Date   : Mon, 22 Mar 2004 16:57:02 +0000
From   : Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...>
Subject: Re: Quick query ...

Hi,

On Mon, 2004-03-22 at 15:08, chris.johns@... wrote:
> Acorn sold two floppy disc drives - and the discs in one wouldn't 
> work in the other!
>  
> One was a single, 40track single-sided drive (I've seen one of 
> these, it was a chunky beast - full height) 

I passed on the chance to own one of those that was found in a skip just
a couple of weeks ago in fact... I can't decide if I should have taken
it or not now!

> and the other was a dual, 80track double-sided drive (offering 
> a massive 800k of storage) - I believe this dual drive would 
> have set you back the best part of a grand when it came out. I 
> presume the 40t drive was offered as a cheaper option.

I did get one of these however. One unit is stacked on top of the other,
essentially in two seperate moulded plastic cases bolted together.

> I don't believe the 80 track drive was switchable to 40 track 
> either.

Nope, it isn't. That would have been just too useful :-)

I suppose other firms got in there with cheaper drives and Acorn just
bailed from offering their own units. Mine's dated late 1984.

The sticker on the back gives the impression that they offered both 40
and 80 track drives, single and double sided, in the same casing.

cheers

Jules