ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN LIMA NEWSLETTER JANUARY 1990
 
 
     ^^^^^^^^^^ THE BEST BULK DISK STORAGE CONTAINER  
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^by Charles Good 
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Lima Ohio User Group
      
     As our user group's librarian I use lots of 5.25 inch
disks.  The group's library is quite extensive, and I need
ready access to the entire library in order to serve the
needs of our members.  If you need ready access to more than
50-100 disks, the standard plastic storage boxes with the
transparent flip tip lids are not convenient.  They are not
readily stackable.  If you do stack them and want to get at
a disk in the lowest disk box, then you have to unstack all
the boxes.  Furthermore, you can't put other stuff on top of
these disk boxes because this prevents access to the flip
top lids.  Such boxes occupy lots of valuable surface area
on the computer desk.  The supurb looking and very
expensive wooden roll top disk storage boxes have the same
disadvantages.  You can't stack them (even the top one in a
stack won't roll open properly) and you can't put other
stuff on top of them if you want to maintain access to your
disks.
      
     What is needed to overcome these problems are stackable
disk cabinets with a flat top surface and with individual
drawers that pull out horizontally.  Compact disk (CD)
storage boxes don't work.  They are slightly too small for
floppy disk storage. 
      
     National Computer Accessories sells just the required
item.  For $19.99 plus about $5.50 U.P.S. shipping you can
purchase part number DH5300, a good looking wooden enclosure
with two plastic storage drawers for 5.25 inch disks.  The
unit looks like the CD storage cabinets you have seen for
sale at many local stores, but it is specifically designed
for 5.25 inch floppy disks.  Total capacity of this unit is
300 disks.  Even including shipping cost, this is the
cheapest cost per disk of any bulk disk storage container I
have ever seen.  Drawer dividers snap into place and DO NOT
COME OUT AGAIN unless you specifically pull them out.  These
dividers are much more secure than those typically found in
the transparent flip top lid type of storage box.  Plastic
drawers of these units are rather flimsy, but the wooden
enclosures are quite substantial.  These enclosures can
safely be stacked from floor to ceiling if you really have
tons and tons of disks. 
      
     I like these N.C.A. disk cabinets.  I now have
immediate access to all my disks and the storage containers
don't occupy lots of surface area.  I have seen other kinds
of stackable disk drawers in catalogs and in a few computer
stores, but what I have seen elsewhere is very expensive
compared to the cabinets sold by N.C.A. 
      
     NATIONAL COMPUTER ACCESSORIES 
     1510 McCormack Street 
     Sacramento CA 95814 
     916-441-1568 
     No surcharge for credit card payment. 
     .PL 1