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Product:
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Romtec RX-910T6 Trios Hard Drive Selector |
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Price:
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$80 (CAN) / $49.95 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Romtec
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Author:
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BigDaddy
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Date:
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August 1st, 2002
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Joseph from Romtec for sending
the RX-910T6 Trios Hard Drive Selector for review.
Introduction:
Computer enthusiasts enjoy having more flavours of operating systems than a kid at a Baskin Robins ordering a sundae. If
you could pick just one operating system for your computers for the next 5 years, which OS would you pick. Windows 98?
XP? Linux? DOS? Users install multiple operating systems for a number of reasons; testing and development of applications
on multiple platforms, or even to get that classic game running that the latest OS just doesn’t like. Whatever the
reason, most power users can easily have two or more operating systems running in their office or lab at any given time.
While there are software solutions ranging from simple FDISK options to more advanced programs like Powerquest’s Boot
Magic, sometimes even these products don’t fit the bill. From a hardware perspective, few people have the additional
resources to buy a complete system, simply to have another operating system on it "just in case". Today, in the MTB Labs,
we will be looking at RomTec’s hardware solution to multi-purpose workstations, with their Trios Hard Drive Selector.
Specifications:
The Trios Hard Drive Selector is a total hardware solution for managing multiple hard drives on a single IDE channel.
The drive is capable of supporting ATA 66 & 100 devices, and allows 3 independent drives to be hooked up to a single
controller, with a single drive being selected prior to power up by means of a front control panel. The unit is title
Trios because that is it principle function, to allow three independent operating systems to be available on a single
PC. However, the unit’s setup allows for a lot of flexibility in providing other solutions, such as multiple user
support, or Internet firewall and DMZ applications. Here are some features obtained directly from Romtec’s website:
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Romtec RX-910T6 Trios Hard Drive Selector - Key Specifications:
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| RX-910T6 Trios Hard Drive Selector: Manufactured by Romtec |
| 3 Computers in 1 |
| OS protecting buttons |
| Easy to install |
| Flexible capabilities |
| Fit into 5-1/4" bay |
| Ultra ATA/66 /100 |
| Total package |
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The unit ships in a standard retail cardboard box. The front and rear portions of the box highlight some of the
features and potential uses for the device. There are two versions of the Trios unit available, an internal unit,
and an external box. MTB was provided with the internal unit for review. While the hard drive selector itself is
identical for both units, the external unit has stackable enclosures for each of your hard drives and an interface
card. The external box is probably best suited for desktop cases, since most towers can easily accommodate three
3½ inch drives.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The unit is tightly packed within the box, with the individual parts separated out in different plastic bags. Included
in the kit is the Trios unit itself, a stack of colour brochures, four single device IDE cables, two custom power
cables, 4 mounting screws and an installation manual. The unit itself is extremely light weight. Its dimensions are
very similar to most optical drive units. The front panel has a slightly different design to it, incorporating an
almost iMac like colour scheme. The panel itself is convex, with a concave track running down the middle of the panel.
The three drive selection buttons are beige plastic, and solidly snap into position when pushed. Pushing down on one
button automatically resets either of the other two back into their default position, since you can only have one drive
selected at a time. When the unit is powered, a hidden LED behind the translucent aqua plate lights up as an additional
indicator.
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