Re: How many floppies can I use with a Apple IIe

[Warren Ernst <wernst@gmail.com>]

On Oct 8, 2:45 pm, MarkW <markwcoREMOVENOS...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I am interested in purchasing an Apple IIe and am wondering how many
> floppies I can attach to one.  Many I see on eBay have a Disk II
> Drive.  I see many also have the Apple 5.25'' drive or the Unidisk
> 3.5".  I just purchased a Macintosh Plus and a Apple 3.5"
> External-A9M0106 drive.  I know if I get a Superdrive controller it
> will work with the Apple 3.5" External
> My question:
> I'm kind of new to the Apple II but is it possible to use all 3 of
> these drives?  Do I have to do anything to set up the system if I put
> a Superdrive controller in it?

I know I shouldn't really be asking this, but *why* do you want to buy
an old Apple //? Just curious. (Hey, I have two working ones and 6
more in storage for spares, so I'm certainly not judging.)

Now then. About Drives. The two responses below (especially the second
one) are right on the money. But I'll add a few things:

1. If you are really set on using that Apple 3.5" drive you already
have, you might as well get a IIGS, which supports that drive out of
the box - just plug it into the drive port on the back and you're good
to go. You really can use the GS just like a //e, complete with
monochrome monitor (if you find one) if that's what you really want. I
suspect it will be cheaper and easier than the options below. GSes and
Apple 3.5 Drives are not rare and are not expensive either.

2. To use that Apple 3.5 drive on a //e, you need either a SuperDrive
Controller Card (rare and very expensive) or a Laser UDC (Universal
Disk Controller) card (rare and only semi-expensive).

3. To use the more typical-for-the-//e UniDisk 3.5 drive, you need the
Liron controller (also rare and expensive), and of course, some
UniDisk 3.5 drives themselves (not totally rare, but can be
expensive.)

You could probably find these parts after a good year passes on Ebay -
they show up from time to time.

About 5.25" drives: the big black Disk ][ drives connect directly to
the DiskII Controller card via a ribbon cable that plugs directly to
the card. There are two connectors for two drives on each card.

The slimmer drives are either called UniDisk 5.25" drives or Apple
5.25" Drives. Most people think the only difference is that one is
beige (like a //e) and one is platinum (like a GS), and though they
are mostly interchangable, there are some minor technical differences
inside them. These drives connect via a more conventional port that
looks like a PC serial port (but isn't, of course), and two drives can
be daisy chained to each other. On a //e, you can connect these drives
to a Apple 5.25" Drive Controller Card that has such a port, and on
the IIGS you just plug them directly into the drive port on the back
of that computer. The DuoDisk and the DuoDisk controller are basically
two UniDisk 5.25" disk drives in one beige case and a matching card.

Probably the best summary of all Apple drives can be found on:
http://www.vintagemacworld.com/drives.html

Your final question: the SuperDrive controller only works with 3.5"
drives (800k or 1.44MB). 5.25" drives need their own controller card
in a //e. In a GS, the UniDisk or Apple 5.25" drives just plug right
in.

So, unless you are seeking the nostalgic //e case on your desk, I
think a GS (even if only used as a //e) makes more sense these days.

Hope this helps,
Warr