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Re: Using MAC low-density disks.
>>>>>> "Jesse" == g sightler <g.sightler@genie.geis.com> writes:
>
> Jesse> Actually, it would be possible to do this without the MAC
> Jesse> floppy drive, if someone was willing to put the many hours
> Jesse> necessary into it. <g> Seriously, it is VERY timing
> Jesse> sensitive (which rules out the possibility of running it
> Jesse> under any mulitasking OS), but it can be done with the
> Jesse> right amound of hacking/patience.
>
> Jesse> In fact, the early MAC emulators for the Amiga did this
> Jesse> rather well (of course, they had to shut off multitasking
> Jesse> to do it :).
> Clifford T. Matthews replied:
>
>Well it certainly won't happen between now and when 2.0 comes out.
>Even then I'm not sure that the PC has the same sort of control over
>the floppy disk that the Amigas did. After 2.0 comes out we'd
>probably be willing to pay some $$ to get this functionality, but I'd
>also guess that just a simple program to read 800k Mac disks on a PC
>would also generate some revenue, which then begs the question "if
>it's doable, why hasn't someone done it?" Specifically, why hasn't
>someone written a program for the PC which reads an 800k formatted
>floppy (writing is much less important).
Had the same thoughts and had someone look into the SWIM chip of Mac's
(Super Woz Integrated Machine) - handles diskette I/O. It is IMPOSSIBLE to
do this on a PC without
hardware. The 800K Mac drives (and all drives since then) use a variable
spindle speed
of the disk drive's motor. This motor on PC drives can only be switched on
or off. There is
no software control over its speed. When the speed cannot be controlled
there is no way
to decipher the information that comes from the controller.
Indeed if it would have been possible you can bet your life that someone,
somewhere would have come up with a scheme, we are talking 11 years now!
(1984-1995). I have seen people mentioning hardware that could do it., but
this appears not to be available
any more.
Ernst J. Oud
'Appreciate what you've got, 'cause basically I'm fantastic.'
Holly the ship's computer of spaceship Red
Dwarf.