HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: elia@aesc.cs.odu.edu (Lee Elia)
Subject: CD ROM QUESTIONS
Followup-To: sender 
Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 16:30:25 GMT

Hello everyone.  I don't necessarily want to use a lot of _NET_BANDWIDTH
on this, but my local SOFTWARE ETC store has several CD ROM kits for sale
and I would like evaluations of the two I am most interested in.  I am
a microcomputer tech, but have no experience with CD ROM.  Mainly I need
to know if the specs on these two drives are good, bad, or ugly:

Maker
MITSUMI CD ROM KIT (internal, 8 bit interface)
Magnavox CD ROM KIT (external, serial interface)

PLease reply to me directly via e-mail

Lee
elia@cs.odu.edu

-- 
"...Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, 
and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But 
these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, 
except to people who don't understand..."    --    the Skin Horse
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: "david shadoff" <david.shadoff@canrem.com>
Subject: decision made!
Reply-To: "david shadoff" <david.shadoff@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: alt
Date: 20 Nov 92 20:00:53 EST

In message <ardie.146.722092604#UIUC>, ardie@UIUC (R.D. McClary) writes:

>     After following this group for a month or so, my decision regarding a
>CD-ROM, purchased with limited personal funds, has been made.  It is
>becomming obvious that choosing a drive at this time would be like deciding
>among a TI-99/A, a Commodore 64, an Atari 400, or a Sinclair Z-80.  In other
>words, as I don't absolutely NEED a cd-rom drive at this time, I should wait
>until a clear "standard" emerges.  Otherwise, I might find myself finding
>desirable software will not play on my system.  Comments?

Interesting paradigm... although with the choice of computers listed,
one would be inclined to think that no clear "standard" will ever
emerge... but it doesn't matter, because by the time you find that your
drive is incapable of something, it will be 'disposable' and
replaceable at a cheaper cost than you could have imagined.

 - Dave
 
 /===================================================================\
|    David Shadoff       |  Usenet:  david.shadoff@canrem.com         |
 \===================================================================/
---
  DeLuxe 1.21 #7291  Now the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
Xref: sparky alt.cd-rom:4608 misc.forsale.computers:41085 comp.graphics:12198
From: pbenson@ecst.csuchico.edu (Paul A. Benson)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom,misc.forsale.computers,comp.graphics
Subject: Graphics CD-ROM: Credit Cards OK
Date: 21 Nov 92 19:07:39 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
NNTP-Posting-Host: cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS:
We are currently setting up to accept Mastercard and Visa for the purchase of
the Knowlegdge Media Resource Library, Disc 1- Graphics. 

TO USE THESE:
Please provide the following three items in addition to the address to 
send the disc to:

	1) the name as it appears on the card
	2) the card number
	3) the expiration date of the card

PRICE:
The Knowlegdge Media Resource Library, Disc 1- Graphics
CD-ROM is available for $ 24.95. 

SPECIAL:
The first 100 discs will be sold for $ 19.95.


ORDERING:
Shipping and handling is $5 (per order, not per disc) for US/Canada,
and $10 for airmail overseas ($15 for express airmail).  If you live in
California, please add sales tax.  


Mastercard and Visa or COD:

        +1 916 872 3826
        +1 916 872 3826 FAX
        email: pbenson@ecst.csuchico.edu


or You can send a check or money order to:

	Knowledge Media
	436 Nunneley Rd, Suite B
	Paradise, CA 95969 
	USA

Thanks
From: garyg@Warren.MENTORG.COM (Gary Gendel)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: Suggestions?
Date: 17 Nov 1992 12:50:53 GMT
Organization: Mentor Graphics, IC Group
Distribution: world
Reply-To: garyg@Warren.MENTORG.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: garyg.warren.mentorg.com

	Any suggestions on a CD-ROM that can be used on either an IBM clone or a
SUN SPARC?  I assume that if the drive is an external SCSI I should be able to
interface (given the right cables), right?  Last, what PC controller should I opt
for.

	Obviously money is the key issue, otherwise I would just buy two, one for
each.  Thanks in advance.


Gary


Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: scott@palan.uucp (Scott Boake)
Subject: ISO 9660 limitations - what are they?
Organization: Palantir Systems, Inc.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 01:33:53 GMT

Hi!

I'm looking for information reguarding the limitations of ISO 9660 format
disks.  Like....

1 - How many levels deep can sub-directorys be?

2 - How many files can reside in one directory?

3 - How large of a disk is it safe to have pressed?  Talking to various
vendors, they are able to press different size disks.  One vendor said
that 680ish Meg on a CD-ROM is not a problem.  I seem to recall hearing that
problems can start around 650 Meg mark.  Comments?

4 - Any other information you are willing to share.

Thanks in advance!

---Scott
-- 
----
Scott Boake                                            Palantir Systems, Inc.
scott@palan                                            5030 - 78th Ave N Ste 11
(813) 544-8152                                         Pinellas Park, FL 34665
From: blob@Apple.COM (Brian Bechtel)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: SCSI-2 Audio Cmds (was Re: Audio-CD's and Toshiba XM 3301SA)
Date: 16 Nov 92 15:10:43 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

pjs@ariel.ucs.unimelb.EDU.AU (Peter John Swiatkowski) writes:

>In article <1992Nov11.212537.9540@cs.tu-berlin.de> simski@opal.cs.tu-berlin.de (S. Dutkowski) writes:

>>I can't play Audio CD's with my Toshiba-drive.

>This is a problem that is likely to occur often as people buy SCSI CD-ROM
>drives to run with their preferred SCSI host adapter.

>Most SCSI CD-ROM drives of recent manufacture accept the same commands for
>data access. Unfortunately the commands used to access CD-Audio vary
>between manufacturers, and sometimes between ranges in the same brand.

>The answer is to use a standard SCSI-2 interface and driver with a SCSI-2
>compliant CD-ROM drive, since SCSI-2 does define CD-Audio access commands.
>Unfortunately, as has been mentioned in this news group previously,
>virtually no CD-ROM drive in the market place presently supports SCSI-2
>commands for audio access, opting to use manufacturer proprietary commands
>instead.

The Apple CD300 supports SCSI-2 audio commands.  The Macintosh driver we
ship with the drive supports the old Macintosh calls for audio control,
because of compatibility reasons.  Anyone who wanted to write a new
driver could support the SCSI-2 audio commands instead, or you could
write a driver for a different operating system depending upon the
SCSI-2 standard.

Previous Apple CD-ROM drives supported only our proprietary audio calls
(since no standard existed when we introduced our original CD-ROM
drive.)

--Brian Bechtel     blob@apple.com     "My opinion, not Apple's"
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: harrison@lclark.edu (Mark Harrison)
Subject: Re: Mitsumi $199.99 CD-ROM drive
Organization: Lewis & Clark College, Portland OR
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 21:22:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov23.185101.2404@pixel.kodak.com> dj@ekcolor.ssd.kodak.com (Dave Jones) writes:
>Eric Dittman (dittman@skitzo.dseg.ti.com) wrote:
>> I saw a message posted earlier this week about the Mitsumi CD-ROM drive
>> that seems to retail for $199.99 just about everywhere.  Unfortunately,
>> the message has expired here before I had a chance to ask the person if
>> they would let me know if they were able to find out anything.  Could
>> the person that posted the original request let me know if they found
>> out how to contact the company?
>> 
>This is real mass-market stuff.  The drive is available from Software Etc.
>
>Specs look good (350(?)/150) but the interface is proprietary, not SCSI.

I think the 350 is way off.  I believe it's more like 600-700ms.

>It's a sliding drawer type drive similar to the Tandy.  The stores have spec
>sheets, even if the hired help doesn't understand what a spec sheet is.

Believe it or not, I actually found a salesman at Software Etc. who could
answer (almost) any question I threw at him.  Without looking at the
sheet!  I coundn't believe it either. :-)

-- 
=============================================================================
Mark Harrison           |  "We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
harrison@sun.lclark.edu |   Our great computers fill the hallowed halls."
              -- Me     |                                    -- Rush
From: H. Paul Hammann <C559165@MIZZOU1.MISSOURI.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: CD ROM Jukeboxes
Date: 19 Nov 1992 19:06:28 GMT
Organization: UMC
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.206.4.16
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1.1d12
X-XXDate: Thu, 19 Nov 92 19:07:33 GMT

Hi all,
   I have heard of CD ROM Jukeboxes, i.e. a CD ROM drive that holds 50
- 100 CDs and
can access any of them without a human having to change them. 
Unfortunately I have
been unable to find any other information on them.  If anyone has
information on 
manufacturers, prices, or reviews on different jukebox systems could
you please E-Mail
me information at C559165@MIZZOU1.MISSOURI.EDU?  I will summarize to
the list.
Thank you.


