Dear Readers,

I usually come to the list with problems, but this time I wish to
share a good experience I have had. I recently made the decision to
purchase a CD-RW. After lots of research, it seemed for the best in
performance, functionality and reliablity, SCSI was the way to go.
After reading and hearing of many SCSI horror stories, I was
hesitant, but finally made the plunge. Now all I can say, if Win95
was as easy to install as the SCSI adapter and CD-ROM I just received
(CD-RW on backorder till early next week), it would be vast
improvement!

I purchased a Diamond Fireport 40 Ultra SCSI adapter and Teac SCSI
16x CD-ROM (a Yamaha CDRW-4260 is scheduled for delivery next Monday
or Tuesday). I plugged the adapter into a vacant PCI slot, connected
the cable and power to the CD-ROM, and turned the computer on.

Waiting for the inevitable (I thought) problems, I was surprised with
a successful boot to Win 95 and the install new hardware screen.
Inserted the driver disk, and I was done. The CD-ROM was recognized
and accessable. For perhaps the first time since I started playing
with computers (1982), everything went perfectly right the very first
time on a major installation.

While the initial outlay for the SCSI adapter was expensive, it will
support up to 15 devices (as if I had room for that many!!??), in a
combination of narrow and wide (7 each). Now I have visions of
scanners and hard drives and Jaz and DAT and, or well, it will have
to wait for some more $$$$$ . . . . .

Next step, CD-RW.

Hope this alleviates the fear of SCSI for some people.

BTW, I installed on a FIC PA-2007 MB. Diamond has an extensive
compatibility list and the 2007 is not on the list, although the 2006
and I believe 2010 (??) are. FWIW.

Jim


Jim Maki
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