On Sunday, September 14th, Doug Barnes, Sysop on SPHINX joined us for some
questions and answers about the CBM IEEE Hard Drives he has available.
Doug used the DEBS-GUEST acct in this transcript.

Minutes:
<DEB> Welcome, Doug!
<MINUTEMAN> Hello doug.
<TIGLON.G> :right back:
<[- Mike -] MIKEM> Hiya Doug!
<JIM.MAC> Welcome Doug!
<DEBS-GUEST> well this is a pleasure
<DEBS-GUEST> i have been getting nasy remarks thrown at me all day
<DEB> ooooo dear!!  we can't have that_!
<DEBS-GUEST> where shall we start??
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Bang the gavel!
<[sickley] GARYW> at the beginning.
<DEB> Doug...the floor is yours, this is your show!  do whatever....
<DEB> you'd like!  does anyone need a refresher course on formal Conferencing ?
<DEBS-GUEST> Hmmmmm well to start with  i used to have a good friend  name of 
Bill  he is the "person" i have been buying the Hard Disk Drives from
<DEBS-GUEST> We now have a new name for "person" not mentionable here
<DEBS-GUEST> He had 500 "9090" Commodore disk drive and was about to throw
them away and just sell the "innards"
<DEBS-GUEST> I said "WHOA"  let me put a message up on a Telenet board and 
maybe you can get more than $40 for the drives
<DEBS-GUEST> I did and here we are  except
<DEBS-GUEST> he got green (like in $$$ ) eyes
<DEBS-GUEST> after I sold 55 drives in 1 week ,he decided to search around and 
found a "wholesale" buyer in AUSIRALIA
<DEBS-GUEST> Then when i asked for more drives  he said o.k  A week passed and 
no drives
<DEBS-GUEST> I asked again  he said O.K
<DEBS-GUEST> another week passed and still no drives
<DEBS-GUEST> i bugged him about the drives and my commitment to people and he 
said
<DEBS-GUEST> "if you want the drives come and get them"
<DEBS-GUEST> I did so last thursday, saw that they were loaded on a truck and 
flew back here
<DEBS-GUEST> when they arrived on Friday I noticed that a lot of the boxes
were "UNMARKED" so I opened a bunch
<DEBS-GUEST> They were all "9060" drives and that was probably the reason that 
he wouldn't send me any, I wanted 9090s and he had spold them all

   [ed note:  the Commodore 9060 drive is a 5 Meg IEEE hard drive]

<DEBS-GUEST> so here we are I have a bunch of 9060s and only had 7 9090 out of 
the lot
<DEBS-GUEST> To be fair I have called the people that were first on the list
and  said they could have 1 pof the 7 drives, no matter what the previous o
reder was quantity wise
<DEBS-GUEST> those drives are now comitted so all I have left iare the 9060s   
However there is a bright note to this who:e mess .We have found a plac
e that has some 110 to 220 volt step up transformers. And thats about where we 
are  so to speak ????"
<DEB> Thank you, Doug, there are some questions already...Jim, you are first.
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, how will you price the 9060s?
<DEBS-GUEST> the same  I dont get any break  I get $50 per drive!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> So what is that price? Done.
<DEBS-GUEST> $395
<DEB> Is that with or without the transformer?
<DEBS-GUEST> Without-they can be purchased at ALLTRONICS in San Jose for $20.00
<DEB> Doug...I'm a REAL know nuttin about hardware stuff...
<DEB> is this transformer something *difficult* to do or just a small lil....
<DEB> thing we can plug in?
<DEBS-GUEST> It takes a little bit of soldering if you cant handle that  we 
will do it for you no charge
<B.DOHERTY>  Can you describe the 9060 how many blocks free etc.. And how have 
you made out witj shippin g the BUSCARD II
<DEBS-GUEST> The drive has 19144 blocks free and can be used with any type 
ieee488 interface  the BUSCARD is the best that I have tried  and the Quick
silver 128  is ok but if you have it in your 128 you cant use CP/M/!!
