Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ucbvax.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ucbvax!dillon From: dillon@ucbvax.ARPA (The Sherif "Matt D.") Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm Subject: Re: Misc. Discussion 1541/2031/4040/2040 Message-ID: <3974@ucbvax.ARPA> Date: Mon, 31-Dec-84 07:40:27 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.3974 Posted: Mon Dec 31 07:40:27 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 1-Jan-85 00:50:40 EST References: <3957@ucbvax.ARPA> <309@utcs.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: University of California at Berkeley Lines: 23 > In article <3957@ucbvax.ARPA> dillon@ucbvax.ARPA (The Sherif "Matt D.") writes: > > Why commodore used a modem- > > speed interface with an intelligent disk drive I could not guess. > > > I could: it's cheap. The cables are DIN 6-pin, and it requires only > a few bits of I/O. It may take a few more man-years to program, but > Commodore has made millions of VICs/C64s/1541s and even a dollar > saved per unit in hardware makes up for a lot of software overhead. > -- > > "You can always put something in a box." > This message brought to you with the aid of the Poslfit Committee. > William Rucklidge University of Toronto Computing Services > {decvax,ihnp4,utcsrgv,{allegra,linus}!utzoo}!utcs!wjr Yes! But Commodore could have used the same two serial clock and data lines and connected them up to UNUSED hardware shift registers (The drive has one, the C64 has two). Frankly, This simple change (let's face it, there ARE some idiots at Commodore) would have given the 1541 IEEE speeds as well reduced the cost of the drive.