--- Forwarded Message from Andrew Ross <[log in to unmask]> --- >From: Andrew Ross <[log in to unmask]> >To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: FireWire (IEEE 1394) drives and lab setups >Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 17:54:42 -0400 Is there anyone out there who's had experience using FireWire hard drives as media storage/transfer devices? I know that they're beginning to be used in graphics-intensive industries, and am writing a proposal for researching the use of (forthcoming) bootable FireWire drives as a solution to some of the computing issues on our campus. I also bought a small one (grin) to test as a storage/transfer device for our lab here. Specific questions: 1. Is data transfer/seek time fast enough to replace a conventional hard drive efficiently? I've got figures on rates/times, but no realworld data yet. 2. I think I've figured out why the industry says you can daisy-chain 63 of these devices together, but not why the manual with mine says only 30. Is it a signal repeater issue, or something else? Can't find a FAQ entry on this . . . 3. Is anybody sufficiently "connected" with the IEEE 1394 industry to be able to give me an estimate of release date for a bootable drive, or able to point me in the direction of someone who can? TIA, Andrew Andrew F. Ross, Ph.D. Director, Multimedia Language Lab Department of Modern Languages and Literatures G-16 Puryear Hall University of Richmond Richmond, VA 23173 (804)287-6838 fax: (804)287-6446 [log in to unmask] **************** "Worrying about a large institution, especially when it has computers, is like worrying about a large gorilla, especially when it's on fire." --Bruce Sterling ****************