Re: piracy, Asimov, you, and me

[mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Mike LaMorte)]

Randy Shackelford (shack@deimos.frii.com) wrote:
: In article <1614.678.uupcb@yob.com>,
: Jeff Brielmaier <jeff.brielmaier@yob.com> wrote:

: >And the reason for this (for the folks that do not know) is that Apple is
: >getting rid of the motorized multi-speed Sony 3.5" disk drives due to their
: >cost (Apple was the only company to use them).  The are starting to use "PC
: >Clone" type 1.44MB 3.5" drive which cost >>LOT<< less.  Of course, the fact 
: >that Apple is having to compete on cost vs. PPC clone is also is factor in the 
: >3.5" drive change over.

: >Of course, going to clone drive also means that:
: >1) the drive will not read/write the 800k disk format of the Apple // and
: >"older" Macs.
: >2) the user has to manually eject diskettes (no motorized eject feature) :-)

: Not so. Apple quit using Sony drives because of cost. Since Sony has a patent
: on the auto-inject feature, you have to stick the disk into non Sony drives
: rather than having the drive pull it in. Even these drives have an eject motor
: however. The Apple drives can read 800K and 400K disks as well. The BX at
: Keesler AFB just got in Apple stuff since they started selling it again, and
: when I was in there today, I heard a sales guy telling someone how the new
: Performa he was showing off could read Apple II disks. I was a bit surprised
: to hear a sales person say "Apple II" these days.

Yup. 'Tis true. I got a Performa 6320 a few weeks ago (nice machine, BTW)
and I frequently use it to d/l A2 stuff for my //c+. I simply pop in an
800k floppy, an icon with a Roman numeral II on it pops up, and I copy the
files over, no problem. I drag the disk icon to the trash, and it pops
right out. It also allows me to format ProDOS 800k AND 1.44k on a 3.5"
floppy. 

I dunno who got the idea going that the new Macs have problems with A2
floppies, but it's just not true. Unless, of course, you're trying to
figure a way to stick a 5.25" drive on a Mac. ;)


-- 
Mike LaMorte <mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
CEO, President, Designer
Aurora Concepts Inc.
Design & Consulting