I wholeheartedly agree with Steve's opinion regarding the problems among
the
different removeable media formats.  The problems, on PCs, also extend
into the combination of SCSI software and boards used to format the
media.  Many combinations are incompatible with others.

We use the CD as an archive and a means of distribution.  The PD 650 is
our standard for temporary storage.  It was chosen for cost, and the
reliability of our older phase change drives. Our intent is to provide
our investigators with high capacity personal disks so that they can be
self reliant for storing working files and backup.  Also to reduce
traffic on our hard drives and server.  Other labs have
their own philosophies, including not supporting any removable medium.
The
important point is to choose an internal standard for a rewritable
temporary storage and to resist the temptation to buy additional formats
just because "everybody else has them".  Use the more universal
standards of CD or ftp to distribute materials beyond your facility.

>For a multiuser facility there really is no alternative in my opinion.
>For a
>single laboratory use there is an argument for the other systems.
>
>Regards,
>
>    //\\\                   Stephen H. Cody,
>   (o /\\\

Regards,
Glen MacDonald
Virginia Bloedel Hearing Research Center
Box 35-7923
University of Washington
Seattle, WA  98195-7923
(206) 616-4156
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The box said "Requires Windows 95 or better.", so I bought a Macintosh.
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