bobotech Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Most of the 8bit faqs talk about the common 810/1050 drives but don't have a lot of info on the other aftermarket drives. What other drives were made for the Atari 8bit. I know of the Indus GT but what else? And what features did those other drives bring? I know, this question has been probably asked millions of times but I'm still curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 The FAQ should have most listed, anything missing is probably low-volume obscure European stuff. There were some peripherals and enhancements that were low volume and only sold in local markets. Then you have such things as using different mechs, esp in Atari XF drives. Most common feature, probably true double-density. Other slightly unrelated things like print port and/or buffer. Support for higher I/O speeds. Indus GT drive probably the most unusual in that with Ram expansion could run CP/M on the drive itself. Some drives came as dual drives - fairly sure some drives can perform semi-complex operations like disk dup independant of the computer, computer just initiates the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 There is an FAQ on Atarimania that lists 50+ models of Atari 8-bit drive or interfaces. This is only counting the master drives, not the slave drives for use with them. http://www.atarimania.com/faq-atari-400-800-xl-xe-what-other-floppy-disk-drives-can-i-use-with-my-atari_23.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Indus GT drive probably the most unusual in that with Ram expansion could run CP/M on the drive itself. Some drives came as dual drives - fairly sure some drives can perform semi-complex operations like disk dup independant of the computer, computer just initiates the process. I never got into the IndusGT drives, I was busy spending money on modem stuff. 1- That's pretty funky. While I had extensive setups for both a 400 & 800 I never knew about CP/M being able to be run on-board the disk circuitry itself! How'd it all work? Was it usable? Most of my CP/M dabblings was on the Apple II with WordStar. That and a homebrew S-100 which I later stripped apart for parts and used them to upgrade a DynaByte rig. 2- Could this copy copy-protected material? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 The Indus uses an onboard Z-80 CPU (Atari 810/1050 use 6507) - with the Ram upgraded it's possible to run CP/M on the drive. Although I've seen drives in action I've not seen them running CP/M. I imagine the Atari computer then becomes something of a terminal for input/display since the drive itself can only function as part of a computer. AFAIK, Indus drives don't have extraordinary copying ability out of the box. But I imagine with a Ram-upgraded drive that all sorts of things might be possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Here's a few short videos of CP/M running on my Indus. The Atari simply acts as a dumb terminal, using its keyboard and monitor. Standard Term80 - horrible colourshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez_hH03VyiMI have updated the colours to match my SDX setuphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfS_DQeP4fcCP/M WordStar 3.0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z21kW0uQOyE 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 What gorgeous looking drives they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Was cp/m on the drives an intended feature? Or a hack? Or an easter-egg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Was cp/m on the drives an intended feature? Or a hack? Or an easter-egg? I believe it was an official feature. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hunmanik Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 There is an FAQ on Atarimania that lists 50+ models of Atari 8-bit drive or interfaces. This is only counting the master drives, not the slave drives for use with them. http://www.atarimania.com/faq-atari-400-800-xl-xe-what-other-floppy-disk-drives-can-i-use-with-my-atari_23.html Atarimania's old copy of the FAQ is what, 7 years out of date now? Latest published version: http://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/atari-8-bit/faq.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobotech Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 I just can't remember which drives I have in my storage. I know I have 4 or so Indus drives and a couple of the last Atari brand model 5 1/2 inch drives but I also have a few other non-atari brand drives but just can't remember their names. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobotech Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Aha, Looked at the faq, I have a couple of those Rana 1000 drives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ripdubski Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Wow. I cant believe I never knew that even after owning 2 of them. Maybe I should have read a bit more manuals when I was younger. Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Westphal Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Ok. This is s stretch. Could you use the z80 in the IndusGT to emulate some coleco games? I know graphics and sound would take a hit. Also, What are the advantages of running cp/m on the Atari anyway? How useful could it be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Westphal Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I fixed and sold a Percom AT88SPD drive just recently. It is a well built ( TANK ) double density drive that has a built in power supply. I currently have a 1050 US Doubler and an IndusGT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) Emulation, not really. The interface between drive & Atari is SIO and way too slow to have any meaningful amount of data going between the 2. And I imagine the Z-80 probably has to be fairly involved during the IO as well which means it has less time for other things. Advantages of running CP/M - at the time there was a fair sized user base and software library predating most other home machines. Remember