Info-Atari16 Digest         Thu, 25 Apr 91       Volume 91 : Issue 230
 
Today's Topics:
                       Disk Questions (3 msgs)
                            Driver needed
                               For Sale
                          Gnustuff (2 msgs)
     HD identification (Was: Megafile 60 noisy startup/ shutdown
                 How many books come with DBMan 5.01
                             KAOS TOS 1.4
          METAFILE (Graphics) editor - Where can I get one?
                        next release of mupfel
                          Nroff for the ST?
           Okami Shell - NOT with VI, NO ARGV/xARG support!
                           Pari (68 lines)
                               ST Basic
                       TEAC SCSI floppy summary
 
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 02:15:57 GMT
From:
 arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!samsung!spool.mu.edu!mips!wrdis01!emor
 y!ogicse!unmvax!nmt.edu!eahsnsr@arizona.edu (Eric A. Hobbs)
Subject: Disk Questions
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Is it advisable to use Twister format with a 10 sec/track disk?
Has anyone had any problems?
 
Also, what is the correct RPM for a SS/DD disk drive? Can you adjust it
easily?
 
I have been having bad sector problems with my disks (And I use good
quality disks, too.).
 
 
 
-------------
Eric A. HOBBS!
eahsnsr@jupiter.nmt.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 05:08:35 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!wrdis01!gatech!prism!mailer.cc.fsu.edu
 !nu!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Subject: Disk Questions
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <1991Apr25.021557.28026@nmt.edu>, eahsnsr@nmt.edu (Eric A. Hobbs)
 writes:
>
>Is it advisable to use Twister format with a 10 sec/track disk?
>Has anyone had any problems?
>
 
I use 82 track, 10 sec/track, twisted (as offered by Universal Item Selector
and Neodesk 3.0) for all floppies.  Never had a problem.  I have a
DC utility (MAXTRAK I think), which tests your particular drive to see
what the maximum format you can use is.  I will put it on atari.archive if
it is not there already.  Remember, different drives can do different things,
and Atari only guarentees 80/9 formatting.  Just because I have no problems
does not mean you will not.
 
>Also, what is the correct RPM for a SS/DD disk drive? Can you adjust it
>easily?
 
300rpm, + or - 5.
 
>
>I have been having bad sector problems with my disks (And I use good
>quality disks, too.).
>
 
There are two common causes that I am familiar with.
 
  1.  You are using too "large" a format, as described above.  This DC
      utility should tell you if that is it.
 
  2.  Do you clean your drive heads?  Suprisingly, if the answer is yes
      that may be the problem.  3.5" drives are fairly enclosed, as are
      the disks, and therefore require cleaning much less regularly that
      the old 5.25" drives (I have never cleaned mine, in 2 years).  Also,
      the drive head is more sensitive (due to it's increased precision).
      What happens is that folks that used to clean their 5.25" devices
      all the time purchase a "cleaning diskette" for their 3.5" drives
      because they feel it necessary.  If this cleaning disk is of the
      fibrus type, it can slowly abrade and score the drive head cover
      (made of clear plastic) until errors start to occur.  I was told to
      never use such a cleaning device in a modern 3.5" drive.  A q-tip
      and some alcohol every few thousand hours is all that is needed
      (and I don't even do that :-).
 
>-------------
>Eric A. HOBBS!
>eahsnsr@jupiter.nmt.edu
 
 
--
    ---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
             Mickey R. Boyd          |  "Kirk to Enterprise.  All clear
          FSU Computer Science       |      down here.  Beam down
        Technical Support Group      |      yeoman Rand and a six-pack . ."
      email:  boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu  |
    ---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 05:40:43 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!jarthur!petunia!csuchico.edu!ekrimen@arizona.e
 du (Ed Krimen)
Subject: Disk Questions
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <1991Apr25.021557.28026@nmt.edu> eahsnsr@nmt.edu (Eric A. Hobbs)
 writes:
>
>Is it advisable to use Twister format with a 10 sec/track disk?
>Has anyone had any problems?
>
 
I've been using 82 tracks/10 sectors twisted for the three years I've owned
an ST.  Haven't had any problems.
 
DCMAXTRK, a PD utility by DoubleClick to determine the maximum number of
tracks your drive can read and write to, says that I can go to 84 on my
ST.  Anyone know if it would be safe to go to 83 tracks/10 sectors twisted
with this drive?  I am also aware these disks may not work on another drive.
 
 
>Also, what is the correct RPM for a SS/DD disk drive? Can you adjust it
>easily?
>
 
I think SS and DS disks both go at 300rpm.  To adjust it, I've heard that
there's a small pot you can rotate.
 
 
>I have been having bad sector problems with my disks (And I use good
>quality disks, too.).
>
 
When I first got my ST, I bought Sonys and Maxells.  Now, I only buy
generic disks from MEI.
 
 
--
         Ed Krimen  ...............................................
   |||   Video Production Major, California State University, Chico
   |||   INTERNET: ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu  FREENET: al661
  / | \  SysOp, Fuji BBS: 916-894-1261        FIDONET: 1:119/4.0
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 01:55:09 GMT
From:
 arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!aunro!er
 sys!ggranger@arizona.edu (Greg Granger)
Subject: Driver needed
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
I am posting this msg for a friend of mine.  He has asked me if anybody
has a driver for a Korg M1 to work with Music Studio for the Atari ST
(since this is a X-post into r.a.s).  Any help would be greatly
appreciated, as he is very desperate to find a driver for his M1.  I may
need it in time, as I know of somebody that has one.
 
Greg Granger
 
| INet:  ersys!ggranger@nro.cs.athabascau.ca           |
| Fnet:  Greg Granger (Node 532) Dark Knight (Node 595)|
| Post:  5906-188 Street  Edmonton, AB  Canada T6M-2A9 |
| Tele:  +1 403 481-0803  OR  +1 403 481-5110          |
 
Greg Granger             ersys!ggranger@nro.cs.athabascau.ca
Edmonton Remote Systems:  Serving Northern Alberta since 1982
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 05:44:05 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!rpi!uupsi!njin!njitgw.njit.edu!tesla.njit.edu!
 fer9483@arizona.edu
Subject: For Sale
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
For Sale:
----------------------------------------------
Atari 520 ST w/DS (external) drive.
Atari Color Monitor
Atari sh204 20 meg hard drive
 
Price: $550
 
Leave EMAIL, I don't read this newsgroup.  If you like, make an offer.
It's not my system, its a friends so I will relay the offers to him.
 
ALso 2 books:
 
Atari St Internals : $5
Atari St:TOS       : $5
 
Thanks,
 
Frank
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 04:30:44 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!sdd.hp.com!think.com!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!thunder
 .mcrcim.mcgill.edu!quiche!davidd@arizona.edu (David D'ANDREA)
Subject: Gnustuff
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
        I was looking for the gcc compiler that some people had mentioned,
and I noticed that there was piles of stuff in the "gnustuff" directory at
atari archive.  Is there any file giving a summary of all the gnu files
available, or will I have to guess based on keywords in the Index file?
        Actually, I would be happy if someone just mailed me a list of
files I need for the compiler to work.
        Also, as I was browsing in the gnu directory, I was pleased to find
a copy of Jove.  I downloaded it, was somewhat surprised that it had no
documentation with it, and was disappointed when I found out that it seems
to not work with large files (it gave me a "cannot create temporary file"
message, and only part of the file was there in the editor).  This happened
with two files I tried, both around 40k; it worked fine with smaller (10k
and less) files.
        Does anyone have a working copy of Jove?  Perhaps there's something
in my setup that it doesn't like (1 meg 1040 ST, Tos 1.0)?  If Jove really
is bugged, could someone suggest another good pd text editor?
 
                                        David D'Andrea
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 01:27:32 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!mips!spool.mu.edu!cs.umn.edu!simvax.labmed
 .umn.edu!davidli@arizona.edu
Subject: Gnustuff
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <1991Apr25.043044.10046@cs.mcgill.ca>, davidd@cs.mcgill.ca (David
 D'ANDREA) writes:
>
>       I was looking for the gcc compiler that some people had mentioned,
> and I noticed that there was piles of stuff in the "gnustuff" directory at
> atari archive.  Is there any file giving a summary of all the gnu files
> available, or will I have to guess based on keywords in the Index file?
>       Actually, I would be happy if someone just mailed me a list of
> files I need for the compiler to work.
 
