Msg 06423 is 16 line(s) on 05/19/82 from DOC WATSON
to ALL re: FLOPPY DISK WEAR.

Well Hi;
    It has come to my attention that some of you newcomers
to this great area of human endeavour have not yet got the
word on floppy disks.  Care, feeding, and brand selection.
    First a word about myself.  I have been piloting a micro
since 1976 and had a mini-floppy since '77, 8" sence last
year.  I have worked in the microcomputer business since
1976 and have handled (ordered, sold, shipped, used, etc.)
in excess of 50,000 floppy disks of all types.  I have 
spoken to and yelled at and been cursed by Rep's from every
major brand (and most of the minors) of floppys made.
    Conclusions;
For every floppy disk drive, there are brands of diskettes
made that will not work right, the same for brands of 
computers, operators, owfers, locations, etc.  If 99 people
think brand X is wonderful, the next user thinks
they are the worst thing since "Heavens Gate".  If
500 people have tried brand "V" and been burned, there
are 50 who think they're wonderful.  There ain't no ac-
countin' for taste.
     Howsomever, after having felt 50,000 plus diskettes
carrying the 3M/SCOTCH lable slide through my fingertips,
I can honestly say that I had no more than 100 diskettes
come back defective.  Run that through your HP-97s' and
figure a percentage of returns and you get a mighty small
number.  (we won't talk about the 10 cases that where labled
soft sector when they were realy 16 secter... the disks
where OK, just the lables were bad)
     Instructions; If you got to keep cleaning your
heads; change brands!  If you haven't cleaned the machine
since '77 and it still works, Don't Fool With It.
             Keep'em Rotatin',  Doc Watson.
 of diskettes
mad