Date   : Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:09:03 +0100
From   : kortink@... (John Kortink)
Subject: Modernisations

On Thu, 2 Jan 2014 06:14:51 +0000, Paul Vernon <paul2004v@...>
wrote:

>> I've also read about a few options for floppy drive emulation, the
>> TurboMMC, GoSDC and also the HxC Floppy Emulator.
>
>You're missing out on the RetroClinic DataCentre as an option.
>http://www.retroclinic.com/acorn/datacentre/datacentre.htm
>It can emulate floppy drives and import/export to SSD and DSD from a USB
stick. It's available as an internal or external device and well worth considering.
It also has the benefit of providing HDD suport through an IDE interface too.

Translation : as an HD, it needs to use a separate physical
device, and is limited to two drives. Whereas with GoSDC,
HDs are integrated with the other formats, on the same flash
card.

It never ceases to amaze me when people describe the IDE
interface of Datacentre as an actual benefit. It must be
the false feeling that, if you get more hardware, you get
more functions.

It would take considerable time to list the benefits of
GoSDC. Needless to say, do yourself a favour, and simply
do a proper comparison on features. Then make your choice.

>> I gather that for a BBC specific device the GoSDC is perhaps the nicest
>> solution, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the HxC
>> device?
>
>While each device has its pro's and con's, I prefer the DataCentre as an
all round solution. The HxC does support BBC and Archimedes disc formats
so is serviceable as a solution.
>Andy Taylor has experience with the HxC and Acorn equipment
>http://www.retrocomputers.eu/2011/05/30/hxcfloppyemulator-software-v1-6-8-1-released/

HxC, while it is a very cool piece of hardware, will obviously
limit you to floppies only, via a much more general and less
integrated user interface.


John Kortink