Re: Apple External 3.5" drive

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

In article <5030RMBLXKPQVJWWWQ@ods.sol.net>,  <dreamer@ods.sol.net> wrote:
> 
> IA>Now, back to my problem.  I still haven't gotten a definitive answer whether
> IA>a Mac 800k 3.5 external drive will work on the GS.  The drives are different
> IA>I'm just not sure if the differences are significant.
> 
> Um, as far as I know they are the same drive, internally, so there
> should be no problem.

The drive _mechanism_ is the same, but the interface hardware isn't.
For example, the UniDisk 3.5 has an extra circuit board with a
microprocessor on it, whereas the Apple 3.5 Drive has a simple circuit
board which re-routes some signals.

The Mac Plus 800k drive is missing an eject button, and the signal
decoding logic is probably different - it doesn't handle all of the
Apple II drive port signals properly.  It might also need a speed
control signal from the computer, which is not supplied by an Apple II.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand