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Matthew,
Where do Zip and Jaz fit into the world of Network and WebTV like
products?
Consider a WebTV set top box. Anyone using the device to access the
Internet may at some point, wish to download information
for later use, be it text, pictures, audio, video, programs,
etc. Where are you going to store all that? WebTV doesn't have a
hard drive. Solution? a Zip drive at only $150. Additionally, by
using the Zip, you have the option of transporting the information to
a PC for printing perhaps or manipulation of the data.
Consider also a person who has a computer, realized that his investment
in time and effort of inputing and processing critical data is in
jeapordy of being lost if the hard disk should fail irretrievably.
He realizes, though, that the whole hard disk doesn't have to be backed up.
You don't have to back up the majority of the programs, because they can
always be reinstalled with the CD.
Just critical data like word processing files, email, ,faxes, installation
programs from the net, scientific data, other works in progress, etc.
Solution? The $150 Zip drive. For the typical user, four to six disks
should suffice for two identical backups of critical data. One to keep
at home, the other in the safe deposit box.
Why not use a tape drive?
You could use a tape drive, but on a tape drive, the data is written
sequentially on a long spool of tape. In order to retrieve data should
you request it, the drive will have to advance the tape to the position
where the data resides. This takes time. The Zip uses random access,
meaning that data can be accessed much more quickly.
In regards to the Jaz, which is much faster than the Zip (almost as
fast as a hard drive) and ten times as expansive, all for a price of
only $500 ($400 for the drive + $100 for the SCSI adapter), you get a
device perfect for transporting large amounts of data safely, while
being able to access the data quickly and at random access.
That is not to say, that another device fills a more appropriate role,
but if speed and expansiveness is what you need, Jaz fills the niche
quite nicely. Yes, Syquest has a competing product, the SyJet at
slightly faster speeds and 50% more space. The external version is,
however, 25% more expensive than the Jaz at $500 for the drive itself.
How does Jaz fit into the Network? I don't know. I recently saw a
product announced by Axis Communications that uses four Jaz drives
incorporated into a network server. I'll have to think about it.
Jaz + WebTV? I would think that the Zip drive would be more appropriate.
Sincerely,
Philip
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