Re: Who Knows Corvus?

[dynasor@infi.net (Dennis McClain-Furmanski)]

On Mon. Apr 17, 1995, neiderma@eden.rutgers.edu told All:
 
 nre> Here we go with more "what the hell is this" hardware game...  :)
 
 nre> I have what I think is a big Corvus hard drive.  Maybe.  It has a
    > set of ports on the back.  A video in and video out (but neither
    > whow anything when an RCA cable was connected from them to a
    > composite monitor), VCR remote port (32 pins or so), processor
    > port (32 pins or so), drive port (32 pins or so), and 4 DIP
    > switches. There are 3 LEDs on the front and the sticker says "Corvus
    > Systems". When powered up, it makes a spinning-up noise like an
    > older hard drive coming online.  There is a hand-written note on top
    > taped that says "sell this along with the set, it is photographic
    > equipment".
 
 nre> Of course I didn't get it as part of a set.  Help?  If you know
    > what it can do, would you be interested in it?  I can't figure out
    > what to do with the thing.
 
I sold Corvus as systems and as periphs for Apples in the early 80's.

The Corvus Constellation hard drive had a VCR backup system. Hence the
video in/out. Nothing will come out the port unless you can have the CPU
(attachs to the processor port -- you don't have one) tells it to. I don't
recall there ever being an Apple program to make use of the VCR port.
 
The drive port went to the floppy drives.
 
The dip switches were for the configuration of the system (more than one
HD, more than one floppy, etc.).
 
I think the LED were power, ready (spun up) and writing.
 
The drive controller was Apple bus compatible -- you could plug their card
right into an Apple and use it as a bunch of 400K DOS 3.3 volumes. It held
a HUGE 5, 10, or *gasp* 20 MB. I've no idea what the connector pins
correspond to though.

I imagine it would work on ProDOS. I never tried. It wasn't out when I was
selling this stuff.
 
 * 2qwk! 1.26b3 * They can#########Tagline Censored########out even trying!
 

--
dynasor@infi.net                                       The Doctor is on.