🚀 go-pugleaf

	A few weeks ago, I posted an article in reference to the Quantum Q280
drive, and if in fact it is the same drive that is shipped with 80MB Mac
II's and IIx's.

	Most people replied that this was in fact the same disk, but one
person informed me that the drive that comes in the Mac II is the Q80S or
the Pro80S (same drive, I think).

	Yet another person has told me that the Q80S on board the Mac II has
a custom apple ROM, and when he called Quantum, they would not supply the
part. (of course, how could it ever be so easy ???) I believe this different
ROM caused HD Setup to ignore the disk, refusing to format it.

	So the question remains: I buy random SCSI drive X. It is not 
formattable with HD setup. Do programs like LaCie's SilverLining have
drivers for all of these drives? On a side note, I know that ST277N's
are formattable with the shareware SF&I program...

	Another person was using SilverLining to run 8 of these Q280 drives
as 2 320MB volumes!! Wow! I assume this means that SilverLining can format and
install drivers for at least the Q80S or the Q280 drive.

so much for the techincal stuff.

	The price from Computer Surplus Store was $495.00. This compares with
$799 from Hard Disks International for a Q80S. The Q80S is supposed to have
a higher MTBF and is slightly faster (caching?). The catch is that CSS sells,
as one might expect from the name, _surplus_ parts. I was mislead by other
hard drive listings that were listed as "refurb" and assumed since the Q280
did not say this, that it was new.

	I suppose, then, that these disks are used. I called,
and CSS disavows any 
knowledge of the drive's history. Who knows if it was owned by a little old
lady, or run by some company who beat the daylights out of it? Their policy
is that you have a 30-day warranty, and you may return it for store credit 
if you are not satisfied. If you want your money back, you are subject to a
10% "reshelving fee" (come on!...)

	That's about it. I have no connection with HDI or CSS. Simply
reporting the facts...

	In summary, these disks are used. I guess you might have to take
your chances if you want to save the bucks.

	Does anyone know of a sure-fire way to format and install a driver
for any random drive? Is there one cure-all application? Thanks.

	Thanks to all of you who replied thru mail and over the net. The help
is greatly appreciated.

Rob Pfile
c60c-4bj@web.berkeley.edu
...!ucbvax!web!c60c-4bj

This account will die on 3 February. I should be back shortly with a class
account and a named account. Thanks.