OnStream Files Chapter 7 Bankruptcy -- When writing about the Ecrix VXA-1 tape drive (see "Ecrix's VXA-1 Tape Drive: Big Fast Backups" in TidBITS-569), we mentioned the competing Echo tape drives from OnStream and noted that one concern with both Ecrix and OnStream was that neither had achieved the status of an industry standard with multiple suppliers. That concern has come home to roost for OnStream, which last week told us that it is filing for bankruptcy. Scott McClure of OnStream wrote, "I regret to inform you (and your readers) that effective Friday March 16 OnStream, Inc. has ceased operations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for all of its business units." OnStream's Web site mentions nothing about this issue, and a message received by MacInTouch indicated that OnStream's European parent company is attempting to restart the business. Media supplier Verbatim announced it would continue to manufacture and sell 30 GB and 50 GB Advanced Digital Recording (ADR) cartridges for use with OnStream tape drives. One TidBITS reader who was having trouble with a just-purchased OnStream tape drive was able to return it; if you're in a similar situation, you might consider doing so as well. [ACE]

<http://db.tidbits.com/article/06322>
<http://www.onstream.com/>
<http://www.verbatim.com/tapepl/adr.cfm>