Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
In message <4d34bdb8.8090...@rwapservices.co.uk>, Rich Mellor writes On 17/01/2011 21:53, Martin Wheatley wrote: At 14:53 17/01/2011, you wrote: I suppose Peter's question "How important would it be to keep an original microdrive functional?" is twofold Firstly to have some sort of compatability with any existing software, still keeping it on microdrives and not converted to some other format due to copyright/protection. It may be that the software prevents itself from running without the microdrive being present. so having one still in exisence may be needed. Secondly it maybe that in order to fit a SD card based system in to the existing QL, physical space is required for the interface that requires both microdrives to be removed even if only one microdrive slot is replaced by the SD card version. If it is easier to fit a single or twin SD system using the whole space then surely this would be the preferred method? But heres a thought, if both microdrives are replaced by the SD card interface, could the removed microdrives be fitted in their own container with a cable plugged in to the extension socket at the right hand side of the QL and used as external (expanded) microdrives as an when needed, this would solve the desire to have microdrives and still allow existing software on the microdrive to be copied across to the new storage medium. Lee Privett Once upon a time I had a third microdrive that plugged into the side of the QL As far as I remember it was a Spectrum item that that worked when you plugged it into a QL upside down martinw ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Yes, Martin that was always the case - the Spectrum ZX Microdrive faced the back of the QL - there was supposed to be a QL equivalent released, but it never made it to market. I never found using a ZX Microdrive unit as mdv3_ very reliable. When the industrial design for the external microdrives and their power packs was in process, there was a young designer called Roger, working along with the main Sinclair designer Rick Dickinson. The Sinclair power packs have also been utilised as very effective power sources for PCB drills, by an inventive Technician that I once worked with. Still functioning today. Back to one of Peter's questions. A great advantage of SD Cards would be in a basic (un-expanded) QL black box. Would really be a leap forward to incorporate some new tech in to what was once new tech of its period. Obviously expanded QL's already have an upgrade, yet would also benefit. I don't know if there is a technical difficulty with catering for both options of unexpanded and expanded QL's. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] (M)ICE
Finally (my disk-interface and disk-drive stopped working) I have a working QL-system again (English QL, 640kB RAM, Diskinterface, external black Diskdrive, Highscreen-RGB-Monitor). My latest add-on is MICE (ICE-Desktop with Mouse). Unfortunately I miss CHOice and other utilities, because I got only MICE itself and no software. Does anyone know where I can get this software? I am also interested in other ICE-software like ArtICE, OffICE, ICEicle, and ICEburg (was there more ICE-software?). ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
As my ROM-port is not free (MICE) and I have no Gold/SuperGoldCard I would prefer solution D) (although I hope I am able to do the upgrade by myslef). Solution A) would be o.k., too (then I would plug the interface to my Q40). If I did misunderstood something and solution D) isn´t working without Gold/SuperGoldCard I would prefer the solution for the QL-ROM-port. But in general every new QL-hardware is welcome! Anton Am 11.01.2011 um 12:15 schrieb Peter: > Hi all, > > 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 > > ___ > QL-Users Mailing List > http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
There is a webpage with known issues that may help, it mentions about using it with other web-browsers so that may be worth exploring also. I dont use it myself as it never worked properly for me when I first tried it quite awhile ago. http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/using_bbc_iplayer/desktop_problems Lee Privett OK, as it's a bit off topic best to close this thread I guess. It really does seem to be something which fails for a large number of people from what I've seen on forums. If you can get it working, it seems fine, though, just that getting it working ain't exactly easy. Might be coincidence what I mentioned about QPC2 - certainly after I restarted the Notebook (i.e. no QPC2 in current session) it suddenly worked, but that coincided with the improvement in broadband speed. Thanks everyone for trying to help! Dilwyn Jones. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 18/Jan/11 19:05 | Jan18: Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 18/Jan/11 17:31 | Jan18: I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? Urmm - what did you actually mean by that sentence. Does anyone use it on t he same PC as QPC2 is what I meant. I suspect you are talking about the Iplayer desktop used for playing downloaded programs. Tony Sure. So it's not a "program" then - it's a Windows Desktop or something like that, is that what you're saying? I later found out there's no specific place to download it. It doesn't tell you as far as I can see that the installation method is to download a program, then it will find there's no iPlayer, try to download that, find there's no Adobe Air, so try to download that and so on. If correct (which I doubt) it implies that the last thing it downloads is the one thing it can't work without - so it downloads a gigabyte of TV programme, then the iplayer, then Adobe Air only to tell me when it gets to 99% "download failed". That's the usual story with this type of thing and it drives me absolutely insane. Here we are in 2011 and this sorts of thing happens regular as clockwork. We've been on a forum looking for info (not the bbc one, that just came up with a blank screen) where we saw loads of people moaning about it, so for once it seems I can't blame either Windoze or my PC or my broadband. In fact, one person says it eats bandwidth so much it's a guaranteed way to get your ISP to throttle your broadband speed. Plenty of people say if you don't live in a high speed fibre optic link area, don't bother. Others seem to get it working instantly and praise it to the hilt. Unless there's a quick fix to the problems with this iPlayer I don't intend to waste any more time on it. The program is called "BBC Iplayer Desktop.app" on my Macbook. It downloaded and installed when I first downloaded a program. I googled and it seems Adobe Air (which you mention) is a runtime that allows applications (like BBC Iplayer Desktop) to simulate browsers. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql-Users Digest, Vol 83, Issue 31
humm, it might help a little to get netpersec for the PC, it is a real time internet speed monitoring program. its free easy, and very easy on PC recources. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1735,00.asp that can help you see the real speeds as they are happening -- Paul Holmgren Hi Paul, Although I've never tried that one, I have a tool which tells me the speeds more or less real time, which is what reminded me about the drop in speeds at certain times of day around here. It does seem to be related to speed variation - now it's stabilised at about 1.8mbs we're watching Silent Witness as I write, although this desktop PC won't play successfully, the little netbook alongside has suddenly started playing OK after a restart of Windows. Every now and again it pauses for a few seconds to catch up, so it's not perfect but quite acceptable. Yippee - at last!! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
There is a webpage with known issues that may help, it mentions about using it with other web-browsers so that may be worth exploring also. I dont use it myself as it never worked properly for me when I first tried it quite awhile ago. http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/using_bbc_iplayer/desktop_problems Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 - Original Message - From: "Dilwyn Jones" To: Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 7:05 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 18/Jan/11 17:31 | Jan18: I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? Urmm - what did you actually mean by that sentence. Does anyone use it on t he same PC as QPC2 is what I meant. I suspect you are talking about the Iplayer desktop used for playing downloaded programs. Tony Sure. So it's not a "program" then - it's a Windows Desktop or something like that, is that what you're saying? I later found out there's no specific place to download it. It doesn't tell you as far as I can see that the installation method is to download a program, then it will find there's no iPlayer, try to download that, find there's no Adobe Air, so try to download that and so on. If correct (which I doubt) it implies that the last thing it downloads is the one thing it can't work without - so it downloads a gigabyte of TV programme, then the iplayer, then Adobe Air only to tell me when it gets to 99% "download failed". That's the usual story with this type of thing and it drives me absolutely insane. Here we are in 2011 and this sorts of thing happens regular as clockwork. We've been on a forum looking for info (not the bbc one, that just came up with a blank screen) where we saw loads of people moaning about it, so for once it seems I can't blame either Windoze or my PC or my broadband. In fact, one person says it eats bandwidth so much it's a guaranteed way to get your ISP to throttle your broadband speed. Plenty of people say if you don't live in a high speed fibre optic link area, don't bother. Others seem to get it working instantly and praise it to the hilt. Unless there's a quick fix to the problems with this iPlayer I don't intend to waste any more time on it. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql-Users Digest, Vol 83, Issue 31
