Re: High Speed CD-ROM drives

["Mark Cummings" <NOTfigjams@primus.com.au>]

> Besides, the missing CD-audio functions, the only difference I've noticed
is
> no OA-E eject.
> (You have to push the button.)
> I think one of the faqs talked about having to reboot on a change of CDs.
> I have NOT seen that.
>
> Joel

I have a CD 300e Plus on a AHS card on a ROM-1 GS.
I have no OA-E function either, but it does think the disk is temporarliy
removed from the drive, just like ejecting a floppy manually. after which
the GS locks up the SCSI bus waiting for a disk to be inserted before
allowing any more commands, except mouse movement.

also ejecting using OA-Y works on the desktop but not on the drive. if the
drive is then manually opened using the button, it must be either left open
or closed with a CD in the drive. the disk can be CDA, HFS (if HFS is
loaded), ISO9660, or probably ProDOS (but I don't have a ProDOS CD yet to
test). Failure to insert a CD or leaving the draw open will lock up the SCSI
bus preventing any further mouse commands except movement. re-opening the
draw and inserting a readable CD will allow for the user to continue.

I have never had to re-boot the GS if I follow this procedure. Re-booting
will solve the problem, but it's like fixing it with a sledge hammer, much
simpler to insert a readable CD :) Strangely if I boot the GS without a CD
in the tray, it ejects the device at the boot up stage and allows the GS to
operate normally, until after the First CD is inserted.

I also have used a Sony CD-R CDU926S drive that has a cartridge CD tray like
the CD-150 AFAIK. Ejecting the CD with OA-Y on this drive works IIRC (I need
to re-do this to be sure).

On both drives I mentioned the CD Control Panel fails to work due to the
differences in the SCSI commands as mentioned by David E.

In an AppleTalk network setup I have found placing the CD 300e Plus CD drive
on a Mac (in my case a Mac IIci) and sharing the disk allows both the Mac(s)
to access it, and as many GS's as you wish. Slower through the AppleTalk
network, but more useful and doesn't require the use of a SCSI card on the
GS. Also the drive on the Mac will allow CDA to be played for drives that
otherwise don't work on the GS. Think of the Mac as a sort of hardware
extension for your GS :)

Mark