escher@Apple.COM (Michael Crawford) (03/02/90)
Here is a summary of the responses to my request for a CD-ROM that will
plug into both the IBM-PC. I haven't called any salescreatures yet, but
it looks like the best bet is the Toshiba XM-3201, which is available in
PC and Mac configurations, the PC version coming with a SCSI host adaptor.
Cal-ABCO can put together a custom configuration for both. Their number is
800-NOW-ABCO. The second choice would be the NEC, which is a slow drive,
or there is a third party driver on the market that claims to support all
drives, on the Mac I believe. One can buy a PC drive and then use this
driver.
Thanks to all who responded!
Mike Crawford
oddball!mike@ucscc.ucsc.edu
From newbery@mips.vuw.ac.nz Tue Feb 27 15:51:28 1990
Funnily enough, I asked the exact same question a while ago. We have still
not made a decision but are currently looking at Sony and Hitachi drives.
Both these come as a SCSI CD-ROM drive plus a PC card that supports SCSI
and some PC driver software. Neither supplier seems to have a Mac driver
(but that may just be the total ignorance of the local agents) and I can
attest that the Apple CD-ROM driver does NOT work with the Sony drive (the
only one we've had a play with so far). However, we have a so called
universal driver on order ($79) from a company whose name escapes me (the
name & address is with the orders clerk) but which I found on AppleLink in
the 3rd party library. Their driver claims to support all common drives,
including Apple's.
Please let me know how you get on.
--
Michael Newbery<newbery@rata.vuw.ac.nz> (...!uunet!vuwcomp!newbery if you must)
Awopbopaloobop alopbamBOOM.
From wilkins@jarthur.Claremont.edu Tue Feb 27 18:38:19 1990
I know that Pitzer College, in Claremont, California, has a NEC Intersect
CDR-35 CD-ROM connected via an a/b switch to a Mac and a PC. I am not sure
what they are doing with respect to driver software, but I do know the
person who could tell you. I DO know that they have all the necessary
software set up at this time and that the drive is in regular use.
The person to contact is Jack Stewart, e-mail address
jack@pitvax.claremont.edu, and if that doesn't work,
jstewart@jarthur.claremont.edu should.
...
He can tell you the details of their hardware and
software setup.
I understand that the NEC CD-ROM drive is the slowest on the market, but
it's also better than Apple's 1-time special developer's price if you order
from a discount retailer... the one which comes to mind is "The MacZone",
because they tend to carry a lot of hardware compared to other such
companies.
-- Mark Wilkins
wilkins@jarthur.claremont.edu
From coherent!dplatt@apple.com Tue Feb 27 18:42:30 1990
No problem. Buy a Toshiba XM-3201 (it has a SCSI interface). Toshiba
can also sell you a PC adaptor (I believe it's a single-card SCSI host
adaptor).
The XM-3201 comes in two configurations. The XM-3201A is a Mac unit in
a standalone case, with SCSI cable, terminator, and Mac driver
software. The XM-3201B is a PC model... the same mechanism, but
designed for mounting in a standard half-height 5.25" disk-drive
slot... and it ships with the PC adaptor and software.
The drive-units are completely identical. So, I think what you'd want
to do is purchase the XM-3201A, and also purchase the SCSI host adaptor
for the PC (if you don't have one already) and the PC driver software.
This drive is just about the fastest CD-ROM drive on the market. I've
had one for a couple of months now, and am very happy with it. The Mac
driver software is quite good (it's OEMed from Optical Media
International).
I suggest that you call Cal-ABCO, at 800-NOW-ABCO, and ask to speak to
their disk-products representative for your area. Since you're in the
S.F. Bay area, you may well end up speaking with a woman named
Misha... she put together the rather non-standard order I placed back
in December (XM-3201B PC-internal drive mechanism, delete the host
adaptor, add the Mac driver software). She did a thoroughly
professional job... and I ended up getting the whole package for $725.
If you do speak with her, tell her I said "Hi!"
--
Dave Platt VOICE: (415) 493-8805
UUCP: ...!{ames,apple,uunet}!coherent!dplatt DOMAIN: dplatt@coherent.com
INTERNET: coherent!dplatt@ames.arpa, ...@uunet.uu.net
USNAIL: Coherent Thought Inc. 3350 West Bayshore #205 Palo Alto CA 94303
From @CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:henk@spex1 Wed Feb 28 06:12:04 1990
I used a Philips CM-100 (old SCSI CD-ROM drive) on both a PC and a Mac
Plus.
I think so, some SCSI drive will do. Maybe you can use an Apple drive
on a PC with SCSI port.
Henk
--
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From munnari!vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au!CIE590L@uunet.UU.NET Thu Mar 1 11:36:58 1990
I bought an NEC CDR-75 which is a SCSI device. It plugs straight into the Mac,
and a SCSI controller is available for the PC. Both sets of drivers comes with
the appropriate interface kits.
--
Roger Hadgraft | hadgraft@civeng.monash.edu.au
Lecturer in Civil Engineering | phone: +61 3 565 4983
Monash University | fax: +61 3 565 3409
Clayton, Vic. 3168. Australia. |
--
Michael D. Crawford
Oddball Enterprises
694 Nobel Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
oddball!mike@ucscc.ucsc.edu
Consulting for Apple Computer Inc.
escher@apple.com
The opinions expressed here are solely my own.