From: wade@nb.rockwell.com (Wade Guthrie)
Subject: Re: CD-ROM: SCSI vs "other",fast vs slow,Mitsumi,MPC,formats ->?
Organization: Rockwell International
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 16:56:01 GMT


In article <1993Jan12.063358.1271@julian.uwo.ca>, wlsmith@valve.heart.rri.uwo.ca (Wayne Smith) writes:
> I've got a few CD-rom questions here...
> 
> (The questions pertain to a single-user situation, MS-DOS, 286-20 or
>  386-33 or 386-40 computer, SVGA, windows, no sound board)...

Ok, for point of reference, my setup is a 386-25, SCSI disc and CD.

> 1) Given the relatively low data transfer rate of these CD-rom drives,
>    is there any advantage in getting a SCSI cd-rom (and paying $150 to
>    $200 for a SCSI controller) or would a proprietary controller card
>    be perfectly adequate?

Well, you have to ask yourself: do you want to stay with DOS for the
rest of your life?  If the answer is no (I am planning on getting Linux,
for example), then I think SCSI will be more compatible with other OS
options.

As far as throughput, heck, I don't know.  The reason I originally went
SCSI was card slots.  I can have up to seven devices (I currently have
2 hard disks and a CD) plus a floppy controller and only suck-up one 
slot.

>    (I've read about tons of problems with SCSI drivers.  Are drivers for
>     proprietary controllers more or less trouble-free?)

I had to do one driver swap (to get sound -- the first driver did data okay,
but no sound).  This was no hastle (and DC Drives should have known better,
anyway).  From what I've heard, the Correl SCSI drivers are pretty good
as well.  The proprietary drivers will be matched to the CD-ROM, so they
should be pretty okay too.

> 2) Is this multi-media thing just a list of required hardware?  
>    (ie are cd-rom drives sold 3 or 4 years ago just as MPC compatible
>    as currently available ones?)  

They may not be fast enough.  I don't remember the speed requirements, but
I think it is in the neighborhood of 350ms access on the CD-ROM.  The cheapest
drives (as well as most of the 3 or 4 year-old ones) are gonna be in the
area of 600ms.

>    Is it possible to buy a cd-rom drive
>    today and find that it is in some way (major or minor) not MPC
>    compatible?

Yeah, speed.

> 3b) I haven't asked HI-TECH if they sell a starter-pak of CD software, but
>     is it cheaper in the long run to buy a drive and start-set of cd's in
>     a combined deal (what, $280, $325?) or just buy the drive of my choice
>     and buy the software of choice separately?

Well, it depends on what you want.  I never would buy a description of
mammals (a common CD in the CD-bundles sold with the drive) on my own.  
Yeah, I could get one cheaper if I got it with the drive; but, I got away 
cheaper still -- I didn't get it at all.  When I looked what came with the
bundles and asked myself: would you buy any (or even 3 out of 5) of those on 
your own?  If the answer is 'yes', then you should probably go with the
bundle.

> 4) Is there a top-10 list of "must-have" cd's. or a list of stuff not to
>    get?  Does anyone have any preferences either way?

I decided that one big reason to get a CD-ROM was to get a tap into all
the shareware (it is a lot easier than down-loading, for me).  I think that
the SIMTEL disc ($24.95, as I remember from Walnut Creek) is really cool.
In addition, there's the CICA windows disk.  I'd give the GNU disc a miss,
cause the stuff's not set-up for PCs (find a disc with the GNUISH stuff on
it -- SIMTEL has some, but not a lot).  Finally, if you get a CD-ROM drive
that takes caddies, you can't beat Walnut Creek ($4.95); their number is
1-800-786-9907.

Hope this helps.
-- 
Wade                             | "Ah, a work of fiction! (well, you didn't
wade@nb.rockwell.com             | say that, did you?)"
Me be not speaking for the Rock. |