Russell Tiedt wrote in a message to Roy J. Tellason:

 RJT> The last ALPS drive I bought,  brand new,  smoked when it was hooked
 RJT> up and the system was powered up.  I decided then that's the last one
 RJT> of those I'd ever buy.  Mitsumi seems to be a popular inexpensive
 RJT> drive but they don't seem to last for me.

 RT> Not had that happen here yet, ie. have a drive go up in smoke, and
 RT> the Mitsumi's I have don't give trouble, but then they don't get
 RT> used much either.

I think that's the key,  I was using mine pretty hard.  Maybe that was
during the time I was using floppies to back up,  I don't recall...

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