1/4 inch tape drive

[Tony Facca]

As long as we're on the subject...

Has anyone ever used (or heard of anyone who has ever used) a 1/4 tape drive
unit from Wangtek ("Where Good Ideas Get Delivered."), model 5150ES  in 
a Personal Iris??

They are claiming to be a low priced ($950) replacement for the drive used
by SGI.  I have more specs on this unit than I do on the one SGI provides, and
it appears to be a viable alternative.

Breifly:     
          Max formatted capacity:        250 MB
	  Data cartridge type:		 DC 6250
	  Recording Tracks:		 18 Track Serpentine
	  Recording Formats:		 QIC-150, QIC-120 
	  Read Compatibility:		 QIC-120, QIC-24
	  R/W Speed:			 90ips
	  Recording Code:		 GCR
	  Transfer Rate:		 1.8 MB per second
	  Data Buffer Size:		 64 KB
	  Search/Rewind Speed:		 90ips 

	  Non-recoverable read error rate:   no more than 1 in 10^11 bits

	  MTBF				 > 15,000 POH, 15% tape motion
	  MTTR				 < 30 minutes

	  [ there's more, but its environmental and power requirements ]

	  Physical:   5.25" half-height  1.625"H x 5.750"W x 8.300"D x 2.4 lbs.


I'd appreciate any TECHNICAL comments on why this drive may not be appropriate.


--
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Tony Facca                     |     phone: 216-433-8318
NASA Lewis Research Center     |    
Cleveland, Ohio  44135         |     email: fsfacca at lerc08.lerc.nasa.gov 
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