Re: Connect Apple 3.5 Drive with Apple //e

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

JEBuckley <jebuckley@aol.com> wrote:

> Apple's 3.5 drive iterface only works with the Unidisk 3.5. Laser computer
> made one that would work with Apple 3.5 drive. Good luck finding one

Correction:

Apple's _original_ 3.5" drive interface card (released in 1985) only
supports the UniDisk 3.5.  This card is called the "Apple 3.5 Floppy
Disk Drive Interface Card".  It is quite a small card, with only a few
components (the main ones being an IWM chip and a ROM).  It has the word
"LIRON" on the back.

Apple's _newer_ 3.5" drive interface card (released in about 1991,
discontinued in 1993) supports the UniDisk 3.5, Apple 3.5 Drive and
SuperDrive.  It is the only card which lets you use a SuperDrive on an
Apple II to its full capabilities.  This card is called the "Apple II
3.5 Disk Controller Card".  It is better known as the "SuperDrive Card".
It is considerably larger than the LIRON card; it has its own RAM and a
65C02 as well as a ROM and SWIM chip.  There are also a couple of LEDs
at the top of the card.

(There are other ways of getting high density 3.5" drives onto an Apple
II, but none that also support 800K and 400K disks.)

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand