13 Dec
2005
13 Dec
'05
11:29 p.m.
RE: "I have heard of (but not seen) machines with 8" floppies that run
MS-DOS 1.x (not real sure what version)."
Well, the Heathkit / Zenith Z-100 ran MS-DOS (called Z-DOS -- it was not PC
compatible at the hardware level) and also supported 8" floppy drives (in
fact a very nice accessory external dual-drive 8" floppy was offered).
Also, again not PC compatible, but the CompuPro (Godbout) systems had 8"
drives and in some configurations ran MS-DOS. Also, the Seattle Computer
Products systems. And there were 8" controllers for early PCs.
14 Dec
14 Dec
12:29 a.m.
On 12/13/2005 at 11:29 PM Barry Watzman wrote:
Well, the Heathkit / Zenith Z-100 ran MS-DOS (called
Z-DOS -- it was not
PC
compatible at the hardware level) and also supported
8" floppy drives (in
fact a very nice accessory external dual-drive 8" floppy was offered).
Also, again not PC compatible, but the CompuPro (Godbout) systems had 8"
drives and in some configurations ran MS-DOS. Also, the Seattle Computer
Products systems. And there were 8" controllers for early PCs.
I seem to remember that the first version of DOS 1.x for the Compupro (did
it run on the 85-88 board?:) used a legit retail version of PC-DOS, with
the IBMBIO files replaced by Godbout-specific I/O drivers. Does anyone
remember this? I think it was because MS didn't want to talk small-volume
sales for a specific architecture.
I checked my files and the NEC PC-8801-16 used MS-DOS 1.25 in 8" media.
Packed with it is an 8" DOS copy of Wordstar/Mailmerge. And, for whatever
reason, a 5.25" copy of DOS 1.25.
Cheers,
Chuck
7:02 p.m.
any clue who actually made 8" controllers for PC's?
One of my APC's has a controller board and external
5.25" drives made by Butler Flats Associates. Not sure
what capacity the 8" drives have (haven't played with
them much yet), but I believe the resident controller
used a 765 chip. The Butler Flats boards used some
Western Digital chip. Funny.
--- Barry Watzman <Watzman at neo.rr.com> wrote:
...And there were 8" controllers for
early PCs.
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