Date   : Mon, 22 Mar 2004 22:25:00 GMT
From   : Pete Turnbull <pete@...>
Subject: Re: Quick query ...

On Mar 22, 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) 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 don't believe the 80 track drive was switchable to 40 track either.

That's correct.  There were precisely two offerings, a single 40-track
and a dual 80.  The 80 used dual Olivetti mechs, as I recall.  I don't
remeber what the single 40 was, probably Tandon or Teac.  I do remember
Acorn gining dealers and ASCs a list of settings for other makes,
though.  As to the size, well, all drives were that size then.
 Half-height drives didn't appear until a little later.  Ditto for
40/80 switching; in fact I designed and made a little board to do the
conversion, and was still selling them in 1986.

Drives were expensive then , but Acorn's were more expensive than some.
 When Torch brought out their Z80 Disc Pack, it was the same price as
the Acorn dual 80-track unit, but used half-height drives and included
power supply, a Z80 card, and software (which was *almost* compatible
with CP/M).

-- 
Peter Turnbull
<postmaster@...                 >