However, the lack of a manual release on the access door and the inability to add or remove tapes without taking the unit offline counted against it in this competitive group. Still, this is the most rugged, compact two-drive unit we tested. It finished a close second behind the Exabyte. The access door is metal as well, and not even a viewing window weakens the walls of this data fortress. Made of heavy, rigid plastic in accordance with the rugged library design, the magazine slides in effortlessly with no alignment hassles and seats firmly in its docked position.
Cartridges snap easily and securely into the magazine's slots.
Every step of loading the MiniLibrary Xpress increases your confidence in its overall construction. This library's robotics rely on screw drives, which are connected to their motors by geared belts. Direct-drive screws have no belts to break, but they may not handle obstacles well. If debris blocks the robot's path, it's better for a belt to slip or snap than for a direct- drive motor to keep pushing until something expensive breaks. If something does go awry inside the MiniLibrary Xpress, you'll have a hard time finding and fixing it.