18215MES@MSU.BITNET (06/29/90)
Hi Folks! Just a quick question here... A friend has an original Mac II and would like to upgrade to the FDHD superdrive... Should he just buy the FDHD upgrade kit @ $400 or so or does he also need a motherboard upgrade ? If he needs the motherboard, wouldn't it be better to get the FX upgrade? Thanks, mark Sartor, 221 Ag Hall, MSU, E. Lansing Mi. (18215mes@msu.bitnet)
brion@cbnewsh.att.com (brion.n.feinberg) (06/30/90)
From article <40918215MES@MSU>, by 18215MES@MSU.BITNET: > Hi Folks! > Just a quick question here... > A friend has an original Mac II and would like to upgrade to > the FDHD superdrive... > Should he just buy the FDHD upgrade kit @ $400 or so > or does he also need a motherboard upgrade ? > > If he needs the motherboard, wouldn't it be better to get the > FX upgrade? > Thanks, mark Sartor, 221 Ag Hall, MSU, E. Lansing Mi. (18215mes@msu.bitnet) My local dealer informed me that I can upgrade my Mac II to use a FDHD for about $600. This includes a swap of the SWIM chip (needed to drive the new floppy drive) AND a new floppy drive mechanism. Since I only have a single floppy Mac II (with an external HD), I would be able to keep the current floppy drive. But I don't think it would work as an FDHD even with the new SWIM chip. I'd love to hear if anyone has had this upgrade performed. In any case, I haven't done the upgrade yet because I am considering buying the Rappaport/Drive 2.4 product. This external floppy drive would give me the same functionality as the Apple upgrade. The cost is about the same (because you need to buy a cable for the Mac II), but an external drive is more flexible. For example, I could use it at home with my Mac Plus. My main application will be to run SoftPC, although I can't use the Mac Plus to run that at home. I'd also appreciate any information you get on these upgrades. Note that the Apple upgrade does not involve a motherboard swap. Brion #include standard_disclaimer
jordan@Morgan.COM (Jordan Hayes) (07/03/90)
Brion N. Feinberg <brion@cbnewsh.att.com> writes:
I haven't done the upgrade yet because I am considering buying
the Rappaport/Drive 2.4 product. This external floppy drive
would give me the same functionality as the Apple upgrade. The
cost is about the same (because you need to buy a cable for the
Mac II), but an external drive is more flexible.
I recently purchased the Rapport/Drave 2.4 product, and I like it very
much. It works "as advertised" and was a cinch to install, although
the hokey cable for the MacII (looks like it takes a slot, but just
takes a space for the connector) isn't made very well. I paid $395 +
$195 + $45 for it from MacAvenue, and it came with a copy of FastBackII
(older version than current, but i'm pretty sure I can get a free
upgrade).
I would reccomend this product.
/jordan