CompuServe Thread

#AE High Density Floppy

7 messages in this thread
#117694From: Phil SaundersAug 23, 1990 11:14 PM
I'd be interested to know whether it can read/write IBM and Mac 1.44 Meg disks. Also, does it need extra software, or is it automatically recognized on power up?
#117699From: Branden BeachyAug 23, 1990 11:31 PM
Phil: first, the HD drive will not read or write IBM or Mac HD disks without special software. second, you have to ad a few lines to your startup-sequence to get it to recognize HD disks. Otherwise, it acts just like a regular drive. Branden Beachy 72557,107
#118128From: Phil SaundersAug 28, 1990 12:59 PM
It looks like the Amiga version uses the same basic design as the HD drive Applied Engineering makes for the Mac (which caN read 1.44 IBM AND Mac formats as well as 800 K Mac formatted disks.) If all that is needed is special software, it sounds like CrossDOS (suitably rewritten) might fit the bill. But until software is available to support IBM/Mac formats, I don't need a HD drive. (BTW, they advewrtise that the drive is IBM compatible).
#117840From: Lloyd W. Dull IIIAug 25, 1990 3:13 PM
Phil, I haven't been able to get it to read PC 1.44 meg disks yet – I'll have to talk to the people who make CrossDOS about that. I don't know the makeup of the MAC high density drives (whether they vary drive speed like the 800K floppies). Since there is no way to read a MAC disk in an Amiga drive (YET), I don't think the AE unit will. When Amax II Plus comes out – maybe then it will be supported. Won't know till then. It needs a device driver (AETD.device) in DEVS:, and a mountlist entry (they have them in MountList.AE). It would then have this in the Startup-Sequence: DEVS:AETD.Device MOUNT DF6: from MountList.AE DiskChange DF2: DiskChange DF6: (Note: DF2: is the external drive on an Amiga 2000 – which is my AE drive. The AE drive, as DF2:, is a standard 880K Amiga drive (and works with CrossDos on 720K PC disks). As DF6: (DF2: + 4) it is the 1.52 meg drive – using HD FLOPPIES! As the first floppy on an Amiga 500, you'd use DF1: and DF5:) Lloyd
#117861From: Kevin DarlingAug 25, 1990 8:41 PM
Lloyd – how much was the drive? Can more HD bare drives be hooked to the first one?
#117914From: Lloyd W. Dull IIIAug 26, 1990 1:26 AM
Kevin, The retail price is something like $235. I paid $190 for it locally (plus tax). It has a daisy-chain port, so it can be used with other AE HD drives, or other standard 880K floppy drives. Lloyd
#117916From: Kevin DarlingAug 26, 1990 1:40 AM
Thanks! Good price.