Re: AppleIIci <-> PC 3.5" disk interchangable?

[lorin.evans@tcs.wap.org (Lorin Evans)]

Steve Cohn wrote:
 
>I just bought a IIci and I'm new to Macs.  Can a MacIIci read a disk
>formatted on an IBM PC-clone.  I have a PC connected to the internet and
>need to download a game for the Mac.
 
 Steve,
 
   For a Mac to read a PC disk, it must have three things:  (1) a high density
disk drive; (2) the software added to the operating system; and (3) the
Macintosh utilities necessary to uncompress (on the Mac) the PC compression in
which the Mac program arrived on the PC.  Of course if the Mac program is
compressed via a Mac compression program (StuffIt, etc) than such a program is
not needed.  So lets look at the three pieces.
 
   1. The Macintosh must be able to read/write to a high density disk which on
a Mac formatts to 1.44 megs.  The IIci can (unless someone swapped the drive
with an 800k version at some time in its early life).
 
   2. This one gets a bit screwy, but follow me.  You need to know what
operating system is running your Mac.  A IIci can easily run System 7.0, 7.1 or
(if there is sufficient RAM installed) 7.5.  System 7.5 has inbedded in it the
necessary software to read from and write to a PC formatted disk.  System 7.0
and 7.1 do not have those patches included with the disks issued by Apple.  The
straight answer you will receive is to use Apple File Exchange [ug]. Unknown to
most of the public is that there are two versions of System 7.0 and 7.1.  There
is a Performa version of each:  7.0Px and 7.1Px.  The <P>erforma versions have
the software patches that automatically recognize a PC formatted disk and
enable reading from and reading to those disks.  The <P> patch works with the
non-<P> versions and we have them.
 
   So, if you are running System 7.0 series or 7.1 series system software, I
can send you the patches and away you go.  If you are running 7.5 series system
software, it is built-in to the system and you need no additional parts.
 
Washington Apple Pi recommends at least 12megs of RAM if you are going to run
System 7.5 series software. If you don't need it, go with 7.1 series.
 
(3) now the last part.  If you download a Mac program to a PC disk that was
compressed with Mac software (StuffIt, CompactPro, etc) then you are ok.  If
the PC will recognize a Mac formatted disk, try using it to receive the program
from the PC.  If the PC will not recognize a Mac formatted disk, then remove
the program from the PC formatted disk to the Mac IIci hard drive and then
uncompress it.
 
                Lorin Evans
                Washington Apple Pi
                lorin.evans@tcs.wap.org