Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!dxb132
From: DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Mac and Amiga floppy sizes
Message-ID: <90322.143419DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 18 Nov 90 19:34:19 GMT
References: <3242@ns-mx.uiowa.edu> <1990Nov17.200840.22422@lavaca.uh.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 22

In article <1990Nov17.200840.22422@lavaca.uh.edu>, jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J.
Eric Townsend) says:

>In article <3242@ns-mx.uiowa.edu> bheil@umaxc.weeg.uiowa.edu (Brian Heil)
>writes:
>>Can somebody explain quickly and briefly why Macs use that weird variable
>>speed deal on the floppies?

>The "Woz Machine" is proprietary Apple technology (patented as well, I
>believe) that effectively prevents people from selling Apple compatible
>drives.  Yes, I know people sell Apple compatible drives, but it took
>them awhile to ramp up and you don't save that much $$$.  You still
>can't go down to We-B-PCs and buy a 3.5" drive, however...


The floppy controller ("Integrated Woz Machine") is simply the Apple II floppy
controller on 1 chip. It is not special, it is not even good, it is not
patented, and is 100% documented in Beneath Apple ProDOS and other books.
The strange disk drives, by the way, are not made by Apple themselves and so
may be purchased (off the shelf) by anyone. However they are quite non-standard
.
-- Dan Babcock