the C= 128 - released after ST and Amiga, one of it's selling points was the Z-80 mode and ability to run CP/M, albeit way late to the party. Not having used the drive for CP/M I can't comment a lot, but I would think the overall experience would be somewhat hamstrung compared to doing it the normal way. Still, not bad for an expenditure amount that probably wasn't too much more than a standard 1050 drive at the time (remembering you need the expanded Ram onboard). Edited January 30, 2014 by Rybags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Could the Amiga run CP/M in a meaningful way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wood_jl Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Saw this "aftermarket 810" drive from B&C on Ebay...... http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FB-C-810-DRIVE-for-ATARI-800-800XL-Tested-%2F111238878203%3F_trksid%3Dp2047675.l2557%26ssPageName%3DSTRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT%26nma%3Dtrue%26si%3DtrkBjkz50zURTuLSHABblDOXKPQ%253D%26orig_cvip%3Dtrue%26rt%3Dnc Ha, never knew of this. Would one consider this "aftermarket?" Percom, Indus, Rana, Trak, and Astra are the ones that come to mind. In the early (1980s) some BBS operators (before hard drives were common) used the Percom to control "slave drives" made of "standard" IBM mechs - or at least that's what I think I remember...back in the day when a "real" Atari drive could set you back $400-$500 for a single-density drive, they had double-density on some of the models. I only own an Indus (thanks for the post, Steven!), but have used Percom and Rana (kind of nice at the time) that belonged to others. I've never actually seen a Trak or an Astra, but they seem to bring some bucks when they pop up on Ebay! A couple of Astras (rare!!!) went on Ebay, recently. This one..... http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FAstra-2001-external-dual-floppy-disk-drive-SS-SD-DD-dual-drives-Atari-1050-%2F261337519114%3F_trksid%3Dp2047675.l2557%26ssPageName%3DSTRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT%26nma%3Dtrue%26si%3DtrkBjkz50zURTuLSHABblDOXKPQ%253D%26orig_cvip%3Dtrue%26rt%3Dnc ....went for $75 + $20 = $95 shipped, but owner claimed they "couldn't test dual-drive functionality." I suppose that means only one drive worked, as what would the trick have been? The same seller sold another "non-working" but prettier one for $56.66 + $20 = $76.66.... http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574883395&toolid=10001&campid=5336500554&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FAstra-2001-external-dual-floppy-disk-drive-SS-SD-DD-dual-drives-Atari-1050-%2F261337512837%3F_trksid%3Dp2047675.l2557%26ssPageName%3DSTRK%253AMEBIDX%253AIT%26nma%3Dtrue%26si%3DtrkBjkz50zURTuLSHABblDOXKPQ%253D%26orig_cvip%3Dtrue%26rt%3Dnc NOTE to moderators: I tried using the ['ebay']*item_number*['/ebay'] (extra ' added to keep from tripping the ['ebay'] link-recognition mechanism) for the links, but there must have been a recent change to Ebay, as instead of pulling up the SOLD auction, it says a one-liner that the item has been sold, and then presents a suggestion of something else. In this case, it's NOT RELEVANT, so I posted the direct Ebay links. As proof of concept, I'll now post the ['ebay'] ['/ebay'] method for demonstration..... The first ['ebay']['/ebay'] Astra drive is.... eBay Auction -- Item Number: 261337519114 ...and the second Asrtra is..... eBay Auction -- Item Number: 261337512837 ....in either (edit: all 3 cases) case, it [currently] brings up a $3 floppy drive cable when I click on the links. I guess the ['ebay']['/ebay] thing now only works for LIVE auctions? Who knew? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 ....in either (edit: all 3 cases) case, it [currently] brings up a $3 floppy drive cable when I click on the links. I guess the ['ebay']['/ebay] thing now only works for LIVE auctions? Who knew? I'll have to look into that, thanks. It would not surprise me at all if eBay changed the behavior. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfdbg Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Could the Amiga run CP/M in a meaningful way? Define "meaningful". There was a PC emulator for the Amiga that "worked" (albeit slow, but it was ok if you had an accelerated system). On top of that you could run CP/M. But, then again, the big question: Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobotech Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Define "meaningful". There was a PC emulator for the Amiga that "worked" (albeit slow, but it was ok if you had an accelerated system). On top of that you could run CP/M. But, then again, the big question: Why? Doesn't everyone need to run Wordstar and Dbase to be able to be productive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXG/MNX Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 So I got are (have more but in storage need to find :-) ) Floppy drives: AMDEK 3" (no 3,5" but 3" !!!) Percom (dual) 5.25" XFD602 (polish) Dual 5.25" Turbo2000 FDD 5.25" HDI (HD 3.5 floppy) Floppy controllers: KARIN PBI controller Blackbox Floppy controller add-on 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bf2k+ Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Amdek 3" - the one Atari peripheral I wish I still had! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+davidcalgary29 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I picked up three Rana 1000s off of eBay around ten years ago. They're sturdy beasts and still work flawlessly today, although they're somewhat less than pretty. My dream drive in the mid '80s was the Astra 1620. Just couldn't afford it at the time, though, and now there's really no point in getting one for my working system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bf2k+ Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I have an Astra Big D in storage which is a dual drive. IIRC, one of the 2 drives was DSDD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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