Re: Looking for a Laser 128-compatible 3.25 drive

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

jh82 <webmasterNOweSPAM@jh82.i-p.com.invalid> wrote:

>I am looking for a Laser 128-compatible 3.25 drive.  Anyone have one?
>Also, can I format regular, store-bought disks to use with one?

Any IIGS or Macintosh floppy drive will work on the Laser 128.
The Laser 128 has a UDC chip.  I think it is a later revision
UDC controller, so the Laser might not be able to use the IIe/IIc
type UniDisk 3.5.  If so, you need a genuine Mac or IIGS 3.5
drive.  If you see an external Mac 3.5 drive being sold, for
example an external SuperDrive, grab it.  It plugs right into the
Laser's drive port.  3.5 drives are mapped to slot 7.

You can usually format over any 3.5 disk.  The high density
type is iffy.  The double density type is more reliable.  The
Laser only stores 800k on a 3.5 drive regardless.

Also, the earliest version of the Laser 128 does not have a
UDC and thus cannot use 3.5 drives.  It is identified by
its ugly looking spaced out vertical air vents across the top
of the case and a black lettering on metalic "Laser 128"
label.  All later Laser 128 versions and model variants can
use 3.5 drives.  The later ones have a "swoosh" air vent
design.  The air vents form a check mark from left to right
and the "Laser 128" name is in metalic characters on the
plastic body.