TheRef (tm), Version 4.5x
TheRef (tm) is a comprehensive Directory of Hard Drives, Floppy Drives, Optical
Drives, and Drive Controllers & Host Adapters. It is designed to help the novice and pro
alike with integration problems and system setups. It has been traditionally distributed in
ZIP format from Bulletin Boards, and FTP Sites. In ZIP format, information is provided in
two handy formats; Portrait mode, for those who prefer a normal book-binding type print
format, and(or) do not have a printer with Landscape capability. And Landscape mode, for
those who prefer a computer-printout type format.
For printing, a Laserjet is preferred, but not necessary, and setup info is provided.
For viewing, LIST(tm) by Vernon Buerg, will provide an excellent result, and allow text
searches for finding specific models.
REVISION HISTORY
VERSION 1.00 (early '89) This version was a preliminary attempt to start
to compile a list of drives in ASCII. It was intended for in-house use only, not released
publicly.
VERSION 2.00 (mid '89) Decided to change to a Database program instead of
ASCII for building a listing of drives and controllers. Used portrait mode for all specs.
Still an in-house publication.
VERSION 3.00 (11-21-89) Changed to Landscape mode for the Drives List.
Stayed with portrait mode for controllers. First distribution to close friends. Listed 431
drives and 134 controllers.
VERSION 3.10 (no date) Not released to the Public.
VERSION 3.20 (04-01-90) First official public release on BBSs. Went to
landscape mode for both listings. Listed 973 drives and 231 controllers.
VERSION 4.00 (07-25-90) This major release was formatted to support
Laserjet type printers, for maximum impact and clarity. Portrait and Landscape of printing
were included for each file. The file "Diagrams.Doc" was started after the initial release,
but found it's way public, and so was released as an unfinished, "running" document with all
future releases of TheRef (tm). This version listed 1,055 drives and 286 controllers.
VERSION 4.10 (01-04-91) This version brought sections on Floppy Drives and
Optical Drives. "Diagrams.Doc" was offically released with this version. The Manufacturers
Directory was expanded to four parts to cover the new sections, and page 5 was added to the
Diagrams.doc file. This version listed 1,282 Hard Drives, 86 Floppy Drives, 140 Optical
Drives, and 315 Controllers.
VERSION 4.11 (no date) Important correction to Diagrams.doc file. A "bug
fix" file was sent to distribution points for insertion.
VERSION 4.12 (no date) Minor correction to Diagrams.doc file. No
corrections sent out.
VERSION 4.20 (10-01-91) More of everything. Added "logical" specs for
IDE type drives, per the suggestion of many. Added the Landing Zone field, but forgot
to label it in the header! The DOC file was expanded to 7 pages. TheRef (tm) now has only
one Manufacturer's section,...something I have doubts about, since some Mfrs have different
addresses for HDs, Floppys, etc. This version listed 192 Manufacturers, 1,553 Hard Drives,
432 Controllers, 95 Floppys, and 152 Opticals.
VERSION 4.21 (10-02-91) Minor corrections to 4.20... This was the version
generally released.
VERSION 4.23 (no date) BBS On-Line version in Portrait mode, formatted for
a BBS viewing program. Released only through KADET BBS (closed down).
VERSION 4.30 (05-01-93) Lots of little changes. Access times changed from
"mS" to "ms", weights are now standardized in grams (g). The Head Parking (P?) was dropped,
since this is now reflected in the Landing Zone entry. The COMMENTS section has been cleaned
up...It was previously 2 fields combined into 1 for Landscape mode. Now it is one in both
modes, and a little easier to understand (hopefully). The MFM designation is now gone.
I know I'll get objections here, but since MFM is really 1,3RLL, I've decided to use that
instead. Some of the sizes are now being converted to metric. The drive heights for new
entries are now being entered in millimeters. Manufacturers phone numbers are now in
International format (000.000.0000) and shouldn't be too much of a headache to those of us
in the US & CAN. There's a change in the format for the landscape mode of the Hard Drives
section. I needed more room for the additional entries, so I moved the Mfr's name to the
start of each section. Of course there's more info in each section. This version marks the
introduction of the Contributors Page, where people who added to TheRef (tm) get my Thank You.
If you see them on the nets, let them know that you appreciate their help in making TheRef(tm)
a better product. For those into statistics, this version of TheRef(tm) has 1,905 Hard Drives,
533 Controllers, 218 Opticals, and 110 Floppy Drives listed. (Not to mention 217
Manufacturers.) This version also marks the first time I've included work by others.
Included are three files from Steven Case to allow easier setting of Laser printers for
Portrait and Landscape modes when (or if) you decide to make a hardcopy. My thanks to
Steven, and if you see him out there on the Electronic Airways, give him a big THANK YOU!
One other small thing... This version includes a new section designed to help configure
controllers. There are only a few with this version, and I hope to double or triple the
number in the next release. This section is a direct outgrowth of requests I received.
Of course, I also received requests for drive layouts, but for the near future, I'll leave
that part for those Companies who are looking to make a living selling that type of
information. :) -bob-
VERSION 4.40 (??-??-??) I've renamed "Diagrams.doc" to "TechTalk", in
keeping with the general flavor of how it's progressing. The last version added quite a bit
of confusion due to my terminology, centering around the encoding schemes used on hard drives.
I had dropped the old MFM descriptor in favor of (1,3)RLL, which seems to have really confused
people. In v4.4, I've gone to a hybrid, and will now use (1,3)MFM instead. As this
reference gets bigger, it seems to swallow up the changes made between versions. I've added
a small update indicator to my database to let me know when an item was last updated. I'm
not exactly sure how I'll implement this indicator in the BBS (paper) version. I have decided
to publish a World Wide Web HomePage for TheRef (tm), and updates will first appear there,
though each major update will be simultaneous.
VERSION 4.5x (05-06-1996) The Web Homepage is going strong, with
additional drives, controllers, & manufacturers. This is the last time frame entry unless something
major changes in how TheRef(tm) is published, or presented. Each web page now has a revision
number built-in to indicate when the last update touched it. I've decided to use tables for all
the spec. sheets, and this decision will ripple down through all the entries as they are updated.
I've also added active links to the Manufacturers Page, as requested by many people.
VERSION 4.5A (05-06-96) Updated some sections to the paper version
of TheRef(tm) so that people who don't have steady connections can still have a local copy.
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