Re: PCMCIA Zip
For $85, any external Zip drive can be a "laptop" Zip without having to lug the power converter and freeing up the printer port to print (mine would always hang if I tried to do anything else while printing).
To me this seemed like a product IOM ought to support officially, and in fact come out with its own version. I wrote investor relations, and you can see their (disappointing) form letter response:
4/29/98 To:
InvestorRelations@iomega.com
Susan, Tyler:
I just purchased and installed an Axial Technologies ZipUp PCMCIA
adapter for my the parallel port Zip Classic that I tote around with me
with my Acer notebook. The new arrangement eliminates the need to carry
the weighty power cord and has faster throughput (promised; too soon to
report if this claim is true).
In addition to the weight issue, I am hopeful that I will now be able to
access the drive while printing via the notebook's parallel port.
Previously, if the printer was running and I attempted to pull something
from the Zip, the computer would lock up and I'd have to reboot.
This PCMCIA solution also addresses an IOM marketing problem in the
laptop/notebook arena, i.e., that the VST and CMP (?) swapable bay Zips
are not available (certainly not advertised) for anything other than
IBM, Toshiba, and one other I can't remember. Portable users are used
to plugging PCMCIA cards in and out for modems, external cd-roms, etc.,
so the usage pattern habit is there. It's easier/simpler/quicker to pop
in the PC card than it is to haul out the bulky power cord, locate a
power source that is available/can accomodate the huge head, hook up the
Zip to the parallel port AND REBOOT THE COMPUTER. With the PCMCIA, you
can plug in/pop out the Zip in the middle of doing something else
WITHOUT HAVING TO REBOOT, which increases functionality immensely.
I hope somebody at IOM will take a look at what I'm saying. Very few
catalogues even stock this product; if IOM got behind it, either in the
way of support or licensing, it would be a big boost to functionality.
And on the subject of "support," Axial's tech support consists of a
recording and "we'll call you back." If it was an IOM product, it could
be supported properly.
I am heavily invested in IOM.... Thank you for taking a look at this.
IOM's response:
5/1/98 From:
EXECUTIVE RESPONSE CENTER <ERC@IOMEGA.COM>
Thank you for your comments and suggestions. We here at Iomega
are constantly seeking to provide high quality products and unparalleled
customer service. Your mail will be forwarded to the appropriate
departments for review. We greatly appreciate your assistance in this
area.
Thank you,
-DD
The Iomega Customer Support Team. |