I just spent a bit of time putting the gcc compiler on my hard drive.  I tested
it using the good old reliable 'hello.c' program.  Here are the notes I made
with regard to installation:
 
Files used:
GCC139B.LZH (current file on atari.archive has a corrupt GCC-CC1.TTP)
GCC139UP.LZH (may no longer be present, but it's where I got GCC-CC1.TTP)
MNTOLB8.ZOO (you -might- want to use it with MINT, so why not?)
MNTINC8.ZOO (ditto)
 
1. Extract all files EXCEPT 'gcc-cc1.ttp' from GCC139B.LZH (the file is
corrupted in the current version on atari.archive).  Place the files in \EXEC
and set the environmental variable GCCEXEC to point to the directory.
 
2. Extract 'gcc-cc1.ttp' from GCC139UP.LZH and place the file into \EXEC.
 
3. Extract all files from MNTOLB8.ZOO.  Place the files in \LIB and set the
environmental variable GNULIB to point to the directory.
 
4. Extract all files from MNTINC8.ZOO (including subdirectories!).  Place the
files in \INCLUDE and set the environmental variable GNUINC to point to the
directory.
 
Add the following aliases to your CLI's autoexec file.  The following lines
come from a slightly modified 'gnu.g' which came with my release of the
Gulam shell.  Check your CLI docs for differences in how environmental
variables, etc. are set!
 
gnu.g
----- cut here ------
unalias cc
unsetenv TEMP
#
# set up commands for gcc and gas
#
alias cpp d:\exec\gcc-cpp
setenv cpp d:\exec\gcc-cpp.ttp
alias cc1 d:\exec\gcc-cc1
setenv cc1 d:\exec\gcc-cc1.ttp
alias gas d:\exec\gcc-as
setenv gas d:\exec\gcc-as.ttp
alias as d:\exec\gcc-as
setenv as d:\exec\gcc-as.ttp
alias link d:\exec\link
setenv link d:\exec\link.ttp
alias ar d:\exec\gcc-ar
setenv ar d:\exec\gcc-ar.ttp
alias ld d:\exec\gcc-ld
setenv ld d:\exec\gcc-ld.ttp
alias gcc d:\exec\gcc
setenv gcc d:\exec\gcc.ttp
#
alias cc d:\exec\gcc
setenv cc d:\exec\gcc.ttp
alias xcc d:\exec\gcc -Bd:\exec\x
setenv xcc d:\exec\gcc.ttp -Bd:\exec\x
#
alias make d:\util\xmake.ttp
setenv make d:\util\xmake.ttp
#
# bison...
#
alias bison d:\bison\bison.ttp
setenv bison d:\bison\bison.ttp
setenv BISON_SIMPLE d:\bison\bison.sim
setenv BISON_HAIRY d:\bison\bison.hai
#
#
# nm
#
alias nm d:\util\nm.ttp
#
# Flex
#
alias flex d:\flex\flex.ttp
setenv flex d:\flex\flex.ttp
setenv FLEX_DEF d:\flex\flexdef.skl
setenv FLEX_FAST d:\flex\flexfast.skl
#
# General
#
setenv GNULIB d:\lib
setenv GCCEXEC d:\exec\gcc-
setenv GNUINC d:\include
setenv TEMP g:
------ cut here --------
 
OTHER FILES YOU MIGHT WANT/NEED:
 
FLEX.ZOO - lexical analyzer
BISON.ZOO (where is this on atari.archive?!?)
DOCUMENTATION.ZOO - some nice-to-have documents in TeX format
DIFF115.LZH - can handle binary files as well as ASCII files
RCS5AP1B.LZH and RCS5AP1M.LZH - Revision Control System
GULAM.ARC - one of many CLIs which will work with gcc
 
Like I said, I successfully compiled a program using the above procedure (and I
didn't have bison or flex or the documentation or RCS or diff...) so it is the
minimum you need to do to get going.
 
If anyone has corrections, additions, suggestions about these directions,
please send me e-mail so I can incorporate them into the next 'welcome to
comp.sys.atari.st' ... I'll be working on minimal TeX / LaTeX instructions
next.
 
