Apple Floppy Drives (was: More Apple Pimpers)

From: Eric Chomko <vze2wsvr_at_verizon.net>
Date: Thu Nov 8 21:36:04 2001

Don Maslin wrote:

> On Thu, 8 Nov 2001, Eric Chomko wrote:
>
> > Don Maslin wrote:
> >
> > > On Wed, 7 Nov 2001, Eric Chomko wrote:
> > >
> > > > Allison wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > General comment,
> > > > >
> > > > > Most 8" systems were expected be and behaved reliably and have
> > > > > at least 250k of space.
> > > > >
> > > > > Most 5.25" systems could be reliable but, often weren't. I'll restrict
> > > > > comments to 5.25" for the later reason.
> > > > >
> > > > > Most of the complaints I've had with disk systems be they Apple or not
> > > > > were often in this order.
> > > > >
> > > > > 1- Drives (SA400 was pure garbage!!!)
> > > >
> > > > Whoa! I bought my Smoke Signal Broadcasting disk system back in 1978
> > > > with two SA400 drives. I added a third drive in the late 80s. To this day
> > > > all three drives work great. I did switch drives 0 and 2 to allow the most
> > > > used drive to get less use and the newest drive to become the main drive.
> > > > But, I'd hardly call a disk drive "pure garbage" that has lasted for 12 and
> > > > 23 years! And that is in lieu of the fact that they had a 5 year life
> > > > expectency.
> > > >
> > > > my 2 cents...
> > >
> > > And worth every penny of it :) But the fact is, that despite your
> > > fortunate experience, the spiral cam head positioner was probably the
> > > worst idea since the stone wheel!
> > > - don
> > >
> >
> > Good point! But doesn't that make it interesting now in 2001? I mean the slide
> > rule
> > compared to the electronic caluclator makes the slide rule seem like a lousy design.
> >
> > Aren't slide rules interesting today.
> >
> > Did an alternative exist, in 1974, to the spiral cam head positioner?
> >
> > Eric
> >
>
> Certainly! Both the lead screw and the capstan/split-band positioners
> were available.

Yes, I got those from earlier posts. Cost differntial?

Eric

>
> - don
Received on Thu Nov 08 2001 - 21:36:04 GMT