DC100

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DC100 tape cartridge and transport from an HP 85 desktop computer

DC100 (also known as DC100A) is a tape cartridge format that was co-developed by Hewlett-Packard and 3M. [1] Introduced in mid-1976, [2] it was developed as a data storage mechanism for the HP 9820 programmable calculator. [3] The DC100 tape cartridge was a scaled-down version of the DC300 cartridge pioneered by 3M, and represents an early version of what is now referred to as the QIC Mini Cartridge. [4] 3M was the exclusive source of DC100 tapes, [5] while drives were manufactured by 3M and several third parties.

Contents

History

The DC100 tape cartridge format was used in the HP desktop calculator and computer systems of the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the 9815, 9825, [4] 9845, and HP Series 80. [6] HP also used it in their 2640 series of computer terminals. [7] Tape transports were manufactured by 3M, [5] as well as North Atlantic Qantex, [8] [9] Instrumentation Technology Corporation, [10] and Beehive International. [11]

Outside of HP, the format suffered from poor adoption rates four years after its introduction, according to Wayne Green. [12] Bucking this trend, Computer Automation's LSI-2 minicomputers saw compatibility with the DC100 format with the release of the TDCA-100 tape transport system by Telegenix in 1981. [13] In 1984, Irwin Magnetic Systems introduced the Irwin 210 tape backup unit for various platforms that used DC100 tape. [14]

Digital Equipment Corporation's DC150 cartridge, a variation of DC100 with slightly higher capacity, was used in DEC's DECtape II drives. [15] HP later developed the DC200 tape cartridge format on their own; it was based on the design of the DC100 but used thinner tape to increase the amount of data over its predecessor. [3]

Specifications

Comparison between DC100 and DC300
PropertyDC100(A)DC300
Release date1976 [2] 1972 [4]
Unformatted capacity2.6 MB [16] 2.9 MB [3]
Formatted capacity [lower-alpha 1] 560 KB [1] 2.5 MB [1]
Transfer speed48 Kbit/s [1] 48 Kbit/s [1]
Tape length140 feet (43 m) [16] 300 feet (91 m) [3]
Tape width0.15 inches (0.38 cm) [3] 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) [3]
Transport size
(3M-manufactured)		4 by 3 by 4 inches (10.2 cm × 7.6 cm × 10.2 cm) [1] 4 by 10 by 7 inches (10 cm × 25 cm × 18 cm) [1]
Tracks2 [17] 4 [17]
Recording density (ftpi)3200 [17] 3200 [17]
Coercivity (Oe)310 [18] 310 [18]
Notes
  1. ↑ 1,000 bytes per block
Features from 3M [3]
HP improvements on the 3M design [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kramer, Joel A. (August 29, 1977). "Magnetic Media Prevail in Microperipheral Area". Computerworld. 11 (35). CW Communications: S/25 – via the Internet Archive.
  2. 1 2 Sinden, Ken (July 1976). "Storage for small systems". Data Processing. 18 (5). IPC Electrical-Electronic Press: 39–40 – via the Internet Archive.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Leibson, Steve (August 25, 2006). "The DC100 Tape and Drive: Accidental Start of a New Industry". HP9825.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Leibson, Steve (July 19, 2007). "The QIC and the Dead". EDN. AspenCore. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023.
  5. 1 2 McLeod, Jonah (September 1982). "Small storage peripherals grow even smaller in cost and size". Systems & Software. 1 (1). Hayden Publishing: 37–43 – via the Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ King, Russell (September 1981). "What's So Super About the HP-85?". Kilobaud Microcomputing. V (9). Wayne Green, Inc.: 120–125 – via the Internet Archive.
  7. ↑ Nordman, Robert G.; Richard L. Smith; Louis A. Witkin (May 1976). "New CRT Terminal Has Magnetic Tape Storage for Expanded Capability". Hewlett-Packard Journal. 27 (9). Hewlett-Packard: 2–15 – via the Internet Archive.
  8. ↑ Staff writer (December 5, 1977). "Transport Suits 3M Cartridge". Computerworld. 11 (49). CW Communications: 64 – via the Internet Archive.
  9. ↑ Staff writer (May 29, 1978). "Qantex Division". Computerworld. 12 (22). CW Communications: P/46 – via the Internet Archive.
  10. ↑ Staff writer (September 1976). "Data Cartridge Transport". Computer Design. 15 (9): 160 – via the Internet Archive.
  11. ↑ Staff writer (August 6, 1979). "Beekeeper Stores Data Off-Line for Beehive Units". Computerworld. 13 (32). CW Communications: 40 – via the Internet Archive.
  12. ↑ Green, Wayne (November 1980). "Publisher's Remarks". Kilobaud Microcomputing. Wayne Green, Inc.: 6–8 – via the Internet Archive.
  13. ↑ Staff writer (February 23, 1981). "Tape System Fits CA's LSI-2". Computerworld. 15 (8). CW Communications: 66 – via the Internet Archive.
  14. ↑ Staff writer (March 5, 1984). "Micro-sized backup targets tape drives". Micro Marketworld. 7 (5). IDG Publications: 67 – via the Internet Archive.
  15. ↑ Staff writer (September 14, 1978). "Tape unit offers random access" (PDF). Electronics. 51 (19). McGraw-Hill: 222–224 – via World Radio History.
  16. 1 2 BTL/WE Microcomputer Symposium. Western Electric. 1976. p. 25-2–25-3 – via the Internet Archive.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Rosch, Winn L. (1999). Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible. Que. p. 663. ISBN   9780789717436 – via the Internet Archive.
  18. 1 2 A New Data Cartridge from 3M: DC2120 (PDF). 3M Company. January 1990. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2023 – via Farnell.com.
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