BlueDisk Universal Floppy Disk Controller Card
Copyright © ///SHH Systeme, Joachim Lange.
You may distribute this document freely as long as it remains unchanged (spelling corrections welcome)
Dipl. Ing. Joachim Lange
phone & fax Germany - 89 - 8577040
(fax 19.00 to 23.00 CET only)
Internet: jlange@tasha.muc.de
CompuServe: 73370,3106
BlueDisk Universal Floppy Disk Controller Card
============================================== BlueDisk Update (Release 1.0 Notification) ============================================== Original Release Date June '94 The Apple II _is_ alive! And we do support the Apple II! We are doing this by developing a new hardware product for the Apple II. And we will continue to support our products (Turbo IDE Card and BlueDisk, all over the world) as long as we can find a way to reach the Apple II community. First of all, I wish to say "THANK YOU" to all the folks who have been trusting in SHH Systeme and its new product called BlueDisk (do you remember when we announced our new "plain vaporware" product in late 1993? I think quite a lot of people were believing it really was vaporware) It's not quite easy to decide to buy a piece of hardware which is labelled "Beta Version!" and thus carrying a possible flavor of bugs. But I think all these early BlueDisk purchasers are still happy with their "beta" version of BlueDisk. I feel this is a legitimate statement because we didn't receive any bug reports. We only received a single problem report from Udo Huth (German Apple Users Group) since we have opened these early BlueDisk sales. He just couldn't format a disk with his new MFM floppy drive (we told you in our special offer note). This problem has been solved within a very short time. I also have so say "thanks" to the beta testers Harold Hislop and Doug Pendleton. They did a really great job as they have been testing BlueDisk thoroughly, again and again, continuously being supplied with new firmware and software. They also gave me some invaluable tips for the BlueDIsk software design. This is not the time to say goodbye to the Apple II community! -------------------------------- BlueDisk v1.0 Release is here! -------------------------------- The software and firmware now has reached a very stable state where we firmly can tell you that it's a v1.0 (final). BlueDisk will be delivered with ROM version 1.0 from now on. Also, the BlueDisk GS/OS driver now has reached version 1.0. In addition, I'm very pleased to announce a "gift" that will be included with the final 1.0 release of BlueDisk: " ... I hereby confirm that any person receiving the MSDOS Utilities as part of the software distributed with the BlueDisk interface card, automatically becomes a registered user of the MSDOS Utilities....." (quoted from the agreement between Joachim Lange and Peter Watson) Yes, indeed, we have made arrangements that YOU, the BLueDisk v1.0 purchaser, have already paid shareware fees to Peter Watson. Thus, you are a legitimate user of Peter Watson's MSDOS Utilities at no extra cost, and you will be supplied with the latest version of the tools that are currently available (v2.2 at this time). You will have the ability to fully read, write and format MS-DOS diskettes on your Apple IIGS (and a lot more). As to the BlueDisk hardware: it didn't change since the beta testers received the first boards. It's still revision "0" and we couldn't find a reason to modify any hardware details. All "beta" purchasers do have final hardware which doesn't need any upgrade. We will notify current BlueDisk owners about software/firmware upgrades in the same way they received this release note. When we introduced our vaporware, we told you that BlueDisk will be able to control a low-cost floppy tape streamer. This is still true, but we cannot tell you when the software will be ready. Writing this software is an involved, complex task and these things take time to do right. But I can tell you that it is being worked on (by a well-known backup software guru). If you ever consider buying a cheap tape drive (MS-DOS floppy type), just be sure it is fully QIC-80/QIC-117 compatible (some tape drives are not). The BlueDisk hardware is ready for operating with these drives, no modification required! So if we didn't make it clear enough, here is the summary: - You can buy BlueDisk _now_. - Final software/firmware version 1.0. - MS-DOS tools included at no extra cost. - Fully prepared for floppy tape drive operation. - Free support via the GEnie Bulletin Board and the A2 library. ///SHH Systeme, Joachim Lange Internet e-mail: JLANGE@TASHA.MUC.DE CompuServe e-mail: 73370,3106 You may distribute this document freely as long as it remains unchanged. Spelling corrections welcome.
