My opinion is:
1. Original commercial software should be stored in original format.
PLEASE SEND ME ALL >ORIGINAL< SAM TAPE ARCHIVES YOU OWN. (If it's possible.)
I need these files to test ASCD tape capability. (Both TAP and TZX files are
welcome, if they are perfect originals.)
2. Underground software, free software and anything "it started to exist
when I made it at home and copied it to my friend" doesn't have any
"original" format. In Czech Republic, 90% of software if this kind of free
stuff. People always copied "anything anywhere", mening that if somebody
wanted to get a program, he just found a diskette where this program can
fit, and added this new program to the existing program on that diskette.
Many people even copied new free stuff to a diskettes of commercial
programs, just to better use the space. :-)
So I consider pretty pointless and unrealistic when somebody still talks
about "original" format generally. Original format of 90% Sam software is
"just files". There is no :original: data storage, only the contents, i.e.
the files are original. And you can copy these file anywhere on a real Sam.
So that's I wanted TAP (or possibly ZIP with decorated file names containing
all additional information normally hidden in headers - it's still my
favourite one!).
I must also add that the programs were originally spread on disks, not
tapes. My willing to store something like TAP files was not aimed to be able
to load these program via tape loader. I just wanted to store programs
file-based, and enable a simple TAP to DSK copy software with it, so let
anyone can create his own :compilation: as hw wish. This way it would be the
real "original" way of spreading Sam software.
Shortly: I don't want any tape mayhem.
In the future, I am going to make the utilities which will
1. allow to copy files from DSK/SAD to ZIP or TAP, or vice versa. This
copying will perfectly keep all the contents of the file, including its
original Sam name, starting address, basic run line, screen$ palette, file
type, etc. if you extract some files from DSK/SAD to ZIP, and then copy them
from ZIP back to DSK/SAD, that DSK/SAD will work on a real Sam.
2. allow to use DSK/SAD and TAP files in Total Commander or Windows shell as
virtual folders. I.e. you will be able to open such a file like a directory
and copy files from it or to it easily.
----------------------------------------------------------
Mgr.(MSc.) Ales Keprt (also known as Aley)
[EMAIL PROTECTED] *** www.keprt.cz *** ICQ: 82357182
Dept. of Computer Science, VSB Technical University
Ostrava, CZ - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - www.cs.vsb.cz
----------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edwin Blink" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <sam-users@nvg.ntnu.no>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 1:44 AM
Subject: Re: Let's discuss ZX Spectrum games
Shouldn't the archive aim to store software in its original format? Some
titles were released on both disk and tape, so it would make sense to
preserve both disk and tape images, and not just the most convenient
format.
I agree
Converting existing disk titles to tape files seems wrong to me, and
would
also make them much less convenient for use on real machines.
I disagree on that part. I've seen several SAM go on ebay without
discdrives and I'm sure
there are many more and SAMs with faulty discdrives too. TAPes can can be
easely converted
into WAVs and burned on a audio CD and can then SAM users without floppy
drive can enjoy
some of that stuff on the real machine too.
I've implemented a quick test version that does a temporary disk image
switch when attempting to boot from a non-bootable disk. It loads only
DOS
from the switched disk, returning to the original disk for the AUTO* file
search (if required). In the options you just specify the path of the
disk
image or .SBT file containing DOS. Does that fit your requirements?
Excellent.
It might even be nice if SimCoupe had a built-in DOS image so the option
could be enabled by default, to help out new users...
Good Idea and I think it would nice for experienced users too.
Edwin