--
 
David Paschall-Zimbel           davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 04:11:10 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!wats
 erv1!watmath!ljdickey@arizona.edu (L.J.Dickey)
Subject: HD identification (Was: Megafile 60 noisy startup/ shutdown
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <1991Apr22.153323.16506@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
 csbrod@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de (Claus Brod) writes:
>
>If the drive used in your MF60 is a Seagate ST277R, you don't need
>the ship program anymore. The ST238R used in the Megafile 30 doesn't
>autopark. You can find out the exact type of the drive used by
>looking at the back of the Megafile 30 which should bear a label
>with 'SEA6065' or something like that if it is a Seagate drive.
 
You can also use the program "ratehd.prg".  This is supplied by
the folks at ICD, and may be obtained at "atari.archive.umich.edu".
 
--
Prof L.J. Dickey, Faculty of Mathematics, U of Waterloo, Canada N2L 3G1
        Internet:       ljdickey@watmath.waterloo.edu
        UUCP:           ljdickey@watmath.UUCP   ..!uunet!watmath!ljdickey
        X.400:          ljdickey@watmath.UWaterloo.ca
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 02:25:27 GMT
From:
 arizona.edu!cerritos.edu!nic.csu.net!usc!samsung!umich!vela!swood@arizona.edu (
 EVENSONG)
Subject: How many books come with DBMan 5.01
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Just got a used version of DBMan, and I have this feeling that I am missing
something.  Or are the books actually that vague on the subject of programming?
 
I got two books.  Reference manual, and Supplemental Manual for TOS
 
swood
 
--
 ---- Insert favorite .signature here ----      | swood@argo.acs.oakland.edu
                                                | swood@vela.acs.oakland.edu
Bitnet:         swood@Oakland                   | swood@unix.secs.oakland.edu
  UUCP:         ...!uunet!umich!{vela, argo, unix, nucleus}!swood
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 12:07:10 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!apple!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!ysub!psuvm!dbn
 gmd13!dmswwu1c!onm07@arizona.edu (Julian F. Reschke)
Subject: KAOS TOS 1.4
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
First of all: who said that KAOS 1.4.2 is so much better than TOS 1.04?
 
BTW: KAOS 1.4.2 is copyrighted and costs 69.- DM. Besides, it needs the
original GERMAN TOS 1.04 ROM set to produce the EPROM files.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 07:40:58 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!brolga!uqcspe!cs.uq.oz.au!warwick@uunet.uu.net (Warwick
 Allison)
Subject: METAFILE (Graphics) editor - Where can I get one?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
I am after a Metafile editor, or any info about the file format.  Why?
Because Page Stream can import Metafiles, and I'm hoping this will allow
for outline graphics within Page Stream (which supports such graphics,
but not real well).
 
If someone can tell me more about Metafiles (I have NO IDEA at all!), then
I'd gladly write up a little editor.
 
Anyone?
Warwick.
--
  _-_|\       warwick@cs.uq.oz.au
 /     *  <-- Computer Science Department,
 \_.-._/      University of Queensland,
      v       Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 91 09:53 N
From: <MFAGKCHR%HMARL5.BITNET@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: next release of mupfel
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Craig Fisher asked:
 
>Anyone else out there suffering from file-completion-withdrawal-symptoms?
 
Yes.... Actually I did try Mupfel, and decided to prefer gulam because I
kept hitting the insert button...
 
                Chris Evelo
==============================================================
Dept. of Occup. &                    Chris Evelo
Environm. Health                     MFAGKCHR@HMARL5 (BITNET)
and Toxicology.
University of Limburg                Tel: 31-43-888635
P.O. Box 616                         Fax: 31-43-436080
6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands
==============================================================
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 05:04:27 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu
 !utgpu!watserv1!watmath!ljdickey@arizona.edu (L.J.Dickey)
Subject: Nroff for the ST?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
You will find it at Atari.Archive.UMich.edu
 
