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Re: Apple II 3.5" Controller and SuperDrive problems...
GR1071 <gr1071@aol.com> wrote:
> Maybe, this will help with which drives will work with which computers:
It is a good start. Unfortunately, the table was formatted so badly I
had to tidy it up before I could read it (you shouldn't have used tabs,
and some of the columns weren't lined up anyway).
Here it is cleaned up, but I have several points to correct:
name--------works on------works on-----works with------works on IIgs
II,II+,IIe IIc IIgs Smartport Internal Slot
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Unidisk 3.5 Yes *,^ Yes Yes Yes *,^
Apple 3.5 Yes * No Yes Yes *
Mac 400K Yes * No No Yes *
Mac 800K Yes * No No Yes *
Disk II Yes *,@ Yes $ Yes $ Yes *,@
Apple 5.25 Yes *,% Yes Yes Yes *,%
Unidisk 5.25 Yes *,% Yes Yes Yes *,%
Disk IIc Yes *,% Yes Yes Yes *,%
DuoDisk Yes *,% 1st dr only Yes Yes *,%
Key.. YES Means Yes... Yes with any modifiers means that it REQUIRES one
of the modifiers.. No Means no... Modifiers follow
^ --- Apple 3.5 Drive Controller
* --- Universal Drive Controller (UDC)
@ --- Disk II Controller Card
$ --- DB-19 Adapter Cable
% --- Apple 5.25 Drive Controller Card
Points:
1. By "Apple 3.5 Drive Controller" I assume you mean the "Apple 3.5
Floppy Disk Drive Interface Card" (aka "Liron"). This card only
supports the UniDisk 3.5 drive, and it does NOT work in a IIgs.
2. You didn't mention the "Apple II 3.5 Disk Controller Card" (aka
"SuperDrive Card"). This card requires a IIgs or enhanced IIe, though
it may work in a II or II+ which has a 65C02 or ZIP chip. The card
supports the UniDisk 3.5, Apple 3.5 Drive and SuperDrive. It is the
only card that allows a SuperDrive to access 720K and 1440K disks.
3. For the UniDisk 3.5 to work on the IIc, the IIc must have ROM version
0, 3 or 4. ROM version 255 must be upgraded.
4. I don't think the UniDisk 3.5 is supported by the Universal Disk
Controller. (I haven't verified this myself, but I've heard it from
others several times.)
5. No mention of the IIc+, which has a built-in 3.5 drive and will
support the Apple 3.5 Drive, and can use both drives in a DuoDisk
(otherwise matches a IIc).
6. No mention of the SuperDrive, which has two levels of compatibility:
Apple 3.5 emulation (same rules as Apple 3.5), and native, which
requires the "Apple II 3.5 Disk Controller Card".
7. In some cases the DuoDisk has problems on the IIgs, and requires a
hardware modification. (I don't have the details handy.)
8. No mention of drive order requirements and limits to the number of
each drive which may be connected. In general: Apple 3.5 (maximum of
two per controller) first, then UniDisk 3.5 (no hard limit on the
number), then 5.25" drives (maximum of two per controller). You
shouldn't have more than four drives connected to any one drive port.
In the case of the IIc, there can only be one external 5.25" drive
(which must be at the end of the chain).
9. No mention of the Chinook/Sequential SmartPort hard drives (same
compatibility as the UniDisk 3.5).
10. No mention of the PC Transporter, which can act as a controller for
the Apple 3.5 Drive (albeit not very well) in a II, II+, IIe or IIgs.
11. No mention of the Applied Engineering 3.5" drives. The 800K one is
basically compatible with the Apple 3.5 Drive, and there is also a high
density one (1600K format) which only works on the IIgs built-in port,
and then only with a special driver. (I believe this is the case - can
anyone else confirm or deny?)
12. All the UniDisk-style 5.25" drives can be used on a Disk ][
controller card with an adaptor cable.
13. The Mac HD20 drive doesn't work with any of these controller options
(only on a Mac).
I haven't even considered other floppy drive types (e.g. MFM) - I'd be
here all night, and they usually need different controllers anyway. :-)
Did I miss anything?
Does someone want to construct a new table which incorporates all of
this? :-)
--
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand