Mirror Rm88 Review

From: Rick Russell <wrr3118@tamsun.tamu.edu> Subject: REVIEW: Mirror RM88 Removable Cartridge Drive Date: Thu, 17 Sep 92 23:22:00 CDT DATE: 9/17/92 REVIEW: The MIRROR RM88 Removable Cartridge Drive Configuration Tested: A MIRROR RM88 connected to 1) Mac SE/30 8/80 and System 7.0.1 w/ TuneUp 1.1 2) Mac IIfx with 8/80 and System 7.0 w/ TuneUp 1.1, 8*24 Video Card 3) Mac IIcx with 5/40 and System 7.0.1 w/ TuneUp 1.1, System 6.0.8, Asante Ethernet and Mac II Video, assorted bizarre and unusual software. PRICING The advertised price for the drive was $647, with one cartridge. I purchased the drive with an extra cartridge and two-day UPS shipping for a total of $767.50. MIRROR sells individual 88MB cartridges for $99 apiece. I seem to recall that standard ground shipping (~6 working days) cost $12.50, two-day cost $19.50, and next-day cost $36.50 or so. These prices were current in February 1992. PACKING LIST - the main unit (88MB SQ5110 drive mechanism) - two cartridges (one came with the drive, I purchased the other for $99) - a SCSI Mac-to-Peripheral cable (25 pin to 50 pin) - a standard gray terminator - a standard 3-prong power cord - installation/operation manual - two disks with formatting, and backup software WARRANTY MIRROR warrants their hard drive mechanisms for two years after date of purchase. The cartridge media is warranted for 90 days after date of purchase. PACKAGING The drive came on time in a relatively well-padded box. The foam inserts fit the drive well, although they looked rather flimsy (they were actually foam glued to cardboard inserts). The extra cartridges and other paraphernalia were in the box too. There was no shipping damage of any kind. PHYSICAL MECHANISM The main mechanism was a standard zero-foot-print drive with a push-button SCSI ID setter, two SCSI ports, two three-prong power outlets, a standard roller-type on-off switch, and a screw-in fuse. All switches, plugs and outlets were mounted on the rear panel. The case had large rubber bumpers on the bottom, and was made of metal on all of four of the 'flat' sides (sides, top and bottom). The front panel was plastic, with power and access LEDs and the standard Syquest eject buttons and levers. The drive did have a good (but loud) cooling fan, with vents on the bottom of the drive. I placed the drive under an SE/30 and under three other drives (two HDs and a CD-ROM); it seemed to bear weight placed on top with no problem. It stands slightly lower than an Apple HD SC hard drive case. I wouldn't recommend piling several drives *and* a Mac on top of it, since it didn't look that sturdy. A MacUser review says that internally, the drive mechanism is shielded from the power supply by a metal sheet. I had no opportunity (or desire!) to open the drive and examine the internal construction. INSTALLATION, SOFTWARE and DOCUMENTATION Installation was easy, if not well explained. The manual shipped with the drive was designed for all MIRROR hard driv…