Anyone using Magneto Optical Drive on their Amiga setups?

[Boing-ball]

Hi,

As per subject. Backstory time before the question, sorry

I use older tech for Amiga OS installs etc… these consist of Zip and Jaz drives. As I am discovering the Jaz drive (As well as the media). Is failing on me at an alarming rate Currently use SCSI 2GB internal models, but also have a couple of external units.

Due to this, I am thinking about Magneto Optical drives and media (MO for short).

Anyone use this format? Any recommendations on what to use? Really need something 2GB upwards storage and preferably with a way to write many read many. From my understanding that MO was (or still is) Write once, read many. Or did that change?

Yes, I could use SD cards etc… But you know….

Cheers

 

[ncafferkey]

Yes, I've had an external 3.5" drive set up on my A1200 desktop for many years, with 640 MB capacity, and I really like it. I've never had any problems with it, but I can't remember the last time I used it so I can't say for sure about long-term reliability. They're supposed to be rock solid compared to Iomega media though. You can read and write to them just like a HD, nothing like a CD-RW for instance.

There's a good package on Aminet with mountlists, advice, icons etc. You might need a 5.25" drive for the capacity you're looking for.

 

[Boing-ball]

Yes, I've had an external 3.5" drive set up on my A1200 desktop for many years, with 640 MB capacity, and I really like it. I've never had any problems with it, but I can't remember the last time I used it so I can't say for sure about long-term reliability. They're supposed to be rock solid compared to Iomega media though. You can read and write to them just like a HD, nothing like a CD-RW for instance.

There's a good package on Aminet with mountlists, advice, icons etc. You might need a 5.25" drive for the capacity you're looking for.

Thanks for the reply.

Have got my eye on a SCSI 2.3GB drive MO drive at the moment (3.5”). But have noticed some 5.25” ones as well going up to 9.1GB.

Do you know what the read write speed is like on yours?

Cheers.

 

[ncafferkey]

Sorry, I don't have any figures. I can just say that it's much faster than my Gayle-attached HD. Mine is SCSI too, as you probably guessed.

 

[StrongARM]

MO are usually WORM media.

How long have you used your zip/jaz media/drives without issues?

I'm using SyJet since many many years....

 

[ncafferkey]

MO are usually WORM media.

Wikipedia says “Original MO systems were WORM (write once, read many), and later systems were read/write.”

“Original” would probably mean 1980s.

 

[Boing-ball]

MO are usually WORM media.

How long have you used your zip/jaz media/drives without issues?

I'm using SyJet since many many years....

I seem to find the ZIP drives and media lasting better than the Jaz. What I am finding is if a Jaz drive decides to go for one, then the media goes with it. In some examples the media can break the next Jaz drive.

On Iomega side of things. Zip = faster higher density Floppy drive. Jaz = Portable Hard Disk.

 

[ncafferkey]

What I am finding is if a Jaz drive decides to go for one, then the media goes with it. In some examples the media can break the next Jaz drive.

Iomega stuff has form for that kind of thing. You've probably heard of the Zip click of death.

 

[Boing-ball]

Iomega stuff has form for that kind of thing. You've probably heard of the Zip click of death.

I have and Never experienced it. I’m using 750MB ATAPI Zip drives and disks. No issues Just the Jaz stuff I’m experiencing issues with. Therefore why I’m contemplating MO drives now