--
Prof L.J. Dickey, Faculty of Mathematics, U of Waterloo, Canada N2L 3G1
        Internet:       ljdickey@watmath.waterloo.edu
        UUCP:           ljdickey@watmath.UUCP   ..!uunet!watmath!ljdickey
        X.400:          ljdickey@watmath.UWaterloo.ca
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 12:07:19 GMT
From:
 noao!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!olivea!apple!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.
 edu!ysub!psuvm!dbngmd13!dmswwu1c!onm07@arizona.edu (Julian F. Reschke)
Subject: Okami Shell - NOT with VI, NO ARGV/xARG support!
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
In article <wolfram.672495540@cip-s08>,
wolfram@cip-s08.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (Wolfram Roesler) says:
>
>warwick@cs.uq.oz.au (Warwick Allison) writes:
>
>>It seems the Okami shell, while supporting:
>[...]
>>Does NOT support ARGV and xARG parameters!
>
>>Please, would the Author of Okami add this,
>Ok, will be done in one of the future versions.
>If you have sources ready, mail me, this could speed things up.
>CU
>Okami-san
 
The ARGV-documentation has been posted many times here, and you can find it
in the GEMINI distribution.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 06:52:39 GMT
From: sdfvm1.vnet.ibm.com!cae@ucbvax.berkeley.edu ("Cornelius Caesar")
Subject: Pari (68 lines)
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
References: <DENNIS.91Apr23124014@carol.math.binghamton.edu>
    <1991Apr24.021129.3728@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>
 
dennis@carol.math.binghamton.edu (dennis pixton) writes:
> Has the number theory package Pari been ported to the ST?
 
Here is the (shortened) output from the 'archie' mail server about pari.
(I did this search just before reading your message!) pari-st.zoo leads
to the impression of it been ported, doesn't it? I haven't checked it.
 
   Cornelius                                     cae@sdfvm1.vnet.ibm.com
 
----------- cut here ---------------
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 91 06:06:39 EDT
From: archie@cs.mcgill.ca
 
Subject: archie reply: prog pari-
 
Mail-only users may access anonymous ftp by mail
through an ftp-mail server. Send the word 'help'
in a message to
                bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu
                                or
                ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com
for information on how to use it.
 
 
Search request for 'pari-'
 
Host aixpsb.rrz.uni-koeln.de   (134.95.128.215)
Last updated 21:28 29 Mar 1991
    Location: /programming
      FILE      rw-r--r--    620209  Mar 15 21:13   pari-1.35a.tar.Z
 
Host forwiss.uni-passau.de   (132.231.1.10)
Last updated 17:02  2 Apr 1991
    Location: /pub/atari/sbsvax/gcc/Libraries
      FILE      rw-r--r--      4076  Dec 25 17:38   pari-1.34.tar.lst
      FILE      rw-r--r--      1005  Dec 25 17:34   pari-1-34-doc.lst
      FILE      rw-r--r--    100514  Dec 25 17:35   pari-1-34-doc.zoo
      FILE      rw-r--r--    483257  Dec 25 17:38   pari-1.34.tar.Z
      FILE      rw-r--r--      9073  Dec 25 17:38   pari-st.zoo
      FILE      rw-r--r--       367  Dec 25 17:38   pari-st.lst
 
Host math.ucla.edu   (128.97.64.16)
Last updated 05:01  6 Apr 1991
    Location: /pub/pari
      FILE      r--r--r--    620209  Mar 12 08:56   pari-1.35a.tar.Z
      FILE      r--r--r--      2060  Oct 23 13:45   pari-mac.README
      FILE      r--r--r--     19664  Mar 12 08:56   pari-NeXT.tar.Z
      FILE      r--r--r--    683969  Oct 23 13:44   pari-1.34.cpt.hqx
 
Host nuri.inria.fr   (128.93.1.26)
Last updated 05:23  9 Apr 1991
    Location: /lang
      FILE      rw-rw-r--    617099  Mar 26 14:35   pari-1.35b.tar.Z
 
Host uvax.rrz.uni-koeln.de   (134.95.130.211)
Last updated 09:47 30 Mar 1991
    Location: /pub/programming
      FILE      rw-rw-r--    483257  Nov  6 21:37   pari-1.34.tar.Z
 
Host vax.ph-cip.uni-koeln.de   (134.95.64.1)
Last updated 05:23 21 Apr 1991
    Location: /atari/math_stat
      FILE      rw-rw-r--    100462  Oct 15  1990   pari-gp-man.zoo
    Location: /atari/gnu/cs.uni-sb.de/gcc/Libraries
      FILE      rw-rw-r--      9073  Nov  2 19:09   pari-st.zoo
----------- cut again --------------
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 06:10:15 GMT
From: noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!apple!uokmax!kllove@arizona.edu (Kenneth
 L Love)
Subject: ST Basic
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
I need an OLDER version of ST Basic than what came with my Mega 2 about two
years ago.
 
