Re: Is ProDOS supported in OSX?

["Michael Pender" <mpender@hotmail.com>]

Paul Schlyter <pausch@saaf.se> wrote in message
news:bf5t9q$1hks$1@merope.saaf.se...
> In article <ehgRa.10802$kI5.677@nwrddc02.gnilink.net>,
> M. Pender <mpender@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> and stopped from deteriorating with little pain other than the
> >> actual time involved to actually do the process.
> >
> > That's *still* a lot of pain.
>
> OK, if you don't think your old data isn't worth the time to copy
> it to newer media, then it cannot be worth much.  NASA had a different
> view than you, and did take their time copying their old tapes to newer
> media.

You're missing my point--the value of the data isn't at issue.  Its that the
cost of the *labor* to load all the old data and copy it to new media is
going to *far* exceed any savings from reducing the amount of physical space
occupied by the 9 track tapes.

The mean lifespan of a CDROM or DVD isn't significantly different than that
of 9 track tape.

> > By your argument I should copy my 3.5" DSDD floppies to 3.5" DSHD
> > floppies because a new format is out
>
> You don't need to do that each and every time a new format is released
> of course.  But when support for your older media becomes scarse, or
> when the media itself ages too much, then it's time to copy it to newer
> media.

Fair enough.

> > because Apple is too brain-dead to maintain compatibility with older
> > media formats on the new machines?
>
> Yelling about Apple being brain-dead won't help you.  And the GCR
> format was a dead-end anyway, since the rest of the microcomputer
> industry went MFM for their floppies -- and media compatibility
> between different kinds of systems are a Good Thing.  That's why
> Apple had to give up GCR disks.

Dude, chill--I'm not yelling.  I agree that media compatibility between
different kinds of systems is a good thing.

> > To me that's just an argument for buying a used Mac as opposed
> > to a new one.
>
> OTOH it's a lot of pain to have to maintain a lot of old hardware
> just because you don't want to move your old files on to newer
> media.  No, one old Mac is of course not "a lot of old hardware",
> but if you us ethis logic for another few decades, you will
> probably end up with numerous pieces of old hardware.

Its hardly "painful" to buy a Powermac for ~$15 and have it available so I
can transfer files from my Apple II to my PC, or out onto the web.

> > So then should I transfer all my old files to Zip disk?  Or CDROM?
>
> Yep -- that medium is very widespread and will probably be easily
> accessible for at least another decade or so.  CDROM-only readers
> are on their way out, but all DVD readers can read CDROM disks as
> well.

I agree with much of what you said in concept, but there's still a question
of degree.  An average user can't make a reliable guess as to which media
formats are likely to survive versus which are going to be left behind
almost immediately.

My view is that Apple goofed in failing to offer media compatibility to the
previous generation of computers, that is, the standard 3.5" drive.  I don't
expect them to offer backward compatibility to previous generations (e.g. 8"
disks, Hollerith cards, etc.).

> Now, if you were buying a new computer, would you accept that it was,
> say, $50 more expensive just because it supported some old media
> format which you never would use and perhaps didn't even know existed?
> I don't think so.... :-)

If I were buying a new computer, I would pay $50 for the ability to read all
of my old software, documents, etc. on it.  It could be offered as an
option, such as a USB 3.5" drive so that people who don't want to pay the
$50 don't have to.  The 3.5" drive is a standard format used for ~15 years
on 90%+ of the computers out there.

> But talking about "idiocy" or "stupidity" won't help you.  So
> you have three choices:

I don't expect "talking" about it to accomplish anything at all.  Rather, I
voted with my feet and bought myself a PC, and another PC, and another PC,
etc.

> 1. Move the data to newer media.  Maybe not ALL your old data, but
> those data you don't want to lose.

Done that; I moved my 3.5" floppies to CD.

> 2. Keep and maintain a piece of obsolete equipment for each obsolete
> media format you want to have accecss to.

Done that; I bought an Apple IIgs with 3.5" drives and 5.25" drives.

> 3. Lose your old data.

Done that; I dumped the stuff I didn't feel like investing the time and
effort to preserve.

I agree with much of what you said in concept, it is more a matter of
degree.  The mean lifespan of a 5.25" or 3.5" floppy disk is probably about
10 years.  When they start to degrade its time to transfer them to new
media.  However, when the new machines don't offer the ability to read the
old media, then the user is out-of-luck.

- Mike