sparrow@pnet02.CTS.COM (Loren Lovhaug) (08/20/87)
>From: dave@zehntel.UUCP (Dave Funk) >Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm >Subject: 1581 drive / diskcopy >Date: 17 Aug 87 17:21:08 GMT >Organization: Zehntel, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA > > >1581 drive >---------- >I have noticed that there is a new Commodore 1581 3.5" disk drive. >Apparently, its capacity is on the order of 800K. Does anybody know >anything more about this drive? Is it a 'fast' drive (1571-like)? > >Copying disks >------------- >It seems that the 'COPY' command for the C128 will not copy from drive >to drive. In fact, the Programmer's Reference Guide claims it can't >be done (???). The 'BACKUP' command only works on a dual drive. So >what do you do if you have two single drives and want to copy all files >from one to the other? > >-- >Dave Funk ....!ucbvax!zehntel!dave >Zehntel, Inc. ....!decvax!sytek!zehntel!dave >2625 Shadelands Drive ...."zehntel!dave"@BERKELEY >Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (415) 932-6900 x309 As for the 1581, it is a fantastic little drive for power users who can't see parting with $700 for a Commodore compatible hard drive. It is basically a standard MFM format DS 3.5" disk drive with firmware that makes it think in Commodore DOS. After formatting you get 3160 blocks free. The drive has an 8K cache buffer that really makes it speedy especially on writes. The drive also supports a crude (by MS-DOS standards) but useful partitioning and subdirectory command set. Current pricing is $199-$210 mail order $229 - $245 at dealers. (keep in mind that going mail order may not be cheaper when you consider shipping and other charges. As for BACKUP and COPY, it is true that these will only function as you desire on DUAL (i.e. addressed as 0: and 1:) DRIVES, but there are literally thousands of PD programs which support whole disk and individual file copying. A great one is DISK WHIZ v1.1 by Kevin Hisel. Also there is a utility on the 1571 test/demo disk called DOS SHELL which will help you in these matters. Loren Lovhaug [gryphon!pnet02!sparrow] Twin Cities 128: North America's only C-128 specific publication