9 Oct
2024
9 Oct
'24
3:32 p.m.
On Wed, 9 Oct 2024 at 11:31, ben via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
MGT made a range of disk interfaces for the ZX Spectrum.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Gordon_Technology
Little known in America but the Spectrum was one of the best-selling
microcomputers of all time, selling millions of units and in
production from 1982 to 1992, with dozens and dozens of compatible
clones from around the world.
http://zxspectrum48.i-demo.pl/clones.html
So, Z80, all of them.
The point here, was until hard disks with the PC became common you had
the tiny mini-floppies.
I do not understand your points at all.
I don't know what "tiny mini-floppies" are.
Before the era of the PC, the dominant format was 8". PCs used 5¼"
when introduced in 1981. Then after the PC AT in 1984, 1.2MB HD 5¼@
disks. Then after ~1987 and the IBM PS/2 range, they standardised on
3½ high-density 1.4MB disks.
So, no, the PC didn't make disks get bigger. They were bigger _before_
the PC and then they got physically _smaller_ but higher in capacity.
You also said DOS didn't support subdirectories. Yes it did, from PC
DOS 2.0 in 1983.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_DOS_operating_systems
In other words, very early on, before even the first 80286 machines. I
am 56 and I never saw a pre-DOS 2.x machine in my life.
I used several
which did. MGT G+DOS was my personal favourite. MSX-DOS
is CP/M-binary-compatible but uses MS-DOS FAT disks, with directories,
because the same chap wrote them both: Tim Paterson.
That is new to me, but what cpu? Where are the ADS for said product?
ADS? You want advertisements for a ZX Spectrum disk interface from
over 40 years ago?
Er, OK. Here are a couple.
https://spectrumforeveryone.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MGT-Plus-D-Adv…
https://ia902300.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/4/items/World_of_…
The DOS that had subdirectories was UNIDOS. Here's the manual:
https://web.archive.org/web/20110721112654/http://www.sinclair.hu/speccyali…
For other platforms... well, as i said, MSX-DOS for the MSX range
supported FAT disks and subdirectories.
https://www.faq.msxnet.org/dos2.html
So did Microware OS9:
https://www.roug.org/retrocomputing/os/os9/os9guide.pdf
It wasn't that rare.
--
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