Message-ID: <6017@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 22-Nov-84 00:39:14 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.6017
Posted: Thu Nov 22 00:39:14 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Nov-84 07:50:29 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
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Are peripherals which are used with CP/M suitable for use with an IBM-PC?

Specifically 8" floppy drives, 5 1/4" floppy drives, 5 1/4 winchesters,
serial printers and parrallel printers?

Jesse (knuckling under) Eaton.HFED@HI-MULTICS
 

Message-ID: <6029@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 23-Nov-84 12:39:55 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.6029
Posted: Fri Nov 23 12:39:55 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Nov-84 20:57:12 EST
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Jesse - I know of no reason why peripherals used with an IBM-PC cannot be
used with another computer.  Certainly, RS-232 serial devices should be
usable, since RS-232 is a standard interface (a much abused standard, I admit).
Parallel devices want to see seven or eight bits of data and as a minimum,
some sort of "character available" signal or "strobe".  A hardware hacker
can usually fudge these things to work.  The IBM-PC disk drives use a standard
5.25-inch interface.  When I installed a pair of Tandon 100-2's for my son,
I tested them first on my Radio Shack Model-I.  Likewise, 8-inchers typically
conform to the de-facto standard set by Shugart's SA-800 series.  You will
need technical documentation for the items you wish to use.  I have the docs
for the IBM-PC, and I will be happy to answer specific interface questions
from a hardware standpoint.  I know nothing of IBM-PC software.


Dave
towson@amsaa.arpa