#Tape Backups
10 messages in this thread
So…considering the A4000 has a high density floppy interface and
built in support for MessDOS… has anyone out there tried hooking up
one of those inexpensive PC tape backup units to our favorite
machine? You know, the $150 or so internal drives that use the IBM's
floppy connector. With the proper cabling, would this work?
It would, if you had the proper driver, I suppose. I don't
know if those drives work as a floppy, without the need for any
drivers. Perhaps you need to find someone who uses one on a PC and
find out if it uses special drivers. If not, then it may work, but
given that no one seems to market them for the Amiga may suggest that
drivers are needed.
Yeah…it probably needs special drivers…everything else on a PC needs a
special driver that hogs up a little more precious RAM!
Robert,
I would guess that's true since the floppy device and the tape device
are not likely similar. But you never know. I don't know anyone around here
that uses them, so I have no way to find out. Maybe a call to Colorado Memory
would be in line.
I might give them a try. I just hate when I have to explain what an Amiga
is…
Robert,
I would just ask them if the tape drive requires special drivers on the
PC. If it does, then it would certainly require drivers on the Amiga. If it
doesn't require any special drivers and responds normally as a floppy does,
then it's possible it might work. Of course bear in mind that the Amiga floppy
is not directly compatible with PC floppies. The trackdisk.device may not be
able to work with the tape drive unless the drive itself worked like an Amiga
floppy drive. It's really doubtful that the manufacturer will know anything
about the Amiga. There is some stuff around about making a PC floppy drive
work in an Amiga, so that may be an alternative consideration.
Hardware is compatible, software is not.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers – Flying high on AutoPilot
I suppose the software would probably have to come from the
manufacturer of the tape drive unit. An unlikely possibility for the
Amiga market. Unless some computer jock out there were to take some
time and…? Oh, well…what do I know. The closest I've come to
that sort of thing is a printer driver. But it SURE would be nice to
be able to tap into the IBM hardware market for a few of those mass
produced peripherals!
There was a company that had some awhile ago. I forget who. Might
have been Xetec. Take a look in the file section. I think I might
have also seen some PD stuff once. As for my recommendation to you,
buy a SCSI 6150 or higher. I think colorado's are $h!^, and I hate to
use them (or pick a used DAT/8mm)
Well…some day when I have a SCSI board that works with my A4000 (or is it the
other way around!?)…
SCSI tape drives are just so expensive. Before I was on a budget, I had plans
for SCSI peripherals galore. Now that I am about to become a father, I find
that my financial outlook is somewhat different! (Time to get frugal.)
Robert