Msg: 6243 *Conference*

01-24-96 12:44:51

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : DAN EICHER

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6212 (DISK DRIVER FOR 100)

In response to your questions...

 >   I am not sure what the difference is between a tppd and tpp2 is?

TPDD uses standard 3.5" dsdd disks, formats to 100K; one directory holds 40
filenames.  There are more of these available then the tpdd2's right now.
reads/Writes tpdd disk, only but that's not a biggie.  Comes with floppy.co, an
easy to use disk operating system (dos).  Floppy.co works like all .co files
thus may be managed like other .co files in conjunction with other programming.

Note: A nifty thing can be done with floppy.co.  After loading floppy.co into
your machine, rename it and save the renamed version to your diskettes.  By
renaming floppy.co to DOS100.CO (for 100/102) or DOS200.CO for (200) and saving
that file on disks, the Ultimate ROM II and Sardine's built in TS-DOS loaders
will load and run the renamed floppy.co as if it was the TS-DOS program.  Of
course, when the renamed floppy.co runs it is still just floppy.co.  The cool
part is that reloading floppy.co is now a snap if you also have either of those
ROMs, of course.

TPDD2 uses standard 3.5" dsdd disks, formats to 200K; two directories hold 40
filenames each.  There are fewer of these available right now.  Can read tpdd
disks as well as tpdd2 disks but can not write to a tpdd disk.  This is useful
for those with tpdd disks laying around and no tpdd, just a tpdd2.  Comes with
floppy, an easy to use disk operating system (dos).  One note about floppy vs.
floppy.co is that floppy alters system ram in such manner that some other
programs will not run, or in the worst case, the hooks are lost leaving the
existing floppy useless ... cold starting the computer is the only option.

 >   I at one time had a DVI that was pretty nice!

Yes, the DVI is nice if it still works and you've keep the disk drives
alligned.  Once it stops working your stored files may be land locked; for lack
of a better term.  Your options at that point are to fix your DVI, get another
to use to move your files to another medium, or pay me to copy .DO files to DOS
formatted disks (this is not prefect and will not work with .BA or .CO files).

The DVI works well with the built in programming but will not be compatible
with 3rd party option ROMs.  Also, the DVI cable, when broken, is almost
impossible to duplicate without an enormus effort.

Some folks swear "by" their DVI ... others swear "at" it.

 >   I do not know what these disk drives are worth these days. 

From me... tpdd @ $65, tpdd2 @ $85.  I know I have some tpdds available but am
not certain about the availability of tpdd2s (got to reassess the warehouse
again).  In either case I have only a few and must check them out before
shipping ... which I do anyway.

Good questions.  Hope this helps.  -Rick-