A hard disc can be useful on a single-user system if bulk storage is needed, but it really comes into its own when it's used to network a series of PCWs, or even a mixture of micros, which then become separate workstations. All are able to access the disc simultaneously, thanks to its speed, which is many times faster than a floppy disc drive. Information can be exchanged between users, so you can call up information on an invoice from the accounts department for a letter that you're writing. Meanwhile, each micro on the network retains its integrity, which means that if one suffers a failure, the others can continue as if nothing had happened. The only thing that you have to be careful about is security, so that certain files may only be openable by certain levels of user. AMSTORE
Northern Computers
£1,400 This system can couple 120 PCWs to the one network, and allows you to add more or less sophisticated micros, according to usage. At its centre is a 20Mb Winchester, which connects up to a ring circuit, with sockets for each micro, printer, extra drive or whatever. These are known as nodes, and Amstore allows you to change and expand the system at will. Amstore is also very intelligent. Communicating such large amounts of information around a network calls for a program to ensure that everything reaches its correct destination. The demands made on the user by Amstore are very few though. The system is easy to install, with its neat junction boxes. Obviously, to fully realise its potential, and to justify its cost, it is best suited to larger businesses, for whom it could be a godsend. | 
