Re: ProDOS, 5.25" drives, and 35/40 tracks

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

Benjamin Summers <summersb@ucs.orst.edu> wrote:

> If Apple II 5.25" drives have the ability to read and write 40 tracks
> instead of the usual 35 (several software patches are available), can anyone
> tell me why in the world Apple didn't write ProDOS to take advantage of
> this??

Because most Apple II 5.25" drives are unable to access 40 tracks.  The
mechanism is specified as supporting 35 tracks, and it seems that 36 is
pretty much guaranteed (since some copy protected software relies on the
extra track).

My Apple 5.25 Drive (bought in 1987) can only handle 39 tracks, and the
last one is unreliable.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand