[Coco] Super IDE vs. Drive Pak

[Aaron Wolfe]

On Wed, Nov 16, 2011 at 7:34 AM, Mark Marlette
<mmarlette at frontiernet.net> wrote:
> 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.

sorry!  i knew there was some kind of limit and assumed that was why
Brian bought 2 cf cards and an adapter to use both the CD and the IDE
connector on the superIDE.

>
> 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.
>

I've been using an old 64MB CF card I pulled out of a cisco router for
over a year, haven't filled it up yet!  Cards in the GB range are nice
but seem somewhat unnecessary.  Maybe I just don't use that much
software.  I only have 8 disks in the DECB area.  256MB seems very
reasonable for a nice DOS and OS9 system.

> 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.
>
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>