Why can't Gs 800k drives read 720k IBM disks?

[peterm@tlp.apana.org.au (Peterm)]

* On 18-03-95, David Empson was waffling to All about:

 DE> MFM disks do not use variable speed rotation.  This is the
 DE> main reason
 DE> they only hold 720k.

This doesn't explain why cards like CTI's FDC-10 for the Apple II can produce 
800K ProDOS MFM 3.5" diskettes using standard IBM-style drives. I believe 
that the real reasons the IBM-style drives were 720K were:
a) IBM's inherent conservatism. 720K was easily achieved and worked well.
b) 720K was twice the capacity of the 5.25" diskettes that were of the same 
era.
Similarly, Apple seems to have a love-affair with multiples of 400K since DOS 
3.3...

My 2c worth...

*<8o)X
Regds,
 Peter M.


<8o)X
Regds,
 Peter M.
PS. Keep up the Good Work!
PPS. If you get this thing working put me down for a copy! You have my card 
details (somewhere)...  

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