<BOBCRUSE> Will it have toggle device change option, if this has not been
asked. ,ie;dip swithes..switches
<DEBS-GUEST> No you can chnge the device number either under hardwre or 
software control!!
<B.DOHERTY> Are we to assume you have these drives in hand and are shipping 
them now?
<DEBS-GUEST> I am sitting in the middle of 16 of them that are formatting and 
the npoise is deafening  they are 80 more in the storage area!
<B.DOHERTY> hahaha
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, how many orders have you received. How many remain 
available as of tonight
<DEBS-GUEST> Have bacorders for 37 and have had calls for 16 today  whatever 
those numbers are subtracted from 96  looks like 43!!!
<[Sailing Man] NATURAL1> Thanx....does it have capabilities to hook into a 
streaming tape backup?
<DEBS-GUEST> I think not  does your c128 or c64 have those capabilities??!
<[Sailing Man] NATURAL1> yes
<DEB> <<none was ever avail for the PET series of business computers, tho>>
<[Sailing Man] NATURAL1> with the 8080 drive the port was there...but as deb 
said...none where made
<DEBS-GUEST> Then you should be able to do a transfer from device to device  
just like any other drive  The drives use 3.0 Commodore Dos!!!!
<MINUTEMAN> How can we go about ordering one?
<DEBS-GUEST> Call the SPHINXboard at 415   581 9452 and leave your name and 
address  The drives will be deliverd by UPS  The method of payment is Cert
ified Check or Cash!!!
<MINUTEMAN> thank you...done
<DEB> Jim?
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, do you know of anyone that services these drives?
<DEBS-GUEST> There are 2 people in this area and 1 at Commodore Headquarters!!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Thanks ..done
<DEB> Mike?
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Of the 9090 drives you have (had) was mine among them?
<DEBS-GUEST> Mike who??   Man!!
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Mike Hooper Order date 8/21
<DEBS-GUEST> I hav been trying to reach you today  to ask you if you still 
wanted a drive  but couldn't get in to your line  forgot if there was no one
at home or just busy!!!
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Busy!  Yes I do!
<DEBS-GUEST> You got it
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Thankee Muchly!..Done.
<DEB> OK, Doug, let me recap...9060 drive for $395.  extra $20 for transformer 
<DEBS-GUEST> Thats about the size of it
<DEB> and it comes COD UPS, only certified check or cash acceptable.
<DEBS-GUEST> You are right again  very good  thats twice!!!
<DEB> <<what would you guys charge if I asked for a device switch???>>
<DEBS-GUEST> What the hec is that????!!!
<DEB> a switch to change devices so *I* didn't have to mess with it!
<DEB> <<remember, hardware is jut not my thing....>>
<DEBS-GUEST> For a permaanent change???!!!
<DEB> yea, ya know, you can make it either 8 or 9 , etc.
<DEBS-GUEST> We will make it whatever device address you want  just specify!!!
<DEB> ALSO, whats the word on buscard purchases ???
<[sickly] GARYW> She wants a switch so she can change from 8 to 9 and back to 8
<DEB> Gary...yea, and you all better be glad I *don't* try those things myself!
<DEBS-GUEST> I have a thing now with Batteries  I can buy for $60  + shipping 
and you can buy for same!!!!
<DEB> thru you, Doug or direct from Batteries?
<DEBS-GUEST> Through me  Batteries charges $139 still I have to buy 50 pieces 
to get that price.!!!
<DEB> Jim ... ga!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, I am curious how you first heard of the availablity of 
these drives.
<DEBS-GUEST> From "person" that I spoke of That is his business  he rebuilds 
Hard Disk Drives!!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Okay, thanks!...done
<DEB> Evidently 'he' got them from a liquidator?
<DEB> Mike...your question?
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Are the IEEE to IEEE cables still available and at $20? (and 
in stock??)
