Re: [Q] Disk Flipping and Two Disk???

["Albert D. Kallal" <PleaseNOOOsPAMmkallal@msn.com>]

Well, we have two issues here.

The first is do you flip the disk?

Well, that depends. Most games and manufactures did avoid using both sides 
of the disk. However, some did (since disks were expensive back then - a box 
of 10 floppy disks was $50 or more).

Further, some of people could not afforded very many floppy disks, so we 
simply doubled up them our selves (we used a single hole puncher, and made 
the disk two sided by punching a notch on the other side).

So, the next question is then did you need two drives?

More games simply asked you to insert the disk#2 That disk#2 could be the 
other side of the disk (thus, you pull out the disk, and flip, and 
re-insert).

A good deal of software would use the 2nd drive for you. However, this was 
not universal. For 99% of games, they always supported one drive, and you 
simply inserted that 2nd disk (as mentioned, that 2nd disk you insert might 
be you flipping the current disk over, or inserting a actual disk#2 - the 
apple II drives did not makes this decision).  So, while many games were two 
disk, not all necessary would support or use two drives even when you had 
two drives.

So, some games were two physical disks, and some games were one doubled 
sided disks that you have to remove..and flip over.  The supprot of duel 
disk drives was somewhat less commong for games, but for devleopuent 
tools..it was standard fair.

So, a number of development systems (such as the USCD Pascal) and a few 
others where having only one drive was VERY painful, as you would have to 
constantly switch disks with one drive. So, often, you would put a program 
disk in drive#1, and the data disk would be drive#2.

So, to answer your question. If the disk really was double sided, then FOR 
SURE you could flip the disk, and you ONLY needed one drive. I mean, if you 
had to pull it out of the drive#1 , flip it..and insert it into the 2nd 
drive it would not be an advantage, since the first disk drive would be 
empty at that point!

So, a game that required two disks could have two physical disks, or one 
double sided disk. In either case, when prompted for disk#2, you would have 
to remove the current disk (if you had one drive, or the game ONLY suppored 
one drive).

As to flipping the disk, or inserting another is going to be a issue of how 
the game disk was made. (so, not all games supported duel drives EVEN WHEN 
they required two disks).

Note that double sided disks on the apple where not like a pc drive that can 
read both sides. Since your flipping the disk, then the matte material that 
collects dust and dirt would actually releases the dust and dirt since the 
floppy is actually spinning in the reverse direction when you flip it. This 
is very much like rubbing a lint brush in reverse...it would release dirt. 
(not a very good idea for the disk, or the drive head).

-- 
Albert D. Kallal
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
pleaseNOOSpamKallal@msn.com