H. Paul Hammann
C559165@MIZZOU1.MISSOURI.EDU
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: bacchus@pollux.cs.uga.edu (The Edge)
Subject: info needed
Followup-To: bacchus@pollux.cs.uga.edu
Originator: bacchus@pollux
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 17:34:45 GMT

Hi,
	we are trying to set up a Novell network with a cd-rom at work, does
anyone know of any good units out there (prices would be nice too), along with
any good educational software on cds?  any information would be greatly 
appreciated....

Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: googs@pravda.webo.dg.com (Joe Gugliemino)
Subject: DAK CD-ROM drives and software
Date: 18 Nov 92 14:33:58 GMT
Distribution: alt
Organization: NSDD/ONSD, Data General Corp., Westboro, MA


I receive a catalog from DAK, a mail order company from California.
They are really hyping 2 CD-ROM drives from BSR (w/, w/o caddy), and
seem to have an extensive software library available.  Is anybody
familiar with their products?  Are they offering quality hardware and
software, or is it cheap, slow stuff and useless software?  I've bought
an equalizer and a "boom-box" from them in the past, and I was
dissapointed by the quality of each.  

It seems like there's a smaller range of quality in the digital world
(you can't mess up 1's and 0's like you can analog signals), but I'm
leery of yet another ad that seems too good to be true.  I'm interested
in CD-ROM, but I have no experience to base a decision on.  I don't have
their ad here with me, so I can't give you any details; if you're
familiar with their stuff I'd appreciate a review.  Thanks.



--

                             Later,

                             Joe Gugliemino

(new address)
       |
       V
googs@pravda.webo.dg.com             Voice: (508) 870-6318
Joe_Gugliemino@dg.com                      Phone messages routinely routed
Data General Corp., Westboro, Ma.             to the nearest black hole...
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: dce@smsc.sony.com (David Elliott)
Subject: Re: 3" cd's?
Organization: Sony Microsystems, San Jose, CA
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 19:47:57 GMT


In article <1992Nov18.194705.1@tesla.njit.edu>, kpm8447@tesla.njit.edu writes:
|> Is it possible to use smaller cd's than the normal 5" or whatever size it is.
|> I mean  using the 3" or maybe a 1.5" disc.  It seems that most
|> games and programs on cd's doe
|> don't use the whole disc anyway so why not use a smaller one?
|> Can this work?

I don't think it would be economical, simply because it takes different
equipment to deal with different sizes.

A different approach might be to make use of that extra space.  Fill
it with demos, scans of ads and articles, music, pictures, or whatever
you like.

-- 
...David Elliott
...dce@smsc.sony.com | ...!{uunet,mips}!sonyusa!dce
...(408)944-4073
..."If it wasn't for disappointment, I wouldn't have any appointments" - T
From: dragon@ossi.com (Norman Morse)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: XOPEN CD-ROM API's
Date: 18 Nov 1992 12:14:17 -0800
Organization: Open Systems Solutions Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: tao.ossi.com
Summary: Looking for anyone who has experience with X/OPEN XCDR
Keywords: XOPEN CDROM XCDR

I am interested in hearing from anyone who knows the current status
of the X/OPEN CD-ROM Support Component (XCDR).  

I know that this standard specifies an API which allows access to 
elements of an ISO 9660 format CDROM which are not available through 
the file system interface.

Please send me email if you know the current status of this specification, 
or if you know of anyone who has implemented it.

Thank You,

Norman Morse - Chairman, SPARC International CD-ROM Working Group
	       Email: dragon@ossi.com
From: joe@mivax.mc.duke.edu (Joe Hales)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: CDR players with PhotoCD capabilities
Date: 23 Nov 92 14:10:00 GMT
Organization: Duke University Medical Center
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

The time has finally come.  After months of following this group out of
interest (and little hope of owning a CDR player), the powers that be say we
need one and I'm the local "expert."  To complicate matters, my instructions
include "while you're at it, see if you can get one that supports PhotoCD."

I understand the basics of adding new devices to PCs, but have not had to face
the subtle nuances of CD specifically.  Also, I have tried to read the archive,
but it is a slow and painful process, since I may only request one months worth
of discussion per day and the results are hit and miss (not intended as a
flame of the archivist- I appreciate all archivists and their dedication to a
thankless job).

Up front:  we want a CDR player that will read the NT CDRs (no flames, please). 
We would also like to "explore" PhotoCD.  We already have at least one IS0 9660
in house, but once he drive arrives, anticipate more.

