frank@zen.co.uk (Frank Wales) (01/31/89)
For those interested, here is a summary of replies to my enquiry about getting data into my Amiga from the net. [replies begin] ================================== From: denbeste@com.bbn Subject: Getting stuff onto HD Date: Sat, 21 Jan 89 21:56:00 -0500 I do my transfers of stuff to/from Usenet with a modem and "kermit" (using the PD "vt100" program). It's slow, but reliable and doesn't depend on any hardware at the office except a dialup. Steve Den Beste ================================== From: rpa@uk.ac.ukc Subject: Re: Loading files onto your Amiga Organization: Computing Lab, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK. Date: Sat, 21 Jan 89 17:15:03 GMT What I do at work is write the stuff onto a 3.5inch MSdos disk, then take it home and us a commercial piece of software called D2D [Dos-2-Dos] to read it. Works a treat. (D2D will also write IBM floppies so you can go both ways) Richard. ================================== From: mk59200@fi.tut Date: Mon, 23 Jan 89 18:19:09 +0200 Subject: Re: Loading files onto your Amiga frank@zen.co.uk (Frank Wales): > This question must have been answered at some point, but I'm a new > kid on this block, so I thought I'd ask anyway. > > The following possible options occur to me, listed in order of > decreasing preference: > > 1) write AmigaDOS disks here at the office and take those home > for loading -- we only have HP 9000s and PCs here capable > of writing 3.5" disks, but I'm prepared to write a program > to write AmigaDOS disks if one doesn't exist and it seems > feasible; Standard floppy controllers used in PCs cannot write in Amiga format (11 sectors/track, no inter-sector gaps), so this is close to impossible. > 2) write 3.5" DomesDos disks at the office and read them using > some Amiga/PC utility at home -- this seems the most plausible; Yes, this is the easiest way, I have used a program called Dos2Dos that can read, write and format 720K MSDOS disks in Amiga. It's a commercial product, by Central Coast Software. > So; how do *you* get stuff onto your Amiga? I used DNET to transfer files from our Suns to a local A500, but then they upgraded our systems to SunOS 4 and DNET stopped working... Now I'm using either Kermit (unbelievably slow at 9600 bps) or Dos2Dos. Markku Kolkka mk59200@tut.fi ================================== From: Kevan Gelling <ekg@uk.ac.warwick.cs> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 89 19:47:40 GMT Subject: Re: Loading files onto your Amiga I transfer my files from UNIX to PC via Kermit (in binary mode) onto 5.25" disks. I then send these disks from home where a friend puts them on 3.5" MSDOS disks. These are sent back and using a program on Fish Disk 158 I transfer these to AmigaDOS. It takes a long time, is very long winded and can often result in corrupt data files - but I can't afford a more efficient way (anyway it would remove all the fun :-). The PC Kermit I use is VERY slow and the MSDOS to AmigaDOS program only copies one program at a time and then calls it 'MS DOS.file'. Also copying it to a MSDOS disk means the file names have to be reduced to <8chars>.<3chars> in length. It would be a lot easy to use a modem. -----------+--------------------------------------+-------------------------- // | Kevan Gelling ekg@cs.warwick.ac.uk | University of Warwick \\ // |--------------------------------------+ Coventry \X/ | #include <witty comment.h> | England -----------+--------------------------------------+-------------------------- ================================== [replies end] I've decided to buy Dos-2-Dos and use that, exploiting the networked PCs we've got here to bridge the gap between newsgroups and DomesDos disk. (For the benefit of non-UK people: Domesdos is a disinfectant, and as such is usually thrown down toilets -- we think it's appropriate.) Regarding the people who suggested using modems; thanks, but no -- I value my money too much to shovel it down the 'phone at BT when there's a reasonable alternative. [Dos-2-Dos is available from most reasonable software vendors who have useful Amiga programs hidden among the stacks of games. It is produced by Central Coast software in the States -- I can provide direct ordering information if it's really needed by anyone.] To everyone who mailed with suggestions: I thank you, my Amiga thanks you, and my wallet grunts disparagingly, as one might expect of a wallet. -- Frank Wales, Systems Manager, [frank@zen.co.uk<->mcvax!zen.co.uk!frank] Zengrange Ltd., Greenfield Rd., Leeds, ENGLAND, LS9 8DB. (+44) 532 489048 x217