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From: madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.periphs
Subject: Re: Lot's of questions
Message-ID: <674@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Dec-86 14:07:43 EST
Article-I.D.: bucsb.674
Posted: Thu Dec 18 14:07:43 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Dec-86 00:27:42 EST
References: <9073FIB@PSUVM>
Reply-To: madd@bucsb.bu.edu.UUCP (Jim "Jack" Frost)
Organization: ODO (Organization for the Disorganization of Organization)
Lines: 102
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.ibm.pc:581 comp.periphs:63

In article <9073FIB@PSUVM> FIB@PSUVM.BITNET writes:
>1)  Is there any way to lock out users of an AT system from portions of a hard
>    disk?  I'd like two different groups of people to use it, but one group
>    has data that they would like to remain confidential. Can it be done in
>    software or hardware?

You can do it, and you can do it in software or hardware.  Hardware is the
easiest -- buy a bernoulli box and lock up the disks (if you get a 20+20,
you have 40 meg of online data and you can lock it up when you leave).

Through software, there are lots of programs out there.  I recommend VFeature
by Bow Systems (I think).  We have been using this for almost a year now
with no bugs found (however we don't use the security mechanism that you
want).  It gives you the option of protecting DOS volumes with a password.
It does this in such a way as to leave the drive inaccessible even if
some smart guy uses his own DOS to boot.  As an extra feature, it allows
DOS volumes of >32mb, which is why we got it.

>2)  Has anybody had any experience (good or bad) with the Bernoulli Box?  My
>    understanding is that it acts like a hard disk, but is removable.  Is this
>    true?  If so, it may be the answer to the above data security problem.
>    Also, any details on its operation would be appreciated.  Since I may be
>    working with some good size files, how is access speed as compared to a
>    standard hard disk?

The Bernoulli Box (I mentioned it above) is fantastic.  It is not hyper-
fast, but it has speed very comparable to your standard XT drive (65ms,
I think, but you can check).  I used one for awhile with absolutely no
problems.

Good points:
	* removable (security, multiple volumes cheaply and portable)
	* relatively fast
	* cannot have a head crash (because of bernoulli effect)
	* Easy backups


Bad points:
	* Rather expensive to start up compared to a hard drive

Check out the reviews in several magazines (PC-Week has one, I believe).
I think they've all been pretty favorable.  You can also boot off one
of the Bernoulli disks if you buy a special controller (marginally more
expensive, I think).

>4)  Is there any problem installing multiple hard disks on an AT system?

Nope.  We ran 1 85mb and a 20mb on one for awhile.  Also installed:
1 1.2mb floppy and a 8" floppy controller.  Everything ran together with
zero problems.  Even the power supply was adequate.

>6)  I'm also taking recomendations on low/medium price Letter quality (18-24
>    pin) Dot Matrix Printers.  The only printers I've ever used have been
>    Epson... none of which have the quality I'm looking for.  Suggestions?

We have a Nissho printer that runs great.  Lots of paper usage with no
problems (except one paper jam where the paper got caught coming out of
the box).  It emulates several different printers and has several
faceplate/software switchable fonts and qualities.  I'd recommend it.

>8)  Finally, what are your feelings about the difference of buying a REAL
>    IBM-PC/AT v/s clones.  I've been looking at the PC-Limited AT's with
>    a lot of interest.  Does anybody have one that can tell me how they
>    perform?  If you're really against or for buying clones, tell me why.

For clones:

Most of them work fine in nearly all applications.  No opinions on which
are better or worse.  8mhz clones tend to be good, but stay away from
clones w/ higher speeds, more below.  Definitely cheaper.

Against clones:

Some have poor quality and substandard power supplies.  Any clone that
runs faster than 8mhz will have bus speed problems with many add-on
cards.  Some faster then 6mhz will have problems with some memory cards,
but this is rapidly disappearing because of 8mhz pc-clones.

For what it looks like you're doing, you can probably get away with
a clone.  Try to check with your periferal manufacturer to see if their
card or whatever will work in your machine.  If they don't know, ask
the machine's manufacturer or try to borrow the same periferal from
someone to see if it will work in your machine.  We use coprocessor
cards that are really finiky -- they REALLY want IBM equipment.

Notes:
We run an IBM PC AT w/ 85mb+20mb hard drives (under VFeature), an
8" floppy drive (using Flagstaff's driver and software), and Alloy's
PC-SLAVE coprocessor cards (4 of 'em) using ATNX.

Disclaimer:  I am unrelated to:
	Alloy, Bow Systems, Flagstaff Engineering, IBM, IOmega, Nissho, and
	any other company that may have been mentioned.

Good luck in your venture.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
                   - Jim Frost * The Madd Hacker -
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