------------------------------------------------------------------- =========================== BlueDisk Specifications =========================== Universal floppy disk controller card for use of inexpensive (standard PC type) MFM floppy disk drives with Apple II computers. Features --------- - Allows the use of one or two standard MS-DOS style floppy disk drives with Apple II computers. Current street price is US $50 for a High Density drive ($80 for an Extra Density drive). Gives you the cheapest high-capacity disk storage solution available for Apple II computers. - Fully ProDOS and GS/OS compatible, works in any slot except slot 3. - Floppy drive types can be Double Density, High Density and Extra Density, 5.25" or 3.5" in any combination. - Big storage capability for your Apple (up to 2.88meg per drive) at a very low price. - Supports capacities 360K, 720K, 800K, 1.2meg, 1.44meg, 1.6meg and 2.88meg. Four data rates and seven different disk sizes. - Allows data exchange with many other computers when using GS/OS file system translators (HFS FST--> Macintosh, MSDOS FST --> PC). - PC Transporter compatible. Also compatible with ZIP GS, ZIP Chip, Transwarp GS, Turbo IDE Card, SCSI interfaces etc. Compatible with all known expansion RAM cards. - Floppy Tape Backup 60-120 MB planned (QIC-80/QIC-117 floppy tape drives can be used, current street price is about US $120 for a 120MB streamer unit). BlueDisk is fully prepared for floppy tape drive operation. Capacities And Formats Currently Supported ------------------------------------------- PRODOS & GS/OS (including Macintosh HFS Formats): 5.25" 360 KB DD (Double Density) 5.25" 720 KB DD (Double Density) 5.25" 1.2 MB HD (High Density) 3.5" 720 KB DD (Double Density) 3.5" 800 KB DD (Double Density) 3.5" 1.44 MB HD (High Density) 3.5" 1.6 MB HD (High Density) 3.5" 2.88 MB ED (Extra Density) MS-DOS (PC Transporter & GS/OS MS-DOS FST): 5.25" 360 KB DD (Double Density) 5.25" 720 KB DD (Double Density) 5.25" 1.2 MB HD (High Density) 3.5" 720 KB DD (Double Density) 3.5" 1.44 MB HD (High Density) 3.5" 2.88 MB ED (Extra Density) Note 1: due to GS/OS system limitations (read-only), writing to MS-DOS volumes is not available. Note 2: all disk formats mentioned here are MFM recording. Applications ------------- - General high capacity storage for your ProDOS and GS/OS Applications. Archival purposes. - Hard drive backup using HD or ED floppy disks: requires less diskettes, gives you faster and more convenient backup. - Full-featured bootable system disks: high capacity diskettes allow the use of many system extensions on system disks (application programs, desk accessories, inits, drivers). Multi-disk applications can be put on a single disk. - Data transfer and data conversion: any standard MS-DOS floppy disk can be read using the GS/OS MS-DOS FST (due to GS/OS System limitations, writing to MS-DOS volumes is not possible with Apple System Software, however certain shareware utilities such as Peter Watson's MS-Tools do support writing). Any standard Macintosh HFS disk can be read, written and formatted using the GS/OS HFS FST. - PC Transporter disk drives replacement: simply forget your PCT drives! All functions but GCR (Group Code Recording) can be done with PC type drives connected to BlueDisk. You can boot MS-DOS from BlueDisk and you can use capacities up to 2.88meg with PCT. Software Included ------------------ - Firmware for the ProDOS 8 and SmartPort Protocol. Built-in formatter for PC Transporter use and general ProDOS 8 support. - GS/OS driver with GS/OS caching support. - Installer script. - Test program for checking drive installation. - ProDOS 8 formatter especially for Apple IIe users. - R/W Test program. - BlueDisk Icons. - Optional streamer support (not completed yet). - additional utilities planned. Minimum System Requirements ---------------------------- - Apple IIe enhanced or Apple IIGS - ProDOS 8 or GS/OS 5.0 and up - Standard MFM floppy disk drive for MS-DOS compatible computers. - External floppy disk drive power supply or internal Apple power supply. Hardware details ----------------- - High quality industry standard controller card - Made in Germany - Gold edge connector - High quality solder resist - Partial surface mount technology - Standard 34 pin floppy disk header connector (PC type) - Buffered bus, according to Apple's interface design guidelines - Intel controller device with built-around local direct memory access - No DMA on the Apple bus - 2KB scratch RAM - 2KB buffer RAM - 64KB firmware EPROM - Low power consumption (5V, 200mA) - Dimensions: 170mm x 69mm ///SHH Systeme Dipl. Ing. Joachim Lange Bergstrasse 95 82131 Stockdorf Germany ------------------------- Phone xx + 89 + 8577040 Internet e-mail: JLANGE@TASHA.MUC.DE CompuServe e-mail: 73370,3106 You may distribute this document freely as long as it remains unchanged. Spelling corrections welcome.
