History (1995): Compaq OEMs Quantum DTL Tape Drives

Compaq Computer (Houston, TX) will offer DLT2000 cartridge drives from Quantum for highend application Proliant and ProSignia servers as a storage option.

The new Compaq 10/20GB DLT drives are immediately available in table top configurations, while rack-mountable versions are scheduled later.

In a non-related announcement, Quantum said it has begun volume shipments of its 5.25-inch DLT4000 tape drive which doubles the capacity of its DLT2000 20GB per cartridge with compression. The transfer rate is 3MB/s with DC.

The drive exploits ATOMM (Advanced super Thin-layer and high-Output Metal Medium) high density recording tape from FujiFilm, the same media Iomega uses for its Zip high density floppy disks. It consists of a thin layer of metal particles coated with a non magnetic layer of titanium compound.

Suggested retail price of the DLT4000 internal drive is $6,225.

It is available through Quantum resellers including Overland Data.

This article is an abstract of news published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue 86, published on March 1995.