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AppleCD 600e
Peter Eriksson
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION
A quad speed, external SCSI-2 CD-ROM unit.
AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION
Name: Apple Computer AB
Address: P.O. Box 31
S-164 93 Kista-Stockholm
SWEDEN
[Please note that Apple has subsidiaries and
distributors in other countries as well.]
Telephone: +46 (0) 8-703 30 00
World Wide Web: http://www.apple.se (Swedish site)
http://www.apple.com (International site)
COMPONENTS SUPPLIED IN PACKAGE
AppleCD 600e CD-ROM unit
Power cord
SCSI terminator
SCSI "System" cable (25 pins to 50 pins style)
Warranty statement
Macintosh software license agreement
Registration sheet + envelope for the sheet
Apple Assistance information pamphlet
List of world wide Apple subsidiaries and distributors
User manual
Macintosh CD-ROM Installation software on CD
MacWorld commercial pamphlet
LIST PRICE
Unfortunately I don't know what list price Swedish Apple has set. I
purchased my CD-ROM unit on a sale for 1499 SEK (about $225 (US), DM 340,-).
DEMO VERSION
None.
SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
HARDWARE
SCSI controller required.
SOFTWARE
A CD-ROM filesystem, such as "CDFileSystem" as found
on the 3.1 Workbench disks.
COPY PROTECTION
None.
MACHINE USED FOR TESTING
Amiga 3000/25, 4 MB Fast RAM, 2 MB Chip RAM.
Maxtor 120MB 7210SR internal hard disk.
NEC Multisync-II multisync monitor.
AmigaOS 3.1.
CDFileSystem filesystem version 40.9 (used at first...)
AmiCDROM filesystem version 1.15 (... and then replaced by AmiCDROM)
INSTALLATION
Because the unit itself is external, you will have to connect it to your
SCSI controller somehow. On my Amiga 3000, this is easily done using the
'system' cable that comes with the CD-ROM unit. If the unit is to be connected
to another device on a daisy-chain, a SCSI 'peripheral' cable is required. Such
a cable is not included with the AppleCD 600e package.
If the CD-ROM is the last device on the external chain of SCSI units, it
has to be equipped with a 'terminator'. The terminator is a resistor that tells
the SCSI controller that this is the last device on a given chain of devices. A
terminator that plugs right into one of the AppleCD's two SCSI busses is
supplied with the package.
In order for the Amiga to communicate with the unit, a software
filesystem has to be mounted. Users of Workbench 3.0 and above already have one
in the L: directory. This filesystem is henceforth referred to as
'CDFileSystem'. Although this filesystem is capable of dealing with CDs made
for the Amiga, it lacks certain features third party filesystems display. Users
who wants unlock their CD-ROM unit's full potential should look for a filesystem
replacement. (Note: The user manual mentions Audio CD, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA,
CD+I, Photo CD, Video CD, CD+MIDI and CD+G as compatible Apple 600e CD-ROM
formats.)
In theory, the installation process should be a breeze. Just plug an
appropriate SCSI cable into the last device on the (external) daisy-chain and
attach a terminator if the CD-ROM is the last piece of equipment on the chain.
But then, this is in theory. This process showed to be more troublesome than
first expected. More on this later.
REVIEW
'This should be pretty much painless', I thought while connecting the
SCSI cable to my Amiga 3000, 'Just plug in the CD-ROM, power up the computer and
mount CD0:.'. Yes, it _should_ be pretty much painless, but then there is
Murphy's Law. I followed the instructions step by step as prompted by the
manual, turned on the AppleCD 600e and then the computer itself. Nothing. Then
nothing. Then the "Insert Workbench floppy" animation. 'Great. The hard disk
won't boot.'. I powered down everything and double checked the terminator and
the SCSI cable. Everything did seem to be in order, so I decided to power up
the computer again with the CD-ROM turned off, just to check whether or not my
Amiga would boot from the hard disk like it had during the last three years. No
problem, everything worked like a charm, just like it always had. 'Oh well', I
said, 'I'll figure out why the computer won't boot with the CD-ROM turned on at
first later.'. Anxiously, I wanted to mount the CD filesystem. I turned on the
CD-ROM unit again, this time during the boot. As soon as the Amiga had finished
the boot sequence, I put a CD in the slot and mounted CD0:. Again, nothing. No
icons showing up on the Workbench desktop, no device entry for CD0: reported by
"C:Info". It appeared like my CD-ROM was configured as SCSI ID 3 by default.
CDFileSystem on the other hand expects the CD-ROM to use ID 2. I changed the
unit's ID to 2 as described by the manual. This is done by pushing the tip of a
pen into a small hole on the back of the unit, just like you set the time on
most digital wrist clocks. I powered up the CD-ROM again, mounted CD0: again
and... it worked!
I took a brief look at my Amiga's hard disk LED. 'Now what' I cried
out, getting tired of all these new problems piling up like unpaid bills on the
kitchen table. The LED. It was flashing. Every three seconds, that damn thing
flashed! No hard disk activity and still, it flashed! I later learned that
this is normal behavior of CDFileSystem. The filesystem is polling the CD-ROM
unit to check for new CDs being removed and inserted, pretty much like the Amiga
checks for floppies (thus the clicking sound). Every time a poll is made, the
hard disk LED flashes. This may sound odd, and it is if you like me don't know
about the A3000's hard disk LED actually being a "SCSI" LED. The LED displays
the SCSI controller's activity meaning every action undertaken by any SCSI unit,
may it be internal or external, will be reflected by the "hard disk" LED. (This
"problem" was solved by a lot of helpful people responding to an article I
submitted to two USENET Amiga newsgroups.)
Still, one problem remained. When I for some reason had to reboot the
computer without a CD in the AppleCD 600e unit, nothing happened. Annoying yes,
but I soon found out that the computer would boot from the hard disk as soon as
I put a data CD into the unit or after waiting perhaps half a minute. I wasn't
content with this solution, however. This shouldn't simply be. Some intense
e-mail correspondence with Claus Pedersen, Denmark sorted things out. To quote
Clauss: "Having a normal ISO CD placed in the drive, usually shortens the wait
period". So what is the cause of the period of waiting then? Well, it has to
do with the CD-ROM unit looking for a boot strap. If no CD is placed in the
unit, it'll continue to search until it timed out by the SCSI controlled.
However, if a CD is inserted during this process or before it even started the
CD-ROM will stop looking for boot straps unless, of course, there is one in
which case it will boot from the CD instead from the hard disk. As I don't have
access to any bootable CDs right now, I haven't had a chance to test booting off
CDs. (There are other means of getting around this problem. Since this is a
review I won't go into any details here and now. Please get in touch with me if
you have any questions regarding this matter.)
I thought I'd wrap up the review with some benchmarks I made. I ran
this script using CDFileSystem version 40.9, then AmiCDROM version 1.15 and
finally AmiCDFS version 2.37 (unregistered).
Date
Copy sprintsos1:games/entertn1/depth.zip RAM: QUIET
Date
The CD used for the benchmarks is 'Super OZ Shareware Volume 1'. Sorry
to say, I had no Amiga CD available with files larger than one megabyte so I had
to use a friend's CD instead. The file "depth.zip" is 1452051 bytes large.
CDFileSystem version 40.9 takes 21 seconds to complete this operation, which
translates to approximately 67 KB/second (1452051 / 21 / 1024).
AmiCDROM version 1.15 takes 4 seconds to complete this operation, which
translates to approximately 354 KB/second (1452051 / 4 / 1024).
AmiCDFS version 2.37 takes 21 seconds to complete this operation, which
translates to approximately 67 KB/second (1452051 / 21 / 1024).
A quad speed CD-ROM _should_ be able to read 600 KB/second (4 * 150).
Obviously, this isn't the case with any of the filesystems I've tested. The
performance may however boost with different CD0: mountlist parameters. This
hasn't been tested because no filesystem's documentation mentions AppleCD 600e
preferable settings.
DOCUMENTATION
71 pages of printed assistance is what Apple has put into the package,
besides all commercial pamphlets, warranty cards, etc. The documentation
probably covers everything the average Macintosh user needs to know, from
installing the hardware itself to installing the supplied Macintosh software.
Being an Amiga user, it is hard to rate the documentation. On one hand, I could
say that the manual is really lousy not mentioning any of the problems I
experienced; but on the other hand I could say this product is intended for
users of Apple computers.
In short terms - an Amiga user may need additional sources of related
documentation to get everything up and running. Something like this review. :)
LIKES
Once you get to know it, the Apple 600e CD-ROM unit does what it is
supposed to do with no quirks. 'No less, no more' as some would put it. A more
interesting discussion would be the interface between the CD-ROM and the Amiga;
i.e., the filesystem. Whatever the CD-ROM is up to must be matched by the
filesystem. Now if the filesystem can't keep up with the CD-ROM in some aspect,
we do have a bottle-neck. 'A chain isn't stronger than its weakest link' as the
Swedish saying goes. This is also the case with the filesystem you intend to
use for the CD-ROM unit.
DISLIKES AND SUGGESTIONS
Just as I can't find much about the unit itself to like, I don't find
much to dislike neither. I repeat myself - the unit does what it is supposed to
do with no quirks. One thing I think should be improved however, is the
location of the headphone jack. The outlet is placed just underneath the CD
slot which makes it hard to access when the slot is in its 'outward' position.
The unit has its power transformer built-in. In case you own the
original Commodore 1541 5.25" floppy drive, you know what I'm getting at. Since
the transformer is internal, the unit tends to be quite warm after some time of
usage. In the case of the C1541, this caused problems when certain circuits in
the drive expanded and shorted out when in contact with other components. I
don't think this is the case with technology of the mid 90's, but then again,
nothing is wrong with precaution. Not to mention the unit gets really dull with
a built-in transformer. (Note: the C1541's successor, the C1541-II has an
external transformer.)
COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS
Since I never had the chance to play with CD-ROM equipped Amigas before
besides the CDTV and its cousin the CD32, there isn't much to say here.
BUGS
At the time of writing no bugs have been found.
VENDOR SUPPORT
Apple has something they call 'Apple Assistance'. You register by
sending your Apple subsidiary or distributor a provided registration sheet. As
soon as Apple validates your registration you get 90 days of free support per
phone, plus either three free issues of Swedish magazine 'Svenska MacWorld'
(Swedish MacWorld) or a 45% discount on a full year subscription of the very
same magazine. Offers similar to this may vary from country to country.
WARRANTY
The chain of stores I bought my Apple 600e CD-ROM unit from gives one
year of product warranty. Apart from this warranty, Apple has a world wide
warranty, also limited to one year. Apple's warranty applies to every country
on the face of the Earth, provided you have a proof of purchase from an
authorized Apple dealer.
CONCLUSIONS
I'm pleased with my purchase. I've wanted a CD-ROM for my Amiga 3000
for years, but external SCSI CD-ROM units have always been rather expensive
compared to e.g. internal IDE CD-ROM units. This all changed on that magic
sale. :) The AppleCD 600e works just the way you expect it to work once you
know what normal Amiga 3000 SCSI behavior means. No quirks, no fuzz.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Copyright 1996 Peter Eriksson (ptr@solace.mh.se).
END
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