The external drive is a small portable device the sits next to your computer but works the same as the internal drive. You have a cable that comes from a port on the back of the drive and connects to the parallel printer port of your computer, either LPT1 or LPT2. Then you hook the cable from your printer to the other port on the back of the drive. The most popular is the external because there is no installation except for the attachment of two cables. The advantage of a internal drive is that nothing attached to the drive and the printer attaches as it always did.

* To add an additional drive:

1. A Zip Drive - This external device is very small, weights about a pound, easy to hook up, convenient back-up system, unlimited storage potential & easy to transport. Both the internal & external drives has a 100 meg. removable disk.

2. A SyQuest EZFlyer - Is external device is very small, weights about a pound, easy to hook up, convenient back-up system, unlimited storage potential & easy to transport. About the same as the Zip drive except it is faster, has a 230 meg cartridge & cost more.

If you are considering one of these external devices, then I would highly recommend the Zip Drive because it is less expensive and it is the most commonly one used. Consequently there would be a greater chance that you could exchange disks or cartridges with another person.

The first time that I saw a SyQuest in action, was at a SIG meeting and it was impressive. Bruce Carson was using one with his lap top. I had been considering either a Zip or a Syquest drive for some time and based on what I saw I bought the SyQuest drive. Big mistake!

I couldn't install it on my computer so Bruce Carson gave me some help and we still couldn't install it. We found out the reason of which I wouldn't go into. I upgraded the motherboard & was able to install the SyQuest on my computer. It worked for short time and a number of problems developed. When I would restart my computer from the Start button, restart in the DOS mode, go to the DOS prompt, use my Colorado Back-up, use either of my printers or a number of other things, then I would lose SyQuest. Then other problems started, I couldn't use either one of my printers or my Colorado Back-up and it also conflicted with some programs. It became apparent the SyQuest was unstable on my computer so I removed it and am now using a Zip drive. The Zip drive is working very well.

Bruce Carson & Ruby McKee of TCS both have SyQuest drives so I talked to them & found out that they also have had similar problems and are not using this drive any more. I have also talked to the head of the maintenance department of a large computer store & he said that the SyQuest drive was an unstable device but that a Zip drive was very stable and they had always had good results with them.

So my recommendation would be to get a Zip drive if you are considering a device of this type. If any one in TCS is using or has used a SyQuest drive, please contact me and let me know how it worked. Contact me - Roger Raley (918) 251-4457.

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