🚀 go-pugleaf

We have 15 DEC Professional series computers (combination of 350s/380s,
also 5-, 10-, and 33-MB disks).  We'd like to do some upgrading of
these, especially the 350s with 5-MB disks (they run P/OS, which of
course occupies about 50% of the available space on the 5-MB disks).
However, upgrades using DEC materials are cost-prohibitive.
(DEC sells a 10-MB disk for $2400, a 33-MB for $3995--2/85 price list,
but I don't think they've changed.  What can they POSSIBLY be doing
with these disks to justify such outrageous prices?)

Also, to the best of my knowledge, no tape backup unit is available for
this machine from DEC.

Thus some queries:

(1)  I've been reading about some vendors selling non-DEC 20-MB drives
     for use as replacements for DEC's 5- and 10-MB RD disks (it's
     presumably the equivalent of an RD-31), costing about $500.

     (a)  Is anyone using these non-DEC disks, and are there any
          problems using them?

     (b)  Will they work with P/OS 2.0A?

     (c)  Do they use the existing RD series controller, or do they
          come with their own controller, or do you need to obtain a
          controller that will work somewhere else?

(2)  What are the possibilities for obtaining tape backup of PRO hard
     disks?  Can the TK50 be made to work with a PRO?

(3)  Is it possible to operate a PRO remotely via modem connection from
     the serial port, assuming one has a VT100 emulator at the remote
     site?  (I'm not talking about getting any kind of two-user capa-
     bility, as in PRO/Associate; just me running my PRO from home via
     modem.  -- Unfortunately, I don't have $10,000 laying around to buy
     a second PRO380/33-MB/with-Tool-Kit for doing work at home, and we
     don't have any VAXen with the Host Kit.)

(4)  Does anyone have maintenance contracts with any companies other than
     DEC?  Experiences?  Cost-effective?


Thanks in advance for any suggestions/experiences.

Dean File
Lab for Computing and Cognition
UNC-CH School of Medicine