data transfer from an SD card takes 0.4 microsecond per Byte in the
most
simple mode, while the minimum cycle of the QL bus is 1.0
microsecond. So
both IDE and SD card are faster than the QL bus.
SD cards are smaller and cheaper than IDE drives. Both offer more
size
than a QL filesystem can use.
If a fast SD card interface & driver for the QL was here: Where
would be
the point in IDE for the QL? Apart from being too laid-back to copy
data
to SD card once :-)
I understand keeping the microdrive for antiquarianism, because it
was
part of the original QL. But that doesn't count for IDE. Otherwise
it
would be quite simple for me to implement.
All the best
Peter
This is a good point. When I made the comment about a new Qubide not
being of much use because hard disk drives in IDE format were not
available much nowadays, I didn't take into account the availability
of flash card interfaces (many of which offer quite high capacity of
storage at good prices now) and IDE conversion leads and kits.
The idea of installing your SD/MMC card interface in one of the two
microdrive slots is actually quite attractive - using the MDV slot in
the QL case to insert a modern memory card with a GB or more instead
of a 100K MDV would instantly modernise the look and feel of the QL!
Plus of course the memory card could be unplugged and files
transferred to another system when required.Conceivably, those like
myself with many QL CDs could probably copy the files off those to a
SD card and just plug in the "CD" required if software was available
which could read a QXL.WIN (e.g. Duncan's QCDEZE could be modified
perhaps to work with your interface?)
Good luck with this project Peter, if you do decide to go ahead with
it.
Dilwyn Jones
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