19 Dec
2002
19 Dec
'02
5:30 a.m.
> I meant to say that on the Apple ][ a
malfunctiong disk controller could
> override write protect, even on a non-malfunctioning drive. THAT is the
> special unique feature.
On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 vance(a)neurotica.com wrote:
IBM PS/2's usually read and write low-density
disks high-density.
The lack of a "media density sensor" is inexcusable.
'Course there were some who thought that was a "feature", since they could
then take a perfectly good 600 oerstedt ("720K") diskette, and turn it
into a poor quality 750 oerstedt ("1.4M")
But I still think that that is less egregious than having write-protect
processed externally from the drive. Although any write-protect system
CAN (and will?) malfunction, having it done by circuitry on the
controller, without letting the drive control it, is irresponsible.