. -- Charlie S. Lindahl Automation and Robotics Research Institute University of Texas at Arlington Internet EMAIL: lindahl@evax.arl.utexas.edu Standard disclaimer: Ain't no opinion but my own.