_________
*From a presentation given at Comdex, Las Vegas,November,1999,
“Optical Storage Opportunity Outlook,” WolfgangSchlichting,
Research Manager,RemovableStorage,International Data
Corporation, 5 Speen St., Framingham,MA 01701, 508 872-8200,
http://www.idc.com.
**File compression technologies extend the amount of data that a
single disc can hold, often increasing the capacity by a factor of two
or more.

The prevalence of CD media within the field of digital
publishing is yet another factor in its favor.The CD format
is used for many of the following purposes:
• To deliver job componentsto a service provider.
• To hold font libraries and other digital assets.
• To store the high-resolution versions of digital
photos.
• To record RIPed data that will be sent to an
output device.
• To back-up work-in-progress,and to archive
completed work.
• To test and pre-master multimedia projects.
• To off-load removablemedia contents so that the
media can be erased and reused.
• To serve as a means of exchange between those
involved in the digital workflow process.
• To deliver complete or intermediate job
components,or an entire project, to a customer
or client.

The large number of CD and DVD discs in the digital
publishing environment, and the day-to-day dependence
on their use, makes it imperative to have a means of
accessing them in a timely and efficient manner. The most
expedient and productive solution is a CD/DVD jukebox,
such as the PowerFile C200.* This cross-platform 200-disc
changer uses IEEE-1394 (commonly “FireWire” as
developed by Apple Computer, and “i.Link 1394” as
implemented by Sony Corp.) for high-speed network
access (FIG. 1).
__________
*PowerFile Digital Storage Solutions, 718 UniversityAve.,Suite 100,
Los Gatos, CA 95032, 877 838-3669, http://www.dvdchanger.com, e-
mail:info@dvdchanger.com.

What is a digital publisher
likely to keep on a jukebox?
• Digitalphotos
• Digitalvideos
• Digitalsound tracks
and audio clips
• Applicationfiles
(both completed and
work inprogress)
• Fonts, dingbats, and
special character
collections
• Digitalclipart (raster
and vector formats)
• System files and
utilities (printer
drivers, program
updates, etc.)
• Web design
components
(buttons,
backgrounds, icons,
etc.)
• Javascripts and
reusable scripts,
libraries and
programming code
• Reference materials
(house style guide,
software
documentation, etc.)
• Customerjob
archives and work-
in-progress
• Administrative
forms, such as job
tickets and historical
data
• On-linetraining
materials, suchas
digitalvideo-based
tutorials.
• Application
programs for which
a sitelicense has
beenobtained.
• Historicaljob tickets
and customer
account information.

FIG. PowerFile_img3_5x7_300p.jpg CAPTION: The PowerFileC200 CD/DVD jukebox is the most
reasonably-priced storage device of its kind. The unit can be connected to either a Macintosh or
Windows host. (Photo courtesy of PowerFileDigital Storage Solutions).

The IEEE-1394 standard is significant to the PowerFile C200 in at least two major respects.
First, it supportsPlug & PlayandHot Swapping,so that it can be plugged into, or removed
from,any host with an IEEE-1394 port, even if the computer is on. If the necessary device
software has been loaded, the changer becomes usable immediately. Second, it provides
high data throughput (400MB/S), and the potential to daisy-chain up to 63 devices.

The PowerFile C200 incorporatestwo DVD-ROM drives capable of reading several disc
formatsincluding DVD-ROM, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-DA, CD-ROM XA, CD Text, CD-I
Bridge (Photo CD, Video CD), CD-I, CD-(E)G, CD Midi, Multisession (PhotoCD, CD-Extra),
CD-R and CD-RW.The data transfer rates for DVD (6X) is 8,112KB/sec, and for CD (Mode
1) (32X) 4,800KB/sec, and for CD (Mode 2) (32X) 5,475KB/sec. The highly reliable library
servo-mechanism has a MTBF of 1,000,000 swaps, and 100,000 power on hours.

Putting Digital Assets Near-line. The process of adding discs to the PowerFile C200 can be
accomplished in either of two ways. First, fromthe console, the user can press the Load
button, which releases a security gate, and reveals an open slot in the disc carousel into
which a disc can be inserted (FIG. 2). Discs are loaded with the label to the right, in the
orientation appropriate for the reader,which reads single-sided discs only (FIG. 3). The
loading operation can be repeated as many times as necessary.Second, from the host

application, on the administrator’s computer,the user can select to load one or several
discs. The “load several” option will automatically advance the carousel as each disc is
loaded. The user has a 10-second span in which to insert a disc, or the loading session will
automatically end. After the last disc has been inserted, the security gate closes.

FIG.2: The front panel of the PowerFile C200. The rear of the unit has threeIEEE-1394 ports and power
access. (Image courtesy of PowerFile Digital Storage Solutions)

FIG.3: Discs are inserted into the PowerFile carousel with the
label side to the right. (Image courtesy of PowerFile Digital
Storage Solutions)

The PowerFile C200 display panel provides call-out information about both the disc
complement and the drives. Pressing the Mode button provides a view of the library
contents listed first by CD title (A-Z) and next by consecutive carousel slot number.
Another press of the Mode button displays the drive info, showing either the status of the
drive or its contents (FIG. 4).

FIG. 4: The data that appears in the
PowerFile C200 display panel makes it
easy to locate discs for either loading
or unloading. (Image courtesy of
PowerFile Digital Storage Solutions)