[vcf-midatlantic] Bernoulli Drives needed in working condition
Herb Johnson
hjohnson at retrotechnology.info
Wed May 19 04:22:30 UTC 2021
Dave responded to my points, with his points. I thought about it, but
actually we see the same sorts of things in this discussion, and put
some different values to them. That's good by me, discussions work that
way. I see his points and I will consider them further. We aren't that
far about, just differences in strategy and tactics.
The action issue today, is what management will do about the donor's
offer of data cartridges, and who might be found to execute if
management want to accept conditions on that offer. So far, Dave and I
are in neither category. So we are both "chatting" as I put it. He and I
shared our views, I see no point in arguing between us, again it's not
about either of us.
I take his point, that discussion may lead to something and also has its
own value. I'll leave it at that.
Dave asks, what about the future, other such projects? "If you are going
to shy away from a small thing, what happens when you have a big thing?"
Yeah, that's a good question. I'd also call that "raising the stakes".
It's a good way to consider policy. But that's not in play in this
thread, I don't think.
But it might be - I didn't know what Jeff would say next, when I wrote
this. But I read ahead on the thread.
=========================
Since Dave's post, before I posted what I wrote above, Jeff Brace blinds
us with science, provides more facts. He explained what was potentially
available. Like most "finds", it's an emerging situation.
The drives are like the ones on my Web page - thus they are identified.
There's 30, 40, 50 cartridges involved. And: two pairs of drives. Terms
of providing the carts, are detailed. But my guess is, they are not
final terms but done on-the-fly. They could change.
That raises the stakes on the carts: at street value of the order of $20
a pop, that's several hundred dollars value minimum. And by the way:
you'll also need cleaning carts, and often, to keep operating the
drives. Maybe there's cleaning carts among the data carts Jeff saw.
I know this much: I have a customer who says HE is still using these
drives. So maybe these drives can be recovered and work again.
So task one, is to get one drive inspected and working with one
computer; maybe then both drives; maybe then on two computers. That's
contingent on obtaining one or two controllers - without doubt. Getting
something running is also necessary, to execute the deletion commitment.
Task two - keep these running for a long activity, which I'll describe
by guess. It's separate from running the system.
Guessing about operation of the 10 MB Bernoulii drive, again what little
I know. A "delete all files" operation must be tens of minutes effort,
to load a cart, inspect, perform, inspect, remove. So that means some
person-hours of work, to erase tens of carts, by simple math. Is this
something the donor *really* wants to commit to, their personal or
professional time? Where will they commit to do this? The systems may
have to be moved, operated on the donor's site? Will that be practical?
Can they be maintained?
That's all I've got to say. I'm just guessing at the tasks involved.
Maybe my discussion ("chatter") will be informative to whomever makes
decisions about this acquisition and project.
I can add, I have some IBM ISA controllers, which may be appropriate (I
do not know), and which would have to be bought (not donated) and are
not tested. Also cables, which may or may not be needed. I'll show them
on my Web site when I get to it, in a day or two. It's pure circumstance
that 1) I have these and 2) I happened to have a customer for them THIS
WEEK. Otherwise they have been dormant for years.
Regards, Herb Johnson
--
Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA
http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net
preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing
email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com
or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net
More information about the vcf-midatlantic
mailing list