Re: EDD Plus Project

["Bryan Parkoff" <nospam@nospam.com>]

>> I deobt Apple II Disk Drive may work with PC via USB. It depends on the
>> exact timing. You need to run on real Apple II in order to work with
>> copy-protection schemes.
>>
>I'm sure you're correct about limitations of .NIB. But I would think
>that anything that a real apple II could do, some firmware running in
>a USB device could do just as well? What I imagined was a little box
>with a connector for a disk ii cable on one end, and a USB connector
>at the other. There would also be a little button on the box. When you
>press the button, the microntroller starts the disk drive spinning,
>then reads in each (full/half/ or quarter?) track in turn, and builds
>up a .nib or .2mg or whatever format file which is stored on a flash
>drive which is also embedded in the box. When the box is connected to
>a USB host (e.g. a PC) then the file stored on flash is visible.

    I know what you mean.  It is like to load all bits in one track and 
store it into RAM buffer before RAM buffer is ready to be transmitted 
through USB cable.  It is impossible to send the commands to Disk II 
controller card through USB cable.  The Disk II Drive and Logic Sequencer in 
the Disk II controller card require exact timing.  RAM buffer will not work. 
It can only work on real Apple II machine.
    You can't imagine if you attempt to simulate copy-protected scheme in 
the Apple II emulator, some copy-protected scheme does not match the exact 
timing.  It will fail.
    If you are smarter enough, you may try to overcome the limitation.