Date: Sun, 4 Feb 1996 16:43:14 +1030 (CST) From: Michael Smith <msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au> To: jbarrm@panix.com (Barry Masterson) Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: QIC-80 & 15 day return policy Message-ID: <199602040613.QAA03382@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.91.960204000559.2436A-100000@jbarrm.dialup.access.net> from "Barry Masterson" at Feb 4, 96 00:14:01 am
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Barry Masterson stands accused of saying: > > I just purchased a Colorado Jumbo 350 QIC-80 tape drive, and I still > have 12 days left to return it for refund. Don't wait, _send_it_back_. These drives are _awful_; the whole floppy-tape idea sucks six ways from Sunday. > My question is, before I return this tape unit, is there any quick fix > that will allow for reasonably large files to be written to this brand of > drive without the above mentioned problems? It's possible that the driver could be improved, but there are _fundamental_ problems with the interface that can't be overcome. > I'm running a 486DX2/66 VLB with an ide harddrive. The mail archives > suggest that the Adaptec 1542 (currently $229.00) will work alongside > an ide i/o card. Certainly will, and lets you run other SCSI peripherals to boot. If all you want to use is a tape unit, then personally I'd go for a cheaper SCSI controller (I seem to recall people running Exabyte units successfully off Adaptec 1520's). > The Colorado only costs $120.00, it seemed like a good deal at the time. > But the cost of the 1542, and whatever a tape drive for that card will > run me is a concern. You should be able to get a secondhand QIC150 tape unit for around $100; these will take the 250M DC6250 tapes, and are rock-solid. (eg. I paid $150 australian recently for an Archive Viper 150 and an Adaptec 1510). With a little occasional TLC, one of these drives will give you excellent service. > Barry Masterson -- ]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] Genesis Software genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ ]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ ]] realtime instrument control (ph/fax) +61-8-267-3039 [[ ]] "wherever you go, there you are" - Buckaroo Banzai [[
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