------------------------------------------------------------------- ==================================================== BlueDisk Ordering Information: Terms And Pricing ==================================================== BlueDisk package contents: -------------------------- - Interface Card (works in Apple IIe enhanced or Apple IIGS without modification). - English Manual (20 pages packed with information). - Utilities Disk containing GS/OS Driver, GS/OS Driver Installer script, Drive Installation Tester, special BlueDisk ProDOS 8 Formatter (including MSDOS FORMAT), BlueDisk Icons, R/W test program. - Special feature included with the utilities disk: MS-DOS-Tools (v2.2 or later) by Peter Watson. This is a well known utility package you can use to handle your MS-DOS files (read and write) on the Apple IIGS. You even can create MS-DOS formatted diskettes for use on a MS-DOS machine. Your BlueDisk purchase comprises shareware payment to Peter Watson. In other words: every BlueDisk owner is a legitimate user of this shareware package at no additional cost (agreement between Peter Watson and SHH Systeme, valid for BlueDisk ROM v1.0 and higher). Note 1: BlueDisk is ready for operating with a low-cost QIC-80 compatible floppy tape streamer. No hardware modifications need to be made for using a tape drive, only additional software will be required. Note 2: a cable is not included, because it doesn't make sense shipping a heavy cable by air mail, it would shift the price level for about $15 (cable plus extra shipping charges). We have chosen to offer you the lower pricing. Any low cost standard PC type floppy disk cable can be used with no problems, and you can buy it around the corner at your local PC dealer. In addition, the cable layout is described in the manual. Warranty and Support: --------------------- - One year limited warranty on parts and labour. Thirty days money back guarantee (on the card's value). - Free support via the GEnie A2 Bulletin Board (category 46, topic 12) and via internet e-mail. - Software updates also available via the GEnie A2 library and via our U.S. resident beta testers. BlueDisk Pricing (varies due to Dollar exchange rate): ------------------------------------------------------- Pricing for all overseas orders (shipping is via standard air mail for overseas orders): - one package US $139 plus $14 shipping/handling - two packages US $135 each plus $19 shipping/handling - three packages US $135 each plus $22 shipping/handling Pricing for European and German orders (surface shipping only): - one package DM 225 plus DM 18 shipping/handling - two packages DM 219 each plus DM 20 shipping/handling - three packages DM 219 each plus DM 24 shipping/handling DM 10 shipping/handling for orders shipped to German locations. European orders only accepted if paid by cash or EuroCheque. Payment: -------- All orders must be prepaid. We accept payment by cash, check, travellers check or money order (American or German currency) and payment via post office. If payment is not by cash, an additional fee of US $3 (DM 4.50) is required for each order (we have to pay this fee to get cash for the check). If you feel unsure when sending cash, please use registered mail. Make all checks payable to Joachim Lange, SHH Systeme. ///SHH SYSTEME Dipl. Ing. Joachim Lange Bergstrasse 95 82131 Stockdorf Germany ------------------------- Phone: Germany + 89 + 8577040 Internet e-mail: JLANGE@TASHA.MUC.DE CompuServe e-mail: 73370,3106 You may distribute this document freely as long as it remains unchanged. Spelling corrections welcome.
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