On 09.05.2013 01:14, David Schmidt wrote:
[...] But the need/incentive to go from Disk II interface to some other kind of floppy drive simply hasn't arisen.What's about this one ? http://www.bootzero.com/HDDD_A2_v1.2/HDDD_A2v1.2_specifications.htmlYes indeed, I mentioned that to you in both this thread (the next few lines in the same message you quoted above) and the same thread you started in c.s.m.vintage.
Yes, you mentioned it, but without details. It's made for the Apple II only, so it should have a particular importance.
But the HDDD isn't a simple cable - it is a programmed processor that provides a very accurate mapping from Disk II signals to a modern HD 3.5" floppy drive. So - what about it? It's a brilliant piece of hardware and firmware. It has a very interesting use case - making the arguably more-available HD 3.5" floppy disks useable as direct replacements for 5.25" media. Apple II software running on it can scarcely tell the difference. It's compatible at a very low level. I think we'll eventually see all spinning magnetic media go the way of the buggy whip, but HDDD definitely buys some time. It still doesn't help you use your TEAC FD55A, though. :-)
May be it helps to connect a TEAC FD55G (which does not mean it results in a "compatible" format but in the same size). It's an option for me because in Europe I have no chance to get an Apple 5.25" Floppy Drive (A9M0107), and if I try to purchase it in the U.S., this will result in a long waiting period and a very high price (shipping costs for one drive about $50 or more - far too expensive). And I need it just to copy the content of a floppy image file back to a media, because the Apple IIe card can't use image files.