what would be your favorite style for an SD/MMC card "harddisk" for
the
QL?
I can _not_ promise to really make a piece of hardware available,
but it
would be nice to know, just in case...
A) External interface, plugs into parallel port of SuperGoldCard
Pro:
- Interface also works on Q40 and Q60
- QL Case doesn't need to be openened
- Easy reconnect from one machine to another
- Hot-plugging might work
- ROM-Port remains usable
Con:
- Slow data transfer through parallel port handshake lines
B) External interface, plugs into QL ROM port
Pro:
- QL Case doesn't need to be openened
- Faster data transfer
- Onboard Driver ROM
- Works on QL without GoldCard / SuperGoldCard
Con:
- ROM-Port occupied
- Complex hardware
C) Internal interface, plugs into CPU socket
Pro:
- Fastest data transfer
- ROM-Port remains usable
Con:
- QL Case needs to be openened
- Only GoldCard/SuperGoldCard machines
D) Internal interface, replacing a microdrive(!)
Can easily be bolted inside the case, after a microdrive was removed
Plugs into CPU socket or maybe other place
Pro:
- SD/MMC-card can be plugged in like a cartridge
- Looks cool
- Very "QL-style"
- ROM-Port remains usable
Con:
- QL Case needs to be openened
All the best,
Peter
Options A or D best in my opinion. I wonder if an option E would be
possible, plugging into the QL MDV expansion slot on the right of the
QL? Depends on whether electrically it is connected to the MDV system,
or if that location is just used as a convenient physical mounting
point.
Would be handy that the memory card is easily accessible to unplug. No
doubt people would want to use more than one card (e.g. file transfer
between machines?)
If the electrical connection is all to a CPU socket for example, could
it also be used with the Aurora boards? And I presume that if
electrical connection is to CPU socket, it should be much faster than
the PAR port on SGC.
Dilwyn Jones
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