🚀 go-pugleaf

alex@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Alex Pournelle) writes:

> I tend toward external drives on Macs (PCs too, occasionally).

Well, for dozens of reasons, external drives make sense. Ease of
swap-out in case of repair, sparing the inadequat power supplies
of most microcomputers, et. al.

But EMOTIONALLY and for convenience and neatness, the reasons for
internal H.D.s are more compelling for the majority of microcomputer
users. I've got a Mac SE/30 with the internal Quantum 80 and ethernet
card and it's just so CONVENIENT to tote it all over the place.  Of
course, when I took it to Boston in August, the Quantum became stuck
several times, including in Logan Airport when the security people
wanted be to turn it on to assure them it wasn't a bomb. (I had a
bootable floppy!). I guess humidity is the big culprit with this
Quantum stiction problem. Absolute reliability in dry ol' So.  Cal.

> Apple supplies are a 
>constant source of terror and error, have been since the Apple II.  Price 
>pressure (even Apple feels it) means they cut corners, and ask Sony to 
>do so on the supplies.  This is an invisible headache cause which many 
>people never notice.

The sad part is it's not that expensive to build 'em a little better.
From the OEM's reference, it'd add $1 or $2 to build 'em robust, no?

> The $65 Taiwan supply the cause (no overvoltage protection,
> lousy filtering, worse regulation).  But its day, in high-end 
> 386/486 computers, is on the wane.

Praise whatever dieties are currently in vogue for this favor!

>Moral: Power is more a problem than you think.

I believe it! Your description of this as an invisible headache is so so
true. re: the computer boots so the PS must be ok... what to look at next?
Unless the PS actually shuts itself down, it never comes under suspicion.

>[ref to Apple's power supplies], but the ones I've had apart don't make me
>very reassured.  The best indicator, alas, is time.
                                      ^^^^
                                      ackkk!!! there's that word again!
 
Seriously, though, even power supplies from "quality" vendors are
subject to this pricing pressure. Case in point: One of our favorite
OEMs, MicroNet, uses minimum PS technology in the external units. The
only RMAs I've had with MicroNet have been PS related and it's
(unfortunately) a higher average than I would like.

>Hmmm.  If you have to have 3-1/2" form-factor, I'd go with ST-157N.

Really? I tend to shy away from Seagates when given an alternative.
Knowing the nature of your work, I value your opinion and will 
reevaluate my policy on these drives.

>I am not encouraged by the Apple/Quantum "cure" pronouncement.

Me neither.

>  A ROM change doesn't
>make up for the fact that *Quantum isn't plating the media well enough*.
>And then they don't lube them well enough, either.  No amount of
>post-manufacturing shenanigans is going to cure stiction--they can't add
>torque to the motor.  If they run it harder at start-up they risk
>burning the coils--almost invariably fatal.

I thought about that. Throw more juice at it and watch it fry. As far
as remedial fixes go, it's a hack. I can only hope this hack isn't going
to the production line but rather they implemented a cure at the source;
better media, lube, and motor.

>Priams don't stick; CDCs don't stick.  Maxtors don't seem to (not big
>personal knowledge pool there).  Seagates, MiniScribes, Plus HardCards
>and Quanta do.  The first two are easy for us to rescue, the last
>two--not so easy.

Hmmm Plus HardCards are made by Quantum, right? Or at least they are made
and engineered by the same mother company. So this is an interesting 
coincidense.

>Call me prejudiced against Quanta; I've seen entirely more than my share
>come through the door.  And their tech. support hasn't been very
>helpful, I'm afraid (love to change that!).  Parts are essentially
>unavailable.

They're selling all they can make, I'll bet.

>> When the CDC Swifts start shipping [...]  

>Erm, didn't know CDC was STILL in the teething stage on those. 

Charles McConnethy told me they have been working with Imprimis on 
these teething problems. I forget the precise nature of the problem[s]
though I remember that they were slight and almost solved.

>Even Apple might use 'em.

Hurray!  They use the Wren V 173 megger for their 160MB drive. I love
that drive for the size range. Fast, quiet, and relatively cool.

>I might suggest Conners but my experience with the Compaq Conners has
>been--uninspiring.

Is that with the special ultra-power-miser version of the Conners?  I
haven't used Conners personally, but one thing that stuck in my mind
when first reading about them in Computer Design several years ago was
(a) the depth of experience behind their engineering dept. (starting
with old man Conners himself)  and (b) their method of designing in
reliability and low cost by making up for RELATIVELY low tolerance
parts compensated with intelligent firmware. In a production environment,
the relaxation of a few ten thousandths of an inch translates into 
big long-term cost savings.

>>good for economy, and, as an aside, they offer the best performance.

>'Sides, the Mitsubishis and Fujis of the world haven't got into SCSIs in
>a major way.

   :^)

>Have to see your lab[s: 4 to 6 depending how you look at 'em]
>sometime.  Sounds fun....

Sure. Any time. A lot of rather vanilla implementations with the odd
mighty Mac (8MB/173MB/24-bit color/19" screen/video I/O, etc) work-
station thrown in.

  --scott  714/856-5697
 
--
Scott Truesdell