My specific questions are:
1.  We are looking for one CDR player to connect to one of several PS2s.  At
least one of these is already SCSI equipped.  Will a standard SCSI adapter cut
it or do I need a custom adapter?  How do I tell?  If I need a special adapter,
I assume that PS2 MCA limits me right away.  Can anyone give me some pointers?

2.  What is the current state of PhotoCD support in hardware?  The last I read
is that there is at least one player that supports PhotoCD and one or mor other
standards, but not many and that capability is down the road.  Can anyone help
me here?  What is the horizon for a more functional player and is it necessary
for basic (mostly text based) access of CDRs.  What is the price that PhotoCD
is going to add?

3.  How much of a difference do these new double speed players make for text
based applications, as opposed to motion video applications?  

4.  Finally, one can always wait for better technology, so that is not the
point of the question.  We need to make a decision fairly quickly.  Is it worth
it to buy one of these bargain basement drives at throw away prices and wait
out some of the changes that are ahead.  (Will those drives last that long)?

I know I have read on all or some of these before, but haven't really had to
know the answers until now.  Thanks for the help.
From: bruce@camb.com (Barton F. Bruce)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom,bit.listserv.cdrom-l
Subject: Re: Daisy-chain(able) CD-ROMs: Which ones?
Date: 17 Nov 92 13:08:27 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.

In article <5776@sumax.seattleu.edu>, grtorlba@sumax.seattleu.edu (George Torralba) writes:
> Are there CD-ROM drives, other than those using SCSI, that can be
> daisy-chained?  Of course, I'm only considering those drives that are less

The Sony CDU-31A drive will soon or just has a Sony sold controller
that will do 2 drives. This is what has been frustrating Sony distributors.
They have had the drive, but the controller card was late.

The Gateway 2000 controller in their $225 drive+controller package ONLY 
does 1 drive.

Now if Sony had something like a CDU-561+ SCSI drive that would be at LUN 0
at any SCSI ID and one could daisy-chain CDU-31A non scsi (and cheap) drives 
drives off it as LUNs 1-7, you could get not 49, but 56 drives per 
controller card. Each such stack of 8 would eat only 1 SCSI id.

Some manufacturer has to be swift enough to understand that as drive prices
drop, this sort of configuration capability is going to sell them LOTS of 
drives.
From: bruce@camb.com (Barton F. Bruce)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: Re: Caddyless CD-ROM Drives for the Mac?
Date: 15 Nov 92 18:09:41 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.

> Does anyone know of any CD-ROM drives (preferably the newer, faster
> models that support multi-session Photo CD) that don't require
> those stupid disk caddies?  I'd like something with a sliding drawer
> or one like the in-dash audio players - that slurps it in
> automatically.

The non-SCSI Sony CDU-31A works without a caddy, but is useless to
anyone except a PC user with a special controller card. 

The drive does multi-sessions for photo-cd, though. 

Perhaps some nice soul will make a SCSI card that puts 7 of these
behind one real SCSI unit number, so 49 drives can be put on
a suitable SCSI controller. 

Once Sony has issued the CDU-561, they are supposed to then offer
a lowend SCSI drive that should otherwise be similar to the CDU-31A.

That will be some months away, and if someone would just make that
1 SCSI unit # to 7 Sony CDU-31As, noone would have to wait.
The specs for the interface to the CDU-31A are readily available
from SONY.

Gateway 200 sells the CDU-31A fro $215 with a PC controller card,
so without it should be even cheaper. Affordable but slow drives
at last.
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: SHAPIROB@OUACCVMA.BITNET
Subject: (none)
Reply-To: SHAPIROB@OUACCVMA.bitnet
Organization: FUNET-NGW
Distribution: alt
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 13:18:56 GMT

Subject: CD Speedway, NEC BBS?, CDROM_G.SYS parameters (OS/2)


Anybody own CD Speedway? Does it really work? I assume, it is just a
disk caching program? Does it only support the CDROM drives?

Does anyone know if NEC has a BBS to support their CDROM drives? If so,
do you have a telephone number?

I need the parameters for the OS/2 device driver CDROM_G.SYS. If anyone
has them I would be grateful if you could forward them to me. Just let
me know.

