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Larry

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Posts posted by Larry

  1. I need help with the XEP-80 in Altirra (4.10). 

     

    As I understand it, a real XEP-80 has two roms: the 2364 OS rom, and a 2764 character rom.  But Altirra evidently has the character rom fixed, so all that must be added for firmware is the OS rom.  When I try to add Mytek's OS rom, the Altirra firmware manager tells me that I need to set the type, but when I scroll through the available options, the XEP-80 isn't on the list.  What am I doing wrong? 

  2. I believe that the only (side 1) difference you would find is that the format interleve (skew) could be different resulting in slower reading of some disks.  Same issue that I mentioned above.  But, yes, they will read and write to each other.  The XF551 is a better drive, but the 1050 is more versatile (with mods like the Happy, Super Archiver, etc.) 

     

    I've never been a fan of DSDD disks from the XF551.  And for the same reason, ditto for 130K Enhanced Density.  The "lowest common denominator" is SSSD 5-1/4".  Oh, and without special hardware, you can't format the back side of a disk, since the XF uses the timing hole to format.  I believe (but not sure) that on some XF551's, you cannot even write to the back side on a "flippy."  And one more advantage for the XF is that it has a better data separator, so some disks that just can't be read with a 1050 can be read with an XF.

  3. As can be seen in the (previous) Drive Configuration Page, after I got past the first large partition, I allocated 1000 sectors to the 720-sector drives for easy math.  BITD with small drives, I wouldn't have been so wasteful.  With the Floppy Board attached, it really is a beast, but I've 99% moved on to ATR's, so I will likely not use the FBs anymore. 

  4. From memory:  There are a couple of vectors that need to be changed to get 800 programs to boot/run on an XL.  This doesn't cure all programs, but will fix many.  I have used these before, and have the info written somewhere, but I can't find it.  Does anyone remember these?  I'm pretty sure this info is in Mapping, but can't locate it.

     

     

  5. It is a bit like apples and oranges, but I have spent some time exploring the features of the Black Box and comparing those to the Ultra Speed Plus OS.  Here's what you get, and what you are missing.

     

    Black Box

    Typically A user-selected single OS (usually the XL/XE OS).  So you have no easily switchable OS selection.  But you can have a multi-OS eprom board like the RamRod XL or a 4-in-1 using switches and a 27512 eprom.  My everyday Atari computer is a 600XL with an Antonia 4MB, so that is another way to get multi-OS.  I don't remember if the BB is compatible with the Ultimate 1MB.

     

    Easily swappable drives from the BB drive configuration menu.

     

    96 partition selections chosen from the BB menu.

     

    High-speed (3X) SIO

     

    No special 720-sector ramdisk (as with the US+), but you can set up 720 (or 1040) sector partitions on your hard disk or compact flash card in single or double density.  I've used ACARD SCSI to IDE converters, but now I use an "Aztec Monster" which includes a built-in CF adapter.  It also works with SD card adapters.  (Attached is a screen shot of the Drive Configuration page showing two 720-sector drives.)

     

    You also get RS-232 and a printer interface + optional print buffer, but I haven't used those in many years.

     

    You can also add the Floppy Board and get even more flexibility.

     

    Now, what you are missing from the US+ OS.

     

    Keyboard lock

    Screen DMA toggle

    Key click toggle

    Internal Basic toggle

    Key repeat selection

    Adjustable screen colors

    Cold start without memory loss

    Built-in mini sector copier

    Built-in configuration editor

    38/40 column switchable

    Fast Math package

    Better memory test

     

    Many of these are just a POKE to the XL/XE OS.  If I had to choose, I'd pick the Black Box, but the US+ is a really nice product, too, and well worth having.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Black Box Drive Config Page.jpg

    • Like 1
  6. I spent a couple of hours today working with the US+ and the Freezer.  I cannot get the Freezer to work with the US+ module.  That includes the regular XL/XE OS contained in the module.  Pressing the Freezer button locks up the system.  The computer is a 320K XE and the US+ is a V1.5.  I tried with other computers (no US+), and the Freezer works perfectly.  So my conclusion is they are incompatible.  ☹️

  7. 3 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said:

    APE displays them as well. a step further and Imagic lets you do a numbers of things.

    How?  When you mount the ATR, it displays the title, but I don't see a way to show the contents.  I'm using 3.0.11.  Maybe in a newer release?

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