IBM yesterday extended its new 3490 tape drive family with the Model B02 drive unit, which has only two transports against four in the B04, enabling users to upgrade in less of a jump; it comes in the same cabinet as the B04 to which it can be upgraded. Two integrated six-cartridge loaders are standard on each drive unit. The drives are for 370-type machines only they are supported by MVS, VM, VSE, AIX/370 and TPF – and look as if they are lined up for the unannounced 4391. A 3490 A01 or A02 controller is needed; the B02 is $63,000, upgrading to a B04 is $45,800 and it ships in the US on June 29.