<DEBS-GUEST> I have 4 i to i lsft and will sell at $20  just asbefore  I am 
looking for a way to get more  made  but havent succeded yet!!!
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Thank you.  done
<DEB> Doug...will you be in LA next week for the commodore show?
<DEBS-GUEST> No waiting for it to come to me!!!
<DEB> Bob...your question, go ahead.
<[ Bob ] B.DOHERTY> Any chance you can get a deal going for QuickSiler-128 also?
<DEB> <<February one comes to you, Doug>>
<DEB> Bob....I've an appt withBob Skyles next weekend.  willask.
<[- Mike -] MIKEM> <eek>
<[ Bob ] B.DOHERTY> Never one In Florida (central)
<DEBS-GUEST> DEB>>> Person bought drives from TANDONCorp!!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, How fast are these drives. Can you compare it with a SFD?
<DEB> <<I can compare them....!  I used to have one!>>
<DEB> the CBM Hard drives seem a little faster than even SFD's or 8250's....
<DEB> nothing to write home to mom about, tho.  IEEE speeds are IEEE speeds.
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Okay, but nothing impressive I gather. done
<DEB> Mike...?
<DEBS-GUEST> Never having used an FSD no  but their access time   track to 
track is 3 milliseconds  that is prety swift and they load a 122 block prog
ram in 1,8 sseconds
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Doug, if you were swindled (as I gather) on the 9090s, you 
might want to make..
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> so if others have dealings with him, they can watch out!
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> ga
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> opps...(his name public)
<DEBS-GUEST> OI wasnt swindled cause I dont own the drives  just mislead !!!
<DEB> Jim...speed of increase depends on the size of file.  longer the faster..
<DEB> for LOADS and such.  seq reads/writes just a tad faster.
<DEB> Jim...ga
<DEBS-GUEST> The drives are as fats as the ones on a big blue AT!!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, How about heat? Are there built in fans?
<DEB> Mike...congrats on your shiney new 7.5 Megger,tho!  <<grin>>
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> GFX<<< In 7th heaven!
<DEBS-GUEST> There is a fan in the rear of the drive  haven't noticed any heat 
problem   but   have noticed the fan noise!!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Thanks the fan is comforting to hear about...done
<DEB> They are kinda noisy!!!  and I wouldn't keep them in a hot room.
<DEB> <<Have I overlooked anyone's quetions?>>
<DEB> go, Jim
<DEBS-GUEST> deb>>> i missed tah one about 808 something from the guy with the 
tape drive  what was that about??!!!
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> Doug, want to thank you for being here tonight, I have to run 
so good nite all.
<[Jim] JIM.MAC> has left.
<DEB> Doug...I wouldn't worry about it much, there were some pretty strange....
<DEB> things in some old Pet peripherals.
<[ Bob ] B.DOHERTY> not Monitoring.
<DEBS-GUEST> wow imbraeking up  !!!
<DEB> Doug...thanks so much, really!!!  We appreciate it, I will edit...
<[- Mike -] MIKEM> Thanx Doug!
<DEB> I'll edit this and post on both GEnie and Delphi tommorrow....
<DEBS-GUEST> I am doing GARBAGEcollection!!!
<DEBS-GUEST>
<[ Bob ] B.DOHERTY> Thanks Doug
<DEB> before youleave, Doug, is there anything else we can do for yu?
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> Any idea when you will ship mine Doug...I'd like to notify 
the users that....
<[Mike] GRAFIX.M> have kicked in 1/2 the price (on my BBS).
<DEBS-GUEST> my  PUTERis down!!!
<DEBS-GUEST>
<DEBS-GUEST>
<DEBS-GUEST> disconnected.
<[- Mike -] MIKEM> Bye Doug!
<DEB> now that *is* down!
<[sickly] GARYW> oh well
<[- Mike -] MIKEM> <Totally>
=== End of Steno notes. ===