Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 14:50:06 +0930 (CST) From: Michael Smith <msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au> To: scott@statsci.com Cc: richard@pegasus.com, msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au, bmcgloth@mail.vt.edu, freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: DAT for sure! Message-ID: <199609040520.OAA03474@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> In-Reply-To: <m0uy3b7-0003xQC@main.statsci.com> from "Scott Blachowicz" at Sep 3, 96 03:05:29 pm
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Scott Blachowicz stands accused of saying: > > > There were some problems with some Exabytes in the past, but that was a > > *long* time ago. And even back then they mostly worked. Many of the > > problems in the past were due to shakey device drivers -- but that's > > because Exabytes go way back. > > I've heard those sorts of stories too, but I think they were about > drives from 1991 or thereabouts. When I mentioned to someone that I > was considering buying one, I got the definite recommendation to > avoid the old ones. Hmm. I don't want to think how many EXB-8200's I've had my head inside or that people I work with have worked on over the last ~5-6 years. Lovingly cared for, under ideal conditions, they work well and are generally quite reliable. However add any _one_ of : - dust - heat - humidity - vibration - operator abuse - non-data tapes (ie. 8mm 'video 8' tapes) and you're on a fast track to refurb heaven. None of the basic mechanical problems with the mechanism (the victim of all the above problems) were ever addressed in the life of the product to any appreciable degree. The control/servo assembly is actually pretty robust, but full of obscure logic parts (anyone want to comment on where you'd go to buy a surface-mount 8T20D? 8), so repairs are generally a board-swap proposition. Having a few dead ones around can improve your chances of a good swap 8) You can get by with the 8mm video tapes if you clean your heads more often, but that loses because cleaning is abrasive. The problem with video tapes is apparently a combination of the debris size (large) and the crap binder that is used on these tapes. We buy them regularly at auctions in the $40-$100 range, and for that sort of price you're getting an OK deal. I would _not_, however, recommend one for a domestic environment, or as a major investment. > Scott Blachowicz Ph: 206/283-8802x240 -- ]] 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 [[ ]] Collector of old Unix hardware. "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick [[
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