On 1/18/2011 2:44 PM, ql-users-requ...@lists.q-v-d.com wrote: Send Ql-Users mailing list submissions to ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com --- On Tue, 18/1/11, Dilwyn Jones wrote:> From: Dilwyn Jones Subject: [Ql-Users] iPlayer To: ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com Date: Tuesday, 18 January, 2011, 17:31 I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? I just can't get it to download or install on this while QPC is running, or even in the same session after I shut down QPC. Anyone know why? (the PC is Windows XP Pro with SP3, 1.4GHz processor, 1GB RAM)) We also tried it on the notebook with Windows 7 Starter. It's just gone into a please wait loop for the last half hour, I don't know how long iPlayer download should take? QPC had been in use on that too. And further, does anyone have experience of it on a slow broadband - in theory we pay for "up to 8mbs" from Orange. It's never better than 2mbs (in fact BT say that's the best we can hope for here, irrespective of what Orange say). Last time I had iPlayer working, it was very jerky, pausing every few seconds, totally unusable, so I removed it. Anyone with experience of it on 2mb/s able to say if it should work at that speed? The BBC website has a hell of a lot of "how good and essential this is" but no useful help whatsoever. This is driving me up the wall at the moment because I've got a visitor and we are trying together to see if we can get it to work. Although it's a bit off topic, I know I'll get a quicker and more sensible answer here. Dilwyn Jones humm, it might help a little to get netpersec for the PC, it is a real time internet speed monitoring program. its free easy, and very easy on PC recources. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1735,00.asp that can help you see the real speeds as they are happening -- Paul Holmgren Mine: 2 57 300-C's in Indy Hers: 05 PT GT R/T HO Stage 1 Hoosier Corps L#6 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
It sounds like you are chomping at the bit to see Sir Clive's performance on Mastermind ;) Pete. Errr, no, we videod that on the Sky Plus. We forgot to record Silent Witness last night, plus our friend wants to see what iPlayer is like as he's even less Windows literate than me :o) I think he might well get put off it at this rate . Dilwyn ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
I suspect you are talking about the Iplayer desktop used for playing downloaded programs. Tony Sure. So it's not a "program" then - it's a Windows Desktop or something like that, is that what you're saying? Ah, just found some notes on it (so long since I last tried and failed to get it working). Looks like it's not a program or app in the conventional sense (by conventional, I mean that it's not a program which appears in your START menu for example), you basically view TV programs through your browser pages, like watching a Youtube video. Although there is some way of persuading it to download a TV programme in its entirety to play through Windows Media Player (yawn!) for those who can't get it to work. This should be interesting seeing what the combination of Dilwyn, PC, Windows, iPlayer, Orange broadband and TV programme bandwidth can achieve in Bethesda!!! Boradband has gone back up from 38kb/s to 1.8mb/s now so time for another go (just for a laugh to see if my day can get any worse!) Saga to be continued :-) Dilwyn ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
>--- On Tue, 18/1/11, Dilwyn Jones wrote: >From: Dilwyn Jones >Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer >To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com >Date: Tuesday, 18 January, 2011, 19:05 > Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 18/Jan/11 17:31 | Jan18: >> I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. >> >> Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? >> > > Urmm - what did you actually mean by that sentence. >Does anyone use it on t he same PC as QPC2 is what I meant. > I suspect you are talking about the Iplayer desktop used for playing > downloaded programs. > > Tony >Sure. So it's not a "program" then - it's a Windows Desktop or something like >>that, is that what you're saying? >In fact, one person says it eats bandwidth so much it's a guaranteed way to >get >your ISP to throttle your broadband speed. Plenty of people say if you >don't live >in a high speed fibre optic link area, don't bother. Others seem >to get it working >instantly and praise it to the hilt. Unless there's a quick >fix to the problems with >this iPlayer I don't intend to waste any more time >on it. >Dilwyn Jones ___ >QL-Users Mailing List >http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm It sounds like you are chomping at the bit to see Sir Clive's performance on Mastermind ;) Pete. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 18/Jan/11 17:31 | Jan18: I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? Urmm - what did you actually mean by that sentence. Does anyone use it on t he same PC as QPC2 is what I meant. I suspect you are talking about the Iplayer desktop used for playing downloaded programs. Tony Sure. So it's not a "program" then - it's a Windows Desktop or something like that, is that what you're saying? I later found out there's no specific place to download it. It doesn't tell you as far as I can see that the installation method is to download a program, then it will find there's no iPlayer, try to download that, find there's no Adobe Air, so try to download that and so on. If correct (which I doubt) it implies that the last thing it downloads is the one thing it can't work without - so it downloads a gigabyte of TV programme, then the iplayer, then Adobe Air only to tell me when it gets to 99% "download failed". That's the usual story with this type of thing and it drives me absolutely insane. Here we are in 2011 and this sorts of thing happens regular as clockwork. We've been on a forum looking for info (not the bbc one, that just came up with a blank screen) where we saw loads of people moaning about it, so for once it seems I can't blame either Windoze or my PC or my broadband. In fact, one person says it eats bandwidth so much it's a guaranteed way to get your ISP to throttle your broadband speed. Plenty of people say if you don't live in a high speed fibre optic link area, don't bother. Others seem to get it working instantly and praise it to the hilt. Unless there's a quick fix to the problems with this iPlayer I don't intend to waste any more time on it. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 18/Jan/11 17:31 | Jan18: I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? Urmm - what did you actually mean by that sentence. I suspect you are talking about the Iplayer desktop used for playing downloaded programs. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm My old broadband was always stuck on 2mbs and iplayer worked fine. Thankfully I have just had fibre installed. What is the minimum machine spec for iplayer? Peter. Not sure, I couldn't find any useful info quickly in the BBC website. I just realised though what the problem might be. I forgot that at this time of day Orange broadband goes down to about dialup speed or a bit less (probably half the village on social networking sites after school and work!) I see the BBC site has options to download as .wmv files for media player, I might give that a spin later on when broadband (narrowband?) speed gets beyond dialup speed :-(( Windoze and I have never been the best of friends. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
--- On Tue, 18/1/11, Dilwyn Jones wrote: From: Dilwyn Jones Subject: [Ql-Users] iPlayer To: ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com Date: Tuesday, 18 January, 2011, 17:31 I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? I just can't get it to download or install on this while QPC is running, or even in the same session after I shut down QPC. Anyone know why? (the PC is Windows XP Pro with SP3, 1.4GHz processor, 1GB RAM)) We also tried it on the notebook with Windows 7 Starter. It's just gone into a please wait loop for the last half hour, I don't know how long iPlayer download should take? QPC had been in use on that too. And further, does anyone have experience of it on a slow broadband - in theory we pay for "up to 8mbs" from Orange. It's never better than 2mbs (in fact BT say that's the best we can hope for here, irrespective of what Orange say). Last time I had iPlayer working, it was very jerky, pausing every few seconds, totally unusable, so I removed it. Anyone with experience of it on 2mb/s able to say if it should work at that speed? The BBC website has a hell of a lot of "how good and essential this is" but no useful help whatsoever. This is driving me up the wall at the moment because I've got a visitor and we are trying together to see if we can get it to work. Although it's a bit off topic, I know I'll get a quicker and more sensible answer here. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm My old broadband was always stuck on 2mbs and iplayer worked fine. Thankfully I have just had fibre installed. What is the minimum machine spec for iplayer? Peter. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] iPlayer
