Re: Macintosh 5 1/4" drive wanted

[Alan Tuttle <news001@macgeek.org>]

Oops! Wrong computer! The drive is actually in my Macintosh II... As a
matter of fact, the drive doesn't work in any model after the Macintosh
II because later models include the FDHD ROM. The only two computers
that supported this drive, along with the right controller, worked only
on the Macintosh SE and II (the SE had a different controller card).

The drive is also accessed by using the Apple File Exchange utility.
The drive also only reads MFM formatted disks, aka MS-DOS formatted
disks. Unfortunately, it doesn't read ProDOS or DOS 3.3 diskettes.

Apple does mention a different drive being made by Dayna
Communications. I doubt it's still in production, but I'd look around
for it on the for sale lists and eBay.

Wouldn't it be cool if some hardware hacker actually put together an
adapter/driver package that'll let you attach the Apple 5.25 drive to a
Macintosh with a drive port?


In article <170819992052372712%news001@macgeek.org>, Alan Tuttle
<news001@macgeek.org> wrote:

> More details about the Apple PC 5.25" drive...
> 
> - Manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. around 1987
> - Drive model #A9M0110
> - Drive has a DB-37 male connection to a proprietary NuBus controller
> - Controller part #820-0213
> 
> I have one on my Macintosh IICX, and it works great! :) Matter of fact,
> the diskette inserts and ejects much cleaner than the Disk II or the
> Unidisk 5.25" drive.
> 
> I obtained my drive from eBay about a month ago. You don't see these
> guys pop up often, but I was fortunate enough to win this one for $4.01
> plus s/h. I haven't seen another one pop up since then.
> 
> In article <7patth$99j$2@dove.qut.edu.au>, Willie Yeo
> <yeo@pigeon.qut.edu.au> wrote:
> 
> > Henrik Gudat (not@available.com) wrote:
> > 
> > : There are no 5.25" drives for the Macintosh.
> > 
> >         There is one, Henrik, I hate to admit it. I am not sure if it is a
> > SCSI interface (which I think it might be).
> > 
> >         And yes, it >*IS*< an Apple-branded one, it's the Apple 5.25" PC
> > floppy drive for the Macintosh. I recently saw one, right here down under
> > in Australia. For sure, it looks too PeeCeeish then Mac'ish.
> > 
> >         But if that piece of drive (powered via external SCSI) is any use,
> > how the hell would it use GCR on the MFM encoding ? I am not even sure if
> > it will achieve reading the Apple II disks at all !
> > 
> >         But sure, if you are interested to see the drive, I will see if I
> > can get a QuickTake camera (wish there is an Apple II driver !!) and snap
> > the drive and put in somewhere for csa2 to see it.
> > 
> >         But if Henrik wishes to have a go at it, I will see if the owner
> > is willing to allow me to ship it across to the Swiss Alps for the Woof
> > bunch to work on a driver (?) to read directly ?