haeb@ibmpcug.co.uk (Harry Broomhall) (10/08/90)
In article <1990Oct5.153520.1@f.adelaide.edu.au> ckloeden@f.adelaide.edu.au (Craig Kloeden) writes: > > Has anyone had any experience dealing with Apricot computers? > Specifically, transfering information between an Apricot and > "normal" IBM PCs. > > The machine we are looking at uses 3 1/2" disks that > can be read by a PC but when we write to these disks on > the PC they cannot be read properly by the Apricot. > (scrambles the directory) > > Also, just how "compatable" are Apricots? > First of all, which Apricots? I assume you are referring to the PC & Xi range. If not please say! :-) Later versions of the Bios on Apricots (I think V 2.7 and later) can read PC disks (if of the 720Kb variety). After V 3 (I think) they can also write to these disks. They cannot handle 1.44Mb disks at all. Disks which can be used on both machines can be formatted on an Apricot if the formatter is V 1.5.4 and the /i switch is used. The reason for all this is that Apricot was well in advance of using this format than IBM, and, as usual, the pioneer in any new venture may not always do things in a 'standard' manner, as the 'standard' may not exist! As for general compatability, only at the MS-DOS level. i.e. if an app only uses the MS-DOS functions, then it will work on an Apricot. If it expects BIOS or hardware compatability, then it won't work. I have no problems with MSC 5.1 and PKZIP, for example, but CodeView does not work. Please ask if the above is not clear, or you require more info. Regards, Harry. (Who has an Xi-20 at his elbow!) -- Automatic Disclaimer: The views expressed above are those of the author alone and may not represent the views of the IBM PC User Group. --