Apparatus for recording and reproducing data having a single recording and reproducing unit and a plurality of detachable interfaces for connecting to different types of computer ports

A recording and/or reproducing system comprising:

• recording and/or reproducing means for recording and/or reproducing digital data on or from a tape-shaped recording medium loaded therein, and for generating and receiving recording/reproducing control signals;
• and
• interfacing means comprising:
• a first input/output (I/O) means for exchanging digital data and control signals with an external information equipment, wherein said digital data and control signals are formatted in one of the following interface standards:
• a computer parallel port interface standard, a small computer system interface (SCSI) standard, or a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface standard,
• a second I/O means for exchanging digital data and said recording/reproducing control signals with said recording and/or reproducing means, wherein said digital data and said recording/reproducing control signals are formatted in a recording and/or reproducing interface standard,
• wherein said interfacing means converts the digital data and said recording/reproducing control signals supplied by said recording and/or reproducing means through said second I/O means into the one of the following interface standards:
• the computer parallel port interface standard, the SCSI standard, or the PCMCIA interface standard and said interfacing means routes the converted digital data and control signals through said first I/O means to said external information equipment, and
• wherein said interfacing means also converts the digital data and control signals supplied from said external information equipment through said first I/O means into the recording and/or reproducing interface standard and said interface means routes the converted digital data and recording/reproducing control signals through said second I/O means to said recording and/or reproducing means, thereby controlling said recording and/or reproducing means.