Date   : Wed, 09 Jan 1991 10:19:35 PST
From   : rzh@icf.llnl.gov (R. Hanscom)
Subject: Osborne1 to Kaypro 2X

In <4615@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US> tcs@sactoh0.SAC.CA.US (Ted C. Smith) writes:

>Rhonda Gaines writes:
>
>> I have recently acquired dbaseII for the osborne 1 and don't know
>> how to use it on my kaypro 2x.  When I put the disk in it says it
>> can't read my diskette.  Any ideas on how to convert these osborne
>> disks to kaypro so I can use them?

>Well, there are a couple of programs around that can handle this.
>I use Media Master by Spectre Technologies (22458 Ventura Blvd.,
>Suite E, Woodland Hills, CA 91364; phone 818-716-1655).  Uniform is
>another program that should be able to do the trick -- I think you
>can get it from FOG.  And, a more circuitous route would be to use
>a shareware package like 22NICE which permits IBM-compatibles to
>emulate an Osborne or Kaypro disk drive (I've used it to move
>SuperCalc files from my old Ozzy to my new 386 machine).
 
I have said this before (tired of hearing it??), but be very careful
about software like MediaMaster before putting big bucks into it.  I
was fooled by their documentation and impressive list of "formats
handled".  It (apparently) works fine with a format like Kaypro's
DSDD, that is quite common.  I can tell you, from personal experience,
that it will NOT read these Ozzy diskettes, if they are single density,
on a vanilla PC clone unless you have a specialized controller/drives.
It has problems with single density diskettes (early Osbournes used SD).
There are other formats that they advertise, that will not work (Cromemco
DSDD is a notable example).  Try before you buy.  Of course the same is
true for Uniform and 22NICE, but I have not had the opportunity to try
them.

Please don't respond with "I have it and love it.  It works with xxxx"
etc.  I'm glad that you like it, but if you're thinking about buying
it for reading some format that you commonly use, and you have no
direct knowledge that it works with that format -- proceed with
caution!!  Flames to /dev/null.

                 roger             icf!rzh@lll-winken.llnl.gov
                                                        rzh@phoenix.ocf.llnl.gov