Re: Disk format

[mikeford@netwiz.net (Mike Ford)]

In article <david.920172675@wraith>, david@uow.edu.au (David Wilson) wrote:

> "me" <dontmail@all.org> writes:
> >I ask because i have an external 3 1/2  floppy, but it's meant for an IBM
> >compatible.  So i'm thinking of wiring up a new card to stick in one of the
> >empty slots of my //e and perhaps (if necessary that is) write a program for
> >reading files off the disk.
> 
> A PC style floppy cannot read 800KB Mac/Apple // disks unless you build 
> a controller that supports variable bit rates. The 800KB disk is divided
> into 5 bands and is spun at a different rate for each band.
> 
> >If anyone suggests that i just buy an apple // floppy, i want to state that
> >requires money and time, both of which i'm trying to conserve.  At least..
> >..i'm trying to covserve time hunting. I don't mind spending time tinkering.
> 
> Building a card will cost you much time and money for controller chips etc.

I have one, a Central Point Software Deluxe Option Card. Goes in a old PC
replacing the floppy controller and allows all sorts of operations and
conversions of Apple 400 and 800k floppies (mixed opinion and I haven't
tried it with 1.44 MB floppies, which I think a PC can read anyway). Its
not for sale, but looks like a typical PC floppy controller, but with a
special set of chips.

BTW yes I know this is PC drive on a PC, not a IIe card. I am not bored
enough to even consider reworking a PC floppy drive to work on a Apple.
Might not be too hard though, since I have a number of third party A2
drives.