Re: not there yet (FAQ info)

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

shack@deimos.frii.com (Randy Shackelford) wrote:
>Matt Ackeret <mattack@area.com> wrote:
>>Umm, if the Mac can read 800K drives, you can recognize prodos disks.
>>Just install PC Exchange.  (I can't remember how far back PC Exchange
>>goes, and I can't find it on ftp.apple.com anywhere separately... so I
>>think it's much newer than 7.0.x and is only in commercial releases.)
>
>Prior to 7.5, it was a separate commercial product. Then, like MacTCP,
>it was bundled with the system.
>
>>But yeah, since the GS can read/write HFS, that's usually a WAY easier
>>solution.
>
>Well I'd say equally easy, but that's no help for 8 bit.


Randy, the GS's HFS FST is a bit easier to use than the Mac's PC
Exchange because it does not need to be configured to read an HFS
disk, as PC Exchange must be configured to read ProDOS disks.  The
HFS FST is also faster than PC Exchange, which seems to take a while
to access a ProDOS volume.

For 8-bit users, HFS disks are no help for 5.25" drive owners.  Let
us keep in mind, however, that many 8-bit II users do have 3.5" drives.
The //c+ and the Laser 128EX/2 computers had 3.5" internal
drives (the former as the standard drive, the latter standard in some
units).  Also, it does not cost too much to get one for an 8-bit II
these days.

The ProDOS 8 program A2FX is as easy to use as Mac ProTYPE.  Just
stick in your Mac 800K HFS disk and it will display a list of files.
You can extract the data or resource fork of any file and A2FX will
prompt you for a filename, a filetype, and an auxtype.  The resulting
files will thus be correctly typed and resource stripped (but you
can also take the resource fork containing a sound and convert it
into data for one of those nifty sound programs for 8-bit IIs).

While I understand Nate's desire to put the "lowest common denominator"
of all Apple IIs and thus only list the 8-bit/5.25" solutions, I think
that for the sake of completeness, all the major solutions should be
listed: GS (GSHK, HFS FST, GSCII+), 8-bit II w/3.5" (A2FX), and Mac
(ProTYPE, PC Exchange) as well as the 8-bit/5.25" solutions.

-Scott G.