rupp@tetra.UUCP (William L. Rupp) (09/23/85)
I am posting this reply to a question regarding the one megabyte Commodore drive (SFD 1001) because the reply option on my system does not work. Anyway, I have a 1001 drive, purchased from Protecto. The drive looks very much like a 1541, and is hooked up to my C-64 through an "I-EEE" interface, also purchased from Protecto. In this configuration, it functions much like a super capatious 1541. Over 4000 blocks are free for storage, but the number of files which can be stored is no greater than the 1541. This means that users with many small files can encounter a disk full message while 3000 blocks remain free. This happened to an acquaintence of mine. On the other hand, if you have very large files, this drive can come in handy. To get the maximum performance, a user needs to hook the 1001 to the C-64 via a parallel interface such as the BusCard. These cost over $100.00, but give the user VERY fast access times, I am told. The 1001 is reportedly part of a word processing package formerly sold in Europe. It is no longer manufactured. The manual which comes with the drive is the old manual supplied to purchasers of the 4040 and other parallel Commodore drives. The 1001 is said to function as a single 8025 drive. Two utility disks were sent with the unit; they contain largely the same material, much of which will not work with the 1001. One other thing. I have my first drive (a 1540 with an upgraded ROM) daisy- chained to the 1001. I have a program which allows me to change the device number of one of the drives to 9. This allows me to have a two-drive system. Now I have a question for all of you. Is there a way for me to use my 1001 with The Commodore 128? I assume it will not read CP/M disks, but will it work in the 128 mode? Will something like the BusCard work with the 128? Thanks!