Re: UniDisk 3.5" on a //e

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article bigtim80@aol.com (BiG Tim 80) writes...

>How do I operate a UniDisk 3.5" drive on my //e, do I need a controller card
>or what? please help me :) thanx Tim

    Yep, you need an Apple 3.5 Floppy Disk Interface Card, also called
the "Liron" card as that is the name stamped on the back. It connects
into an empty slot (except slot 3, preferrable slot 5 if available)
and mimics the Smartport on the UniDisk ROM Apple IIc. In otherwords,
it will operate the UniDisk 3.5 and other Smartport devices (e.g. the
Quark HD or Chinook CT HD).

    Another option is the Apple II 3.5 Disk Controller Card, commonly
referred to as the "SuperDrive Card". This card is the successor to
the Liron, and aside to operating a UniDisk 3.5 drive, will also work
with the Apple 3.5 and Apple SuperDrive (the latter offers greater
storage and the ability to access MS-DOS and high density Macintosh
floppy disks). Note that the UniDisk 3.5 is better suited on a IIc
as it is at least half the speed of the Apple 3.5--in fact its disks
will use a 4:1 ratio for interleaving, rather than 2:1.

    You should be able to order both cards through Shreves Systems,
though if you end up with the SuperDrive controller, I would suggest
selling the UniDisk 3.5 to a IIc owner and using that to purchase a
SuperDrive or Apple 3.5 (the UniDisk 3.5 is the only drive of its
type that will work on a IIc, and the rarest of all three drives).

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca