Re: newbie question-- A2 disks on PC and Apple II Games on the net

[Jonathan Schattke <wizwom@ripco.com>]

ernestls wrote:
> 
> With standard PC equipment, it is impossible to format a disk for use with
> the Apple II. The reason is that a PC uses non-variable speed floppy drives,
> and an Apple II uses variable speed drives. If you listen real close to the
> Apple II drives, you can actually hear them change speeds, much like a
> CD-ROM drive.

(sigh)
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

The Apple II uses a soft-sectoring scheme and also proprietary software sector
recognition.  The NEC based disk controllers use a completely different method
of disk to computer transfer.  But both drives happen to spin at the same speed,
300 RPM.  The later NEC based drives raised the speed to 360 RPM, but only
because the controllers became more accurate, and could pulse the R/W head
faster.

A 1.2 MB 5-1/4 drive still spins at 360 RPM & still has a 300 RPM compatibility
mode.

Please, if you do not know the technology and don't have the schematics and
software used, don't answer, as you just spread disinformation and confusion.
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