Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!uunet!mcvax!ukc!reading!cf-cm!cybaswan!iiit-sh From: iiit-sh@cybaswan.UUCP (Steve Hosgood) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: 1.2meg/360k compatibility question Summary: Yes there is a dual 360K/1.2M drive - I have one Message-ID: <570@cybaswan.UUCP> Date: 21 Jul 89 10:32:33 GMT References: <2250@astroatc.UUCP> <15072@ut-emx.UUCP> <597@philmtl.philips.ca> <11079@ibmpcug.UUCP> Reply-To: iiit-sh@cybaswan.UUCP (Steve Hosgood) Organization: Institute for Industrial Information Technology Lines: 36 In article <11079@ibmpcug.UUCP> Ronald.Khoo@ibmpcug.CO.UK writes: >In article <597@philmtl.philips.ca> ray@philmtl.philips.ca (Raymond Dunn) writes: >! A diskette written at 360K density on a 1.2M drive has a track which is half >! the width of that written on a 360K drive. That is the cause of the problem. >! It could only be overcome by having a drive with two heads, one used when >! dealing with 360K diskettes, the other when dealing with 1.2M. There are no >! such drives to my knowledge. > >I actually heard some *rumour* that a new NEC (?) drive is sort-of such >beast, except that it is the same head with two different effective widths >depending on which density is selected (two windings switchable between >opposing and aiding, I guess ?) NEC here in the UK seems to be keeping their >head down about this drive, so DATA% is scarce. > >Can anyone confirm/deny this rumour? > I can - I've got one, but it's not *that* new, I've had it for about 2 years. It's an NEC FD1155C, and it works great! It was fitted as standard to the AT that the company (name below) were selling at that time, a bonus whose value I didn't realise until much later. I guess it's the split-head system, but I don't know. FYI, it came from: Comcen Technology Ltd, 45/51 Wychtree St, Morriston, Swansea SA6 8EX, UK. I have no involvement with this company - just a satisfied customer. Steve -----------------------------------------------+------------------------------ Steve Hosgood BSc, | Phone (+44) 792 295213 Image Processing and Systems Engineer, | Fax (+44) 792 295532 Institute for Industrial Information Techology,| Telex 48149 Innovation Centre, University of Wales, +------+ JANET: iiit-sh@uk.ac.swan.pyr Swansea SA2 8PP | UUCP: ..!ukc!cybaswan.UUCP!iiit-sh ----------------------------------------+------------------------------------- My views are not necessarily those of my employers!