[Coco] Re: CoCo needs?

[Jim Cox]

Mark:

Thanks for the info. on the LS-120, I sort of remember you 
saying something about it a while back, but I have only 
been glossing over messages due to my work schedule.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the LS 120 is only 
compatable with 3.5" drives and not the older 360K 5.25" 
drives.  If I am missing something here, could you please 
clarify?

 From what I understand about the DriveWire (have not read 
the docs all the way through yet -> work!) it requires 
that the CoCo have a drive controller in the cartrage 
slot.  Since controllers are hard to get, this makes the 
use of the Drive Wire impractical for those with out 
controllers.  What is it exactly that the Drive Wire 
requires from the controller, and is it possible this 
could be replaced by something else that could cost less?

Couldn't the controller be replaced by a cartrage with 
just the boot PROM so the CoCo could access the server 
(PC) Since HDOS is compatable with most of the non 
OS-9/NitrOS stuff out there, that should be the primary 
PROM on the cartrage.

I'm trying to think of low cost solutions to allow people 
to use the DriveWire so as to use it's 3.5" and 5.25" 
drives as well as HDD with the CoCo.  To be honest, if we 
lose too many people because stuff like the controllers 
are becoming rare, this community as a whole shoots it's 
self in the foot.

A cheap DriveWire/Cartrage solution for around $75.00 
might not be profitable in the short run, but when you 
consider more and more people may be using them and they 
in turn may create software to use other products, then in 
the long run, it may be very profitable.

You're looking for developers, this is one way to bring 
more into the fold.  I wish I had the technical skills 
needed to help out more, but I barely have time to power 
my CoCo up once in a while, let alone learn something 
outside of work.

Just my $0.25 :)

-Jim

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 20:33:14 -0600
  Mark Marlette <mark at cloud9tech.com> wrote:
> At 01:21 PM 3/7/2005, you wrote:
> 
> Torsten and Jim,
> 
> GREAT ideas, keep them coming.
> 
> I know I have said this before.. WE ALL READY HAVE IT!
> 
> Yes, it is in the SuperIDE, it is called a LS-120 drive. 
>They are cheap on Ebay. I buy mine in Mpls for $19 and 
>that includes one disk! The drive is an ATAPI device.
> 
> Now the problem. It needs software written for it. 
>Boisy's driver works. As I posted last week, we need 
>utilities for file transfers.
> 
> Not one person stepped up. Boisy or I could do this and 
>I just might after the SB. We both are VERY busy on CoCo 
>projects.
> 
> Just did inventory for tax purposes...Running over $10k 
>in CoCo inventory and parts....Company grew again last 
>year.
> 
> 
> In the past we use to say we didn't have the 
>hardware....Now with HDB-DOS, NitrOS-9 and our hardware, 
>we need utilities and/or nice apps to be written. The 
>tools are great today.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> > This is just my $0.02 but Bill G's email prompted me 
>>to
>> > write this.  What CoCo users need most right now is an
>> > affordable disk controller that will work with current
>> > 3.5" drives.
>>
>>I agree. Should be compatible to Tandy's "standard" Disk 
>>Extended BASIC,
>>maybe with an option for other DOS. Should be buffered 
>>and "Halt-Free"
>>on demand. I'd like to see this integrated in the Super 
>>IDE
>>controller...
>>
>>Torsten
>>
>>
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> 
> 
> 
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