[Shu-cdromlan] Re: VDN (Virtual Drive Network)

[Steven Wohl]

We did an analysis of the various imaging products to compare to our
MA32+ networkmaging/access product (prior generation of MA32+ was called
CD-QuickShare (CDQ), originally developed by Stac Electronics).  A
little background for perspective:  CDQ was developed five years ago as
a network utility and all subsequent iterations have an architecture
based on networking needs.  The other products you mention were
developed as single PC products that were adapted for networks after the
fact.  As of 5/1/00, Farstone had not released their network product, so
it must be just released.  As of that date, there was no NT support, it
was only Win95/98.  The other two major negatives are that there is only
one virtual drive created on each PC (although they claim to have
multiples in a future release.)  This means that you can only mount one
CD at a time.  So if you have an encyclopedia or any multiple CD set,
you need to dismount, mount, dismount, mount, as each CD is needed.
There is also no local drive emulation.  This means that the many CD
titles (particularly in education) that can only be seen from a local CD
drive, cannot be networked without local drive emulation.  Creation of
user groups is a clumsy process because the product was adapted to
network se rather than being part of the initial design.

MA32+ is a network product that allows unlimited CDs to be imaged.  It
supports multiple virtual drives, and Local Drive Emulation.  It
supports NT as well as 95/98 (the 16 bit module is still available for
Win3.x).  Entire CD sets and their associated application can be
accessed with one click with our launch bar.  "Local Drive Only CDs" are
networkable.  Management, user groups, license control are all easy,
flexible roust implementations.  MA32+ is being used by the Pentagon,
Cincinatti Public Library, San Francisco Unified School District, Los
Angeles Unified School District, Baylor College.  It is in thousands of
schools, universities, libraries worldwide.

There is a fully functional evaluation download at our website:
http://www.mediapathtech.com as well as complete information.

Steven Wohl
VP, MPSS
swohl@mediapathtech.com
West Orange, NJ
973-324-0540

ckidd@easilink.com wrote:

> We're evaulating a CDROM disc imager called Virtual Drive
> Network, by a Taiwanese company called Farstone.
>
> It appears to be on the order of IMSI CD Copier, and Logicraft
> Virtual CD-ROM, but with the added incentive network storage and
> retrieval options.  This would be quite handy for us with, say
> National Geographic on disc, that it is impractical to manage
> without imaging or, 20+ disks imaged on each workstation.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this product?
>
> Creed Kidd
> Uintah County Library
>
> Creed Kidd
> Assistant Librarian
> Uintah County Library
>   1PM-8PM TUES-SAT (MDT)
>      (435) 789-0091
>         (630) 604-9183 (fax)