From: deanr@sco.COM (Dean Reece)
Subject: Re: SONY 3 1/2" /128MB MODs
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 17:04:16 GMT


MICHAEL.ZACHERL@OFFICE.WANG.COM ("Michael Zacherl") writes:
 
> Recently I saw an announcement from SONY's 'new' 3 1/2" /128MB MOD-drives.
> The discs look like normal 3 1/2" discs and can be attached via SCSI.
> I think the sheet is rather old (maybe outdated??).
> I can't recall the modellname, further data and price!
> Anyone outthere can send me specific information???
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> michael

The following is a summary of a Marketing Glossy I picked up at a peripherals
conference in San Jose a few moths back.  Several vendors have these drives
out, but I have yet to see any price info on the drives or the media.
(note:  MO means Magneto-Optical)

Sony Rewritable Optical Disk Drives SMO-D301/C301 SMO-P301 SMO-S301

3.5" Half Height MO Disk Dries with High-Speed Access and Data Transfer

The D301 is the raw drive (fits in a 1/2 height enclosure)
The C301 is the SCSI controller for 1 or 2 of the above (this is NOT a Host
Adapter, but the actual SCSI interface for the drive).
The P301 is both the drive and SCSI controller in one unit.  (This drive is
the same height/width as a normal 3.5", but is deeper by 2 inches)
The S301 is an external unit which has its own case & power supply.

Specs (all units)

Host Interface:		ANSI X3.131-1986 SCSI
Disk:			90mm (3.5") MO disk
Disk Format:		Continuous/composite (ISO/ANSI)
Bytes per Sector:	512
Format Capacity (max):	128 MB (MO), 123 MB (OD-ROM)
Data Transfer Rate:	7.25 Mbps
User data xfer rate:	625 KB/sec
Burst transfer rate:	Async: 3.0 MB/sec (max) - Sync: 4.0 MB/sec (max)
Sectors per track:	25
Number of tracks:	10,000
Disk Rotation:		3,000 rpm, CAV
Average Latency:	10 msec
Seek time (avg):	Less than 40 msec
Bit Error Rate:		Less than 10^-12
Buffer memory capacity:	64 KB
Weight:			D301 1.9lb - P301 2.4 lb - S301 9.9 lb
Power:	DC Volts@Amps:	D301 +5@1A +12@0.4A
			P301 +5@1.55A +12@0.4A
	AC Volts@Amps:	S301 100-120V @ 0.55A - 220-240V @ 0.3A


There is an extensive list of Sony Phone numbers/Fax#/addresses, but
I'll just list the phone numbers & countries:

Japan:		(03) 3448-3445
America:	(408) 432-0190
Germany:	0221-59773-0
Germany:	089-82916-431
United Kingdom:	0784-466660
France:		1-40-87-30-00
Italy:		(02) 61-838-275
Spain:		(1) 358-1335
Australia:	02-887-6660
Singapore:	3522753


I have another glossy from a company named MOST (Mass Optical Storage
Technology) and they have a drive that supports all the above specs
AS WELL AS a proprietary 256 MB format using Group Zone recording
technology (CLV).  This MOST spec also gives a little more useful info
on the media so I'll include that below:

Format:
Sector Headers (ISO):	Stamped
Sector Header (GZ):	Free Format
Track:			Spiral
Track Pitch:		1.6 um
Number of Tracks:	10,000
Tracking Provision:	Composite Continuous
Geometry:		Land and Groove
Recording Location:	On Land

The model numbers from MOST are: RMD-5100-S for an ISO 128MB drive
and RMD-5200-S for the ISO 128MB + MOST 256MB drive

MOST's number is (714) 898-9400 (in Cypress, CA)


As a side note, the media is 3.5" but is about twice as thick as a 3.5"
floppy.  None of these drives are able to read or write normal 3.5"
floppys (not that they really need to :-).

Enjoy

-Dean Reece (deanr@sco.com)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics