Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!udel!mmdf
From: PYC118@uriacc.uri.edu (FO Q)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Piracy, HW copiers and other issues.
Message-ID: <45625@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 24 Feb 91 02:24:27 GMT
Sender: mmdf@ee.udel.edu
Lines: 47

Due to several personal inquiries concerning hardware copiers I think a
comparison of the two most popular such copiers will be of interest.

Currently, the two hardware copiers available are the Supercard ($75-100
Utilities Unlimited) and the Syncro Express (Coast to Coast, $70).
Although I personally own a Supercard a good friend of mine owns a Syncro
and therefore I an able to more or less compare the two.

The Supercard is a small thingamajig that plugs between the disk drive and
the computer's drive port. It has a disable switch in case it isn't as
transparent as you'd like it to be although I've never needed to use it.
The AmigaWorld ads claim it to be 100% succesful in copying any ANY 3.5"
media regardless of format. Well, not really. I was impressed that it would
make a Mac-recognizable copy right off of DF0: but, alas, Word wouldn't load
completely and it caused an SE into an irrecoverable crash. Still, no matter
for to me it is only of importance whether it can copy Amiga disks (Although
the claim of universal success is untrue right off the bat). Anyway, the
Supercard copies just about all Amiga software. There are parameters for copy-
ing especially difficult titles too, although sometimes these parameters were
unsuccessful in copying games for which that very parameter was expressly
written. In conclusion, I would say it copies about 85% of the titles out
with varying degrees of difficulty and speed (most copies take 5 minutes, NOT
60 seconds as the ads imply). Specifically, it has an exceedingly hard time
copying any ReadySoft titles (Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, etc.) and UbiSoft
ones too. But everything else copies eventually. Finally, there are fairly
inexpensive updates that come out regularly to deal with new copy protection
schemes.

The Syncro Express is much like the Supercard in concept. Except that there
are no parameters and apparently no updates. However, the Syncro is marginally
better at copying compared to the Supercard (Plus it's cheaper!). It is also
much faster with the average copy taking around a minute and a half or so.

I would recomend buying the Syncro in light of this but I must say that neither
one copies everything. ReadySoft titles are impossible to copy (or nearly so)
unless you have high density disks. And there are some games that just plain
neither will copy as well as ones that will copy under one but not the other.


Ok here comes the necessary disclaimer: I'm not a pirate and I discourage
any net pirates from approaching me concerning pirate copies of my software.
Likewise, any self-righteous preachers out there should know I'll most cheer-
fully ignore any moralizing and/or chastisement.

I will however gladly answer any further questions people have concerning
these copiers. Thanx folx,
Rasiel