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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:	AMIGA NOTES
Notice:	Join us in the NEW conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:	HYDRA::MOORE

Created:	Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:	Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5378
Total number of notes:	38326

980.0. "ProDrive Review" by WJG::GUINEAU (W. John Guineau III) Wed Dec 16 1987 09:50


I just picked up a ProDrive last night. I got it at The Software Shop
in Worcester. This is a neat store (mail order, but locals can walk in)
The salesman was real nice. They have low prices and large stock. In fact
while I was there, the guy was talking to someone on the phone from
New Zealand...

Anyway, the ProDrive is all they use in thier shop!

Initial comments are:

	1. Very small package. (around 1" x 4" x 5") Fits anywhere.
	2. Heavy little bugger. Makes it easy to insert disks without
	   holding it in place
	3. Cheaper than Commodore drive
	4. Nice long cable (3')
	5. Speed seemed comparable to internal drive, but I didn't do
	   any real benchmark

The box claims is quiet. I didn't think it was much quieter than the internal
drive. Just a different tone.

This is based on a quick look last night.

Anyone else have one of these things?

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
980.1	PROdrive works like a champ	SIMUL8::STOLLER	Voice, Catch The Wave	`Wed Dec 16 1987 10:51`	11
	Yes, I have a PROdrive. I find it quieter. I do not hear it but I do hear the internal drive. Abel sent me mine. The smaller size is what sold me. Its tiny. Also, I agree, not needing to hold it to put in the disk is nice. Also, I have limited desk space and am thinking of placing it on top of my power supply. Anyone out there think this is du... not a good idea? It fits and won't slide off. how about putting the both of them on top of the monitor, nah... too hot. There are obviously other possibilities, like putting up a shelf, but this is much simpler for the short term.
980.2		LEDS::ACCIARDI		`Wed Dec 16 1987 11:24`	11
	Y'know, for $29, Radio Shack sells a nice monitor stand for their Model 1000 machine that fits the A500 like a glove. The stand uses two U-shaped steel brackets to support a platform. The CPU slides in right under the platform. The whole thing is abuout the same color as the A500, too. The Software Shop has one set up with their A500. It looks real clean, and has enough room on the platform to hold the monitor, and a floppy or hard drive.
980.3	Don't do it!	WJG::GUINEAU	W. John Guineau III	`Wed Dec 16 1987 11:27`	7
	I wouldn't put it on the power supply. Any sufficiently strong stray magnetic fields can do serious damage to data on floppies (or hard disks for that matter) I don't even feel safe leaving boxes of floppies within 6-8 inches of the supply or power cord - but then I may be paranoid too.
980.4	Pro for Pro - little quid	CSSE::WARD		`Wed Dec 16 1987 16:09`	6
	I recently purchased a PRODRIVE and Panasonic 1901i after buying WordPerfect. Solid as a rock. [I layed mine on its side - sandwiched between the CPU and Printer] Any other suggestions on furniture? Any monitor stands table attachments (like a lamp arm) to free-up the CPU top surface?
980.5		WJG::GUINEAU	W. John Guineau III	`Wed Dec 16 1987 16:38`	7
	I don't know, but the Radio Shack one sounds pretty good to me (Ala Ed!) God, I hope it dosen't say Tandy on it!!! :-) John
980.6	$$	DICKNS::MACDONALD	WA1OMM Listening 224.28	`Wed Dec 16 1987 17:15`	1
	So how much is it?
980.7	$	WJG::GUINEAU	W. John Guineau III	`Thu Dec 17 1987 08:07`	6
	I paid $199 for mine, but I've seen them mail order for $189 I've seen the Commodore drive for $225 to $275
980.8	Abel $179	SIMUL8::STOLLER	Voice, Catch The Wave	`Thu Dec 17 1987 10:05`	2
	I paid $179 from Abel. Call between 9-10PM and you get through first time every time. At least you did about 45 days ago.
980.9	Quick Performance comparison	WJG::GUINEAU	W. John Guineau III	`Wed Dec 23 1987 09:01`	33
	Last night I decided to do some real quick measurements between internal and ProDrive. I simply formatted a disk, inserted it into DF1: and then copied all my RAM:C commands to DF1: and timed it. Repeat for internal drive. DIR command loaded from RAM:C both cases. Simple results: DF1 (ProDrive) ~47 seconds DF0 (internal) ~32 seconds Then I did the AddBuffers DF1: 40 (as was done in s/Startup-Sequence for DF0) and repeated the same test (BTW, I deleted all files on the scratch disk before each copy) DF1 ~31 seconds DF0 ~32 seconds So AddBuffers definetly makes sense! All who have the external drive should remember to AddBuffers to DF1: in Startup-Sequence. These are very crude measurements but shows that Buffers make a difference and that the ProDrive is comparable to the internal floppy drive. I'd like to get a real performance eval tool (AutoTest?) and try different buffer sizes and such... John (whos hoping to see AutoTest magically appear!)