Of course you can boot from a Zip drive. On a Macintosh, open the Startup Disk control panel, click on the zip icon and restart your computer. (must have a minimal system on Zip disk)
As for competition mentioned in other posts, lets keep the following factors in mind:
1. Iomage developed the 3M/Compag floptical drive. When Kim Edwards was asked about this in the conference call, he reminded participants that Iomega had developed the technology and had sold it to 3M because it was too slow, too complex, and cost too much to make. At the H&Q Tech Conference last week, he carried an open model of each drive to show how the the 3M floptical was unneccessarily complex and fragile in comparison to the Zip drive. During the conference call he stated that as far as he could see, that the 3M version was unchanged from the version Iomega had sold 3M, and thus he felt that the issues of speed, cost, and durability were still unaddressed.
2. Iomaega used to develop and market Optical drives for desktop and portable applications. (see MacWorld, December 1994 - pages 108-112, for test round-up of 18 high capacity Optical drives) Once again, why would Iomega abandon an existing technology if it was not deficient in terms of performance and price.
3. For years, tech companies have decided what technologies we wanted and then presented us with our "choices". The Iomega family of drives and the result of thousands of individual user surveys and focus groups. The CONSUMER told Iomega what THEY wanted, and then Iomega abandonded their existing technologies because they fell short in the areas of speed, price, durability, and appearance. i.e., the surveys showed that a backup drive should be priced at $200 or under, the media should be durable, and the product should be attractive. (For a graphic demonstration, throw your EZ disc accross the room and then check it for operability and/or data integrity.)
Like most successful products (i.e. Microsoft OS), Iomega drives are not neccessarily the finest example of what is possible in a particular technology. They are successful because of a unique combination of marketing and price.
Will consumers demand a 3M/Compaq drive that is 3 times as slow as a Zip drive? Will consumers demand a drive that is more expensive and more fragile than a Zip drive? Will IBM, Gateway, H-P, Dell, etc., demand to market a drive from their mortal enemy (Compaq)? I don't think so!!!
This is my first post to SI after lurking many months. I hope this adds some value and look forward to meeting others of you on SI.
Bob Mundt
BayLake (a slice of heaven in northern Minnesota) |
