Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!microsoft!brianw
From: brianw@microsoft.UUCP (Brian WILLOUGHBY)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: 5.25 floppy disk formats
Summary: magnetic media
Message-ID: <10046@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 22 Dec 89 03:00:10 GMT
References: <8520.infoapple.net@pro-generic>
Reply-To: brianw@microsoft.UUCP (Brian WILLOUGHBY)
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 25

sb@pro-generic.cts.com (Stephen Brown) writes:
>In-Reply-To: message from ericmcg@pro-generic.cts.com
>
>I think the problem with getting a 5.25 running double density would be more
>than just the heads being too big.

To clarify, its not the size of the heads that is too big - it is the width
of the magnetic pattern written by a signle density head that is the problem.
Does anyone know if you could simply replace the head (saving the money needed
to purchase a complete DD drive) to get double density capabilities?

Modifying the Disk ][ card would also be a big headache.  The clock rate would
probably need to be doubled (this is what they do in the IWM for 3.5" drives).
Or perhaps you could just build your own Disk ][ controller with a surplus IWM
chip from Sun Remarketing, and use its proven design.

The easiest solution (except price) is to buy a SCSI floppy which can handle
both IBM and Apple formats and hook this pricey baby up to an Apple ][ SCSI
Card.

Brian Willoughby
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