[Coco] 3.5" Drive Variable in the NitrOS-9 Module Header

[Luis Fernández]

Interesting

> From: computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:11:06 -0500
> Subject: [Coco] 3.5" Drive Variable in the NitrOS-9 Module Header
> 
> NitrOS-9 Developers,
> 
> I have been giving some serious thought to the recent discussions about when
> to use a track density of 48 tpi or 96 tpi.  Here's my thoughts on the
> matter.  Create a new bit in the Drive Descriptor which is called '3.5"
> Drive Track Density' and this is how it would work.  When this bit is set to
> 0 (zero) the other track density bit would be active.  When set to 1 (one),
> the other track density bit's effects are deactivated and the new track
> density becomes 135 tpi.  We could also implement a bit called "Quad Data
> Density"  to take advantage of the 3.5" drive's highest data density
> capability and finally reach the full capacity of a 1.44 floppy disk drive
> and it could work in a similar fashion.  When the bit for Quad Data Density
> is 0 (zero), the other data density bit is active, and when the Quad Data
> Density bit is 1 (one) the other data density bit is deactivated and the
> data is encoded onto the floppy disk's surface using the 3.5" drive's Quad
> Data Density capabilities.  Of course all disk drive drivers would have to
> be updated to implement the change in the Drive descriptor giving the
> correct commands to the 3.5" drive when appropriate.  If there is space for
> these two new bits in the current Drive Descriptor Definition, there may be
> the possibility that only floppy drive drivers would need to be updated due
> to the definition that if both new bits were 0 (zero) their older
> counterpart bits would remain active and all should be well.  So guys, what
> do you think of my brain storming session?  Do you all think that this may
> be possible?  So far in my thoughts, it sounds very doable.  Thanks for
> considering my suggestion.
> 
> Kip
> 
>  
> 
> 
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