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I'm needing information about any/all quad speed CD-ROM drives on the market
before 2 p.m. tomorrow (Friday) when our vax will shut down till mid-day Monday.
We have to submit a request for educational equipment and want to upgrade our
SLOW CD-ROM drive.  When we researched this a year ago double speed was just
coming out, and the ability to read Kodak photo CD images was also new.  I
understand both of these qualities are the norm now, but that there are quad
speed drives available.  I also understand that for retrieving and printing maps
faster is better.  But the more I research the subject, the more questions I
have. So I thought that all of you map librarians would surely have some advise
on the subject.  I need brand names and info on what's out there, any pros and
cons, what would be best for us, etc. And as you can see I need the info
yesterday!
 
Our present public workstation consists of a TENEX 486 DX, A HEWETT PACKARD
DESKJET 1200 C color printer, and a Philips CM 100 CD-ROM drive.  We will be
using Map Expert, Global Explorer, DLG data on disc from USGS, and TIGER/Line
files.
 
I've read about a quad speed by Plextor (formerly Texel I think) internal drive
PX-43 CH, bare.  Do I need a SCSI with it?  It has 600 KB sec throughput, 220 ms
access time, 1024K buffer, MPC/2 level 2 compliant, and is Photo CD capable, for
$475 (plus maybe a SCSI).  Does that sound good?  Does anyone know anything
about it?  Is there something better for our needs.  We cannot justify a six
pack at this time, so just want a single.  Is there anything else you need to
know to help me??
 
I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME!!!!
Barbara J. Lowe
Map Collection Assistant
Ball State University
Muncie, In 47305
(317)285-1097
Internet Address:
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