Where can I get it?  'atari.archive'?
 
Thanks,
Kenneth Love
 
PS: Please use e-mail for replies.
 
------------------------------
 
Date: 25 Apr 91 07:48:20 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!uhccux!uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu@uunet.uu.net (Jack W. Wine)
Subject: TEAC SCSI floppy summary
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
 
Thanks very much for all the comments and suggestions.  This summary is posted
now because there are questions about the ASCI/SCSI protocols and TOS and
Amiga OS that would be better handled by this newsgroup.
 
Some people may be happy with the following price schedule obtained from a
TEAC distributor in Anaheim, CA, J.D. Hannam [(714) 632-3458]:
 
          --------------------------------------------------
                   | 2.88MB 3.5" SCSI  | 1.44MB 3.5" SCSI
          quantity |  (FD-235JS-501)   |    (FD-235HS)
          --------------------------------------------------
             1          $192                 $157
             2-10       $185                 $151
             50         $180                 $147
             100        $176                 $144
          --------------------------------------------------
 
The single quantity prices are low enough so that a group purchase is not
necessary.  The salesperson, Tim, at J.D. Hannam, also said that they have
only about 10 drives in stock and another shipment is expected in the third
week of May.  They also have a pickup window, so you can fetch your drive
immediately.
 
Price quotes from Western Micro [(619) 453-8430] are about $30 higher in all
categories.  There is an East Coast TEAC distributor, Krystal, with phone
number (212) 385-1900.
 
Most people might want to wait until some interfacing problems are resolved.
The following things are required to operate the SCSI floppies:
 
        1) SCSI adaptor (ICD is popular and 
        2) SCSI floppy driver and formatting software (NOT YET AVAILABLE)
 
A powered case and SCSI cable are also required, although many people want
to install the drive internally in a ST or PC tower case and use it as their
"A" (but actually "C") drive, if possible.
 
Hopefully, anyone knowledgeable about the ST TOS and ASCI-SCSI protocols will
offer us help.  The basic question is whether anyone is willing to write the
driver and formatter programs.  Another concerns the procedure TOS performs
at bootup.  Will TOS interrogate the SCSI floppy and obtain its parameters?
If so, then will it be able to boot up as a "C" drive with a formatted disk?
Is a driver program needed at all, if the previous two questions are af-
firmative?
 
Regarding the practicality of a 2.88MB drive:
It seems that people have widely differing opinions on the SCSI floppies and
the reactions range from "great" to one in the followup post: "crazy." :D
Comparisons were often made between other drives with removeable media, such
as the Syquest and the expected Insite Floptical, both of which are faster
and have higher storage.  The Syquest (
with reliability as well as costlier disks (
not be in full production until August (although Arrow Electronics is plan-
ning to sell the bare drive in June for $490, as well as an evaluation kit
which includes a drive, single disk, utility software, OEM and programmer's
manual, and mounting hardware for $685).  The floptical disks, which hold
about 21MB of data, will supposedly sell in the range of $20-25.
 
The range of reactions seem to stem from the fact that the 2.88MB floppy is
an interim technology, so that people with fast, hard drives will see it one
way, while people using 720K or low capacity hard drives will appreciate it
more.
 
For people who prefer other manufacturers (Sony and Toshiba have indicated
that they do not make embedded-SCSI floppies):
 
Chinon     (213) 533-0274
Citizen    (213) 453-0614
Epson      (213) 534-4500
Mitsubishi (213) 515-3993
Panasonic  (408) 262-2200
Sony       (408) 432-0190
Toshiba    (714) 583-3000
YE Data    (404) 446-8655
 
The following is a list of 4MB ED (Extra-high Density) disk distributors:
 
Azerty      800 888-8080
Digi. Stor. 800 232-DISK
Intec       (317) 290-0500
Neamco      800 225-2478
 
Thanks again to everyone for the information, which is believed to be accu-
rate, but any correction and verification is welcomed.
 
------------------------------
 
End of Info-Atari16 Digest
******************************
