Re: A2 FAQ addition/update req.

[Wayne Stewart <waynes@intergate.bc.ca>]

tturner@ecn.ab.ca wrote:

> --> Thanks, Rubywand, for posting the current A2 FAQs.  Much
>     appreciated by many, I'm sure (and I do not mean to ignore
>     the obvious efforts of all the others who've contributed to
>     these excellent FAQs).
>
>     An observation and a question:
>
>     In section #5 (CDROMs), there is no clear (at least, to me)
>     info in regards to the 8-bit Apples - specifically, to the
>     Apple IIe - as to whether a CDROM drive can be utilized by
>     or with an A2E system.  The focus on the IIgs and the lack
>     of details specific to the 8-bit A2 (other than a passing
>     reference to ProDOS 8 and, further on, to Apple IIs) leads
>     me to presume that it may well not be possible to utilize
>     a CDROM directly in/with an Apple IIe system; but it would
>     be nice to have clarification in this section of the FAQ.

It is indeed possible to use a CDROM drive with any 8 bit
Apple II except the IIc & IIc+.
Which drives you can use depend on which SCSI card you have.
With the ramfast there's quite a number of CD drives that'll work.
With the Rev C SCSI card there are only a couple of early Apple
Drives that'll work. I've never tried a CD drive with an Apple
Hi-Speed SCSI card in a IIe but there should be a number of CD
drives that work with it.
It's been a while since I used anything but  ProDOS CDs in an
8 bit II but I believe the names of a couple of programs for reading
HFS CDs are HFSLink and A2FX. Never had any PC CDs around
to read so I can't say in that area. However for a II, II+ or IIe there
isn't much useable stuff on commercial CDs with the exception of
some of the ones Joe Kohn sells. Best option is to burn your own
CDs, preferably in ProDOS format.
I have a 4X NEC hooked up to a Rev D ramfast in a IIe and an
Apple CD 150 hooked up to an Apple Rev C SCSI card in a II+.
I've tried the CD 150 and Rev C SCSI card in a II (Integer Basic)
just to verify that it works but haven't haven't bothered picking up
a CD drive for it as I don't use the II all that often.

    Wayne