Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!uunet!iconsys!caeco!i-core!pete
From: pete@i-core.UUCP (Pete Ashdown)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: reading Mac format disks on Amiga
Keywords: mac
Message-ID: <1989Oct3.210528.549@i-core.UUCP>
Date: 3 Oct 89 21:05:28 GMT
References: <4770@cps3xx.UUCP> <361@xrtll.UUCP>
Organization: Bitsko's Bar & Grill, Public Access, Salt Lake City, UT
Lines: 29

>From: mark@xrtll.UUCP (Mark Vange)
>
>In article <4770@cps3xx.UUCP>, usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:
>> Does anyone know if it is possible to read a Macintosh format disk
>> using the built-in Amiga drive?  If so, what software is available to
>> do this?  I have read about the mac-2-dos package available, but it
>> indicates that a mac drive is required.
>
>Well, it could be really tricky!  Unfortunately, the Mac uses three
>different speeds to write the disk.  These speeds vary according to the
>cylinder number that is currently being accessed.  This means that there is
>variable density information, and the width of the bit cell (the ammount of
>time that valid data is under the read head, effectively) is not readily
>understood by our hardware.
 
The A-Max manual states that its FIVE rather than three speeds that the Mac
uses.  However, they also state that the Amiga can read two of these speeds.
They include a special program that allows you to format a 272K disk on the
Mac, transfer stuff on it, then it moves the data to sections of the disk
where the Amiga can read it through A-Max.  It works rather nicely.  I WISH I
COULD GO THE OTHER WAY THOUGH!!  Grrr...



-- 
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 ( )( )     Pete Ashdown - Slack Monger Extraordinare - Amiga Evangelist