Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!bsu-cs!cfchiesa
From: cfchiesa@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Christopher Chiesa)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Densities and their Interactions
Summary: Yes, but...
Keywords: 1050 US Doubler Enhanced Density Double Density
Message-ID: <8124@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>
Date: 7 Jul 89 12:16:03 GMT
References: <8057@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> <5531@stiatl.UUCP>
Organization: CS Dept, Ball St U, Muncie, IN, USA
Lines: 43

In response to an initial posting of mine, in article <5531@stiatl.UUCP>, 
  david@stiatl.UUCP (David Montgomery) writes:
> 
> I suggest you try finding a copy of a different DOS. [...]
> I myself am partial to SmartDOS [...] If you want something that's more 
> powerful, [get] MyDOS.  I believe the latest version is 4.3 (at least that's 
> the latest version I have).  It, along with its utilities, can do just about 
> anything you want it to do and probably some things you don't want [...].  

Well, I *have* a copy of SmartDOS, and of DOS 2.5, and of a "way back" version
of MyDOS (maybe 1.0 or something).  I can use my drives from DOS, and even from
BASIC.  But what I want to know is the inner software commands that must be
sent to, and received from, a normal 1050 drive, to implement the distinction
between "single" and "enhanced" densities.  And then, I want to know how the
installation of a US Doubler chip affects these same operations, e.g. why is it
that only SmartDOS "knows how to use" the US Doubler?  (For example, my copy of
MyDOS, and of SmartDOS, both claim that my UNenhanced 1050 is "configurable for
Double Density," but that my US-Doubler'd one is NOT.  Obviously, the software's
interpretation of the meaning of "double density" and "configurability" is
DIFFERENT from the hardware's.)

Incidentally, I've been receiving some of the preliminary information about
how DOS 2.5 tells a normal 1050 what to do -- public thanks, Ron! -- but have
yet to hear one peep about the US Doubler effects...  (Thanks in advance, Ron,
if THAT is what your "next transmission" is going to include!)

 
>Good luck in your 
> search.
> 				       David Montgomery
> 				       Sales Technologies Inc.
> 
> 
> -- 
> David Montgomery                                          gatech!stiatl!david
> Sales Technologies, Inc
> 3399 Peachtree Rd, NE
> Atlanta, GA  (404) 841-4000


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