Thanks in advance.....!!!!!

brian

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian D. Shapiro                             :SHAPIROB@OUACCVMA.BITNET
Ohio University Computing & Technology Svcs. :SHAPIRO@OUACCVMB.BITNET
220 Haning Hall                              :shapiro@fuzzytop.ucls.ohiou.edu
Athens, Ohio  45701        Ph:(614) 593-0176 :shapiro@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: jeffl@lab240a.ee.unsw.edu.au (jeff lee)
Subject: Re: Suggestions?
Keywords: CD-ROM, IBM clone, Sun Sparc, SCSI
Organization: Systems & Control, UNSW
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 07:02:18 GMT

In article <1eaprdINN557@sdl.Warren.MENTORG.COM> garyg@Warren.MENTORG.COM (Gary Gendel) writes:
>       Any suggestions on a CD-ROM that can be used on either an IBM clone or a
>SUN SPARC?  I assume that if the drive is an external SCSI I should be able to
>interface (given the right cables), right?  Last, what PC controller should I opt
>for.

>       Obviously money is the key issue, otherwise I would just buy two, one for
>each.  Thanks in advance.


>Gary


We are in the similar situation. Please forward any suggestions re above
to us.

Many thanks,
	Jeff Lee,	J.Lee@unsw.edu.au
	School of EE,
	Univ. of NSW,
	PO Box 1, Kensington
	NSW 2032, Australia.
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: HCLADM08@UCONNVM.BITNET
Subject: DX/TREATMENT SOFTWARE
Reply-To: HCLADM08@UCONNVM.bitnet
Organization: FUNET-NGW
Distribution: alt
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 14:23:06 GMT

This has been cross-posted to several lists, please excuse the
redundancy:

SOme years ago an online database existed via the American Medical
Association called DXplain.  The user interacted with the database by
inputting symptoms, age of patient, sex, etc., and the database rendered possib
le
diagnoses.

I believe that this database has been revived under another moniker.
Can anyone provide information on this dbase?

More importantly, do any compact disk or floppy based databases
exist that will do approximately the same job as this
expert system?  Please give relevant details.  And thanks to all
those who reply!

--
Nick Tomaiuolo, Information Services Librarian
hcladm08@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Univ. of Connecticut Health Center PO Box 4003
Farmington, CT 06034
Fax:   203 679 4046
From: kpm8447@tesla.njit.edu
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: Producing a CD?
Date: 23 Nov 92 12:57:30 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology

A while ago (last year) someone was posting about how they had a CD made.
I'm thinking of making one and wanted to know the whole process (not the
laser cutting end of it..just the software/hardware aspect)  What companies
make them, what do I need (tape backup, etc) to produce a cd.  What is the
cost of the master, then each disc thereafter.
 - thanks in advance
-- 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Kirk Membry                              Marriage is for Life, Death is Forever
kpm8447@tesla.njit.edu                                    kpm8447@teak.njit.edu
kmembry@andromeda.rutgers.edu                            kpm8447@maple.njit.edu
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==
From: andy@meefun.autodesk.com (Andrew Purshottam)
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
Subject: Which CD Rom for WNT + Multisession PhotoCD?
Date: 20 Nov 92 00:35:44 GMT
Organization: Autodesk Inc.

Hi, has anyone successfully used a PC CDROM 
with Windows NT and Multisession Photo-CD ROM?

Thanks, Andy
-
Andrew V. Purshottam      /\     |  andy@autodesk.com  ...!fernwood!acad!andy 
Autodesk, Inc.	         //\\    |  (415)332-2344x2161  FAX (415) 331-8093
2320 Marinship Way      ///\\\   |  Sausalito CA 94965
"The views expressed are those of the speaker."
--
-
Andrew V. Purshottam      /\     |  andy@autodesk.com  ...!fernwood!acad!andy 
Autodesk, Inc.	         //\\    |  (415)332-2344x2161  FAX (415) 331-8093
2320 Marinship Way      ///\\\   |  Sausalito CA 94965
"The views expressed are those of the speaker."
Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom
From: bwilliam@iat.holonet.net (Bill Williams)
Subject: Re: Toshiba XM3301 internals wanted !
Organization: HoloNet (BBS: 510-704-1058)
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 07:08:49 GMT

I do not belive the normal Toshiba XM3301 can ever read Red Book audio
tracks such that the data is sent over the SCSI bus. Sony claims that
their newest device can, and Silicon Graphics claims that the Toshiba in
the SGI Indigo is a special modified Toshiba for them only that defaults
on powerup/reset to 512 byte block instead of 2K, has a large buffer, and
CAN TRANSFER AUDIO DATA OVER THE SCSI BUS. I have never ever heard
anything confirmed by a vendor that states any other devices can transfer
audio data.

Bill Williams

Newsgroups: alt.cd-rom