[Coco] Super IDE vs. Drive Pak

[Mark Marlette]

All,

Good thread!

Input has been gathered and we will be making some changes at Cloud-9 on the SuperIDE product based upon this great feedback. More to follow on that.

Just want to clear this misconception. The SuperIDE DOES NOT have a size limit other than the CF spec itself. If you want to plug a 64GB CF, do so. The limitations are placed upon it are by NitrOS-9 and or HDB-DOS. This is a 24bit LSN, which is a bit over 4GB, IIRC. So is it practical to have a 4, 8, 16, 32,64GB CF on the CoCo? No, but if you want to you can. 

I ship with a 256MB just because it is a sweet size. 84MB partition for HDB-DOS and a 127MB partition for NitrOS-9, with another small partition with the remainder available. The reason for this is that there as several utilities under OS-9 that ASSUME a cluster size of one! Run those on a non 1 cluster size and POOF-BAM goes the drives structure. IMHO, not worth it. B&B are the biggest offender. Who would have thought we would be here today doing what we are doing? All GREAT tools, thus my basis of my partition sizes.

How many people have more than 127MB of data/programs on their NitrOS-9 drive? Sure there are some. For those who want to have a 4GB partition, then you can do that on what ever size CF GREATER than that you select. Fill the 4GB partition up?? Not likely.

Options are good. :)

Any case, thank you all for the support and the great feedback. You will like the results. :)

Regards,

Mark
Cloud-9
http://www.cloud9tech.com



----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Wolfe" <aawolfe at gmail.com>
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:20:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Coco] Super IDE vs. Drive Pak

> Actually, I purchased two 2GB CF cards at the time, and only added one in
> the math above. That would equal the storage of one 4GB DrivePak. And I did
> note the RTC module, just didn't think about the model without it; duly
> noted that the DrivePak does not have that, but, I just based the cost
> comparison on what I bought at the time.
>
> Super IDE = $75
> HDB-DOS = $30
> 2GB CF x 2 = $24
> CF Adapter = $14
>
> You're still at $143, and it still boils down to personal preference. I like

100% agree that some people will like one and some will like the other.

The fact that you bought 2 CF cards and and adapter to get 4GB instead
of one brings up a good point, that's because the SuperIDE only
supports devices up to 2GB in size, right? I know there is some size
limit on the SuperIDE, hoping its 2GB or I'm not making any sense hah.
 4GB CF cards only cost about $12, but I am assuming you couldn't
just buy one and no adapter because of that limit.

If you buy only one CF card, the cost of the superIDE and drivepak
come out within a few bucks of each other, but if you need more than
2GB storage, the drivepak becomes a cheaper option, and if you need
more than 4GB the drivepak becomes the only option (again, hope i am
right about 2GB being the limit).   OTOH, is there even 2GB of
software in existence for the coco? I'm not sure if there is or not.

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