Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!ucbvax!pro-xy.UUCP!jlink
From: jlink@pro-xy.UUCP (John Link)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Using innerdrive with a laser UDC drive (long)
Message-ID: <8908090933.AA05608@trout.nosc.mil>
Date: 9 Aug 89 00:36:29 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 32

Network Comment: to #203 by obsolete!microsoft!brianw%uunet.uu.net

>about problems with the Universal Drive Controller.

I would say that the UDC never really did support the ][+!!  My first
experience with it was running a BBS for a local computer club, on a ][+
loaned by one of the members.  We bought the UDC and Chinon drive to save
money.  After trying several drives and a total of three UDC cards, and after
the dealer called the company several times, both the dealer and I gave up. 
He gave the club back its money, and we got an Apple 3.5 "smart" drive and
their card.  It worked flawlessly.  The only good thing to come out of the
experience was that I learned how to rebuild blown disks!  The combination of
][+, UDC, and Chinon drive was positively vicious.  Right now, I am using an
"unenhanced" TransWarp, with an enhanced //e.  I have a box of fifty 3.5 inch
disks that I use to "feed" the UDC/Chinon comlbination.  I only use it to back
up my BBS hard drive, not for anything else, so it does not get much use.  The
friend who loaned pro-xy that part of the setup, had a few, but not (according
to him) frequent "aw-s***ts" of the nature I am having now.  I have found
something espeically unique, in that once the UDC eats a disk, it generally
can't be reformatted, by either the UDC/Chinon combination, or on my standard
3.5 'dumb' drive hooked to a //gs.  This tendency to utterly destroy disks was
also noted on the ][+/UDC/Chinon combination two years ago.

Our local dealer, who is very knowledgeable, soon quit selling Chinon drives
to Apple // users.  Lately, I have not noticed any Chinon drives or UDCs in
his store.  He is not the type to stock stuff that gives trouble, no matter
how much money he can make on it.  (CPS prices have always been attratactive.)

Rewriting the ROM sounds like a good idea.  Central Point said, at the time,
that they were attempting that themselves.  But it does not appear they ever
got it done, done correctly, anyway.  Glad to hear I am not the only one
having these problems.