kiki@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Jack W. Wine) (04/24/91)
There is discussion in comp.sys.nsc32k about using a SCSI floppy with their systems and they are considering a group purchase. I was wondering if this newsgroup is interested with using a 2.88 MB SCSI floppy with their Atari ST systems. This information was obtained from TEAC America [(213) 726-0303]: there was a new standard implemented late last year (~Nov. '90) for 4MB ED disks, so that a disk density indicator hole would specify to a 2.88MB drive whether the insert- ed disk was of 2.88/1.44/720 formats. This new standard resulted in a new model 2.88MB drive. TEAC's model number for the drive implementing the change in optical sensor and firmware is FD-235JS-501-U. This differentiates it from the old standard drive which has model number FD-235JS-401-U. There is a programming manual for the drive and it is part number FC1-01 Soft- ware. Contact Ken Rivera at TEAC (extension 654) to order the manual. The 2.88MB drive has these specs: 2 heads, 80 cylinders, 36 sector/track, 300 rpm rotation, 135 tracks/inch, 90 KB/s formatted transfer rate (four times faster than 720K drives). The drive is downward compatible with 1.44MB/720KB disks. The suggested list price for the TEAC 2.88MB SCSI floppy is $285 and for their 1.44MB SCSI floppy, $230. Two distributors for the TEAC drive are in California: Western Micro (619) 453-8430 J.D. Hannam (714) 632-3458 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some benefits for Atari ST/TT owners would be four times storage and speed, without modifying your floppy controller. It would also be fun to inexpensive- ly experiment with SCSI. The drawbacks are that a special driver has to be written for the drive and a SCSI adaptor is required. This info is posted to gauge how many people would be interested in either the 2.88 or 1.44MB SCSI floppy. If emailing a reply to me, please specify these things: a) prefer 2.88MB or 1.44MB SCSI floppy b) max. price you would pay for either drive c) willing to write a driver to interface it with the Atari ST/TT d) willing to handle a group purchase [others may pay a handling fee] person should be in the Southern California area. e) any comments [this is bad idea, other preferred brands, etc.] I'll post a summary in about 7-10 days. Thanks, Jack