A CD drive and Surf Squirrel can be obtained separately from HiSoft or can be purchased together.
Plugging into the infamous PCMCIA port, this little beauty is a must for anyone who is even fairly serious about comms or expansion! Combine an exceptionally fast serial port with a SCSI-2 interface, provide enhanced drivers and software, and you can't go far wrong.
SCSI-2 tech stuff...
Just plug the small black box into the side of your machine (whether it's on or off). Install the SCSI control software, the CD32 emulator software, and the new serial device software all from one quick and easy installation program. Then adjust your dialscript and SCSI filesystem, and you're ready to go.
One of the best and most usefull bits of hardware I've seen for ages.
Score - 92%
Reviewed here is the Double speed drive...
Gone is the unusual shape and the Squirrel logo of the old drive. They've been replaced by a more 'common' design, which looks much better, and more streamlined. Now it doesn't look out of place when put next to your other peripherals on the desk top. A floppy dive or modem fits nicely on top.
It is an external model (now available in 2, 4, 8 and 12 speed), SCSI-2, and designed to be connected via the Squirrel or Surf Squirrel interface and feels extremely heavy giving the impression that it is robust and will take a few knocks. It has a very easy to change ID number, just press a small button and the ID moves on to the next setting. Two phono plugs are fitted on the back so it can be connected straight to an audio device or amplifier, a volume control wheel is provided on the front along with a headphones socket so you don't have to annoy anyone else in the room while you're playing 'The Birdy Song'. Termination is set on or off with a small switch at the back. A standard front opening tray is used to load your CD.
Performance under 'real' usage is excellent, proving to be very fast and reliable. The software that is supplied with the Squirrel is very good at picking up the bootable CD titles, both old and new, games and utilities. Use the CDprefs to auto detect the drive and you're away. File handling over small / large / multiple files is very good, music plays flawlessly and when used with the SMD 100, movie CDs play with no jitters or interupt.
At the more expensive end of the market because it's SCSI-2, external, and high specification. You can get them cheaper, but this is a real beauty. With the Compaq name you can guarantee there's quality in there!
Score - 92%