I doubt QPC is having any effect. There's probably so much demand for that DRM-riddled proprietary media player that half the world are trying to download it simultaneously. I once thought about installing BBC iPlayer ... to recoup some of the cost of the criminally extortionate license tax ... but it never installed and never ran. That was on Windows Vista Home Premium, 32 bit. And ... yeah ... it did have QPC II installed :( -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Dilwyn Jones Sent: 18 January 2011 17:32 To: ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] iPlayer I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? I just can't get it to download or install on this while QPC is running, or even in the same session after I shut down QPC. Anyone know why? (the PC is Windows XP Pro with SP3, 1.4GHz processor, 1GB RAM)) We also tried it on the notebook with Windows 7 Starter. It's just gone into a please wait loop for the last half hour, I don't know how long iPlayer download should take? QPC had been in use on that too. And further, does anyone have experience of it on a slow broadband - in theory we pay for "up to 8mbs" from Orange. It's never better than 2mbs (in fact BT say that's the best we can hope for here, irrespective of what Orange say). Last time I had iPlayer working, it was very jerky, pausing every few seconds, totally unusable, so I removed it. Anyone with experience of it on 2mb/s able to say if it should work at that speed? The BBC website has a hell of a lot of "how good and essential this is" but no useful help whatsoever. This is driving me up the wall at the moment because I've got a visitor and we are trying together to see if we can get it to work. Although it's a bit off topic, I know I'll get a quicker and more sensible answer here. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] iPlayer
I need to ask a question which is slightly off-topic here. Does anyone use BBC iPlayer on the same PC as the BBC iPlayer? I just can't get it to download or install on this while QPC is running, or even in the same session after I shut down QPC. Anyone know why? (the PC is Windows XP Pro with SP3, 1.4GHz processor, 1GB RAM)) We also tried it on the notebook with Windows 7 Starter. It's just gone into a please wait loop for the last half hour, I don't know how long iPlayer download should take? QPC had been in use on that too. And further, does anyone have experience of it on a slow broadband - in theory we pay for "up to 8mbs" from Orange. It's never better than 2mbs (in fact BT say that's the best we can hope for here, irrespective of what Orange say). Last time I had iPlayer working, it was very jerky, pausing every few seconds, totally unusable, so I removed it. Anyone with experience of it on 2mb/s able to say if it should work at that speed? The BBC website has a hell of a lot of "how good and essential this is" but no useful help whatsoever. This is driving me up the wall at the moment because I've got a visitor and we are trying together to see if we can get it to work. Although it's a bit off topic, I know I'll get a quicker and more sensible answer here. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
Am 18.01.2011 11:36, schrieb Peter: Tobias Fröschle wrote: For me it should be faster than a floppy disk but can be slower than a hard disk. I am surprised that speed seems not _that_ big issue for most. I hope this does not originate from the perception that SD cards can be swapped at any time, like a floppy replacement. As mentioned in my first posting, the device would be like a harddisk. The native file driver does not allow hot swapping - at least not yet. Only the mtools (for non-native FAT access) implement a hot swapping concept - at the expense of initializing the SD card, everytime mtools is called. All the best Peter Peter, this was probably a bit misleading. It's not about swapping SD cards. It's about _not_ having to swap floppies all the time. I can very well live with the speed of my floppies nowadays, but having to swap floppy disks whenever I change between xChange and programming (or whatever) is a real nuisance once you got used to harddisks. Having a harddisk-like SD card would relieve me from that. And yes, I think I'm fine with one SD per session and no support for hot-swap of SD cards. Should I really feel like swapping something, I still got my floppy drive ;-) And: Speed is not really an issue (at least for me). Speed equivalent to a floppy drive would suffice - Albeit, if it's faster, it doesn't hurt. Cheers, Tobias ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
Tobias Fröschle wrote: > For me it should be faster than a floppy disk but can be slower > than a hard disk. I am surprised that speed seems not _that_ big issue for most. I hope this does not originate from the perception that SD cards can be swapped at any time, like a floppy replacement. As mentioned in my first posting, the device would be like a harddisk. The native file driver does not allow hot swapping - at least not yet. Only the mtools (for non-native FAT access) implement a hot swapping concept - at the expense of initializing the SD card, everytime mtools is called. All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
Am 17.01.2011 21:57, schrieb Rich Mellor: On 17/01/2011 19:33, Mark Martin wrote: On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 11:27 AM, fern wrote: I would prefer to keep an original microdrive. as for speed? anything equals to or higher than the floppies would be plenty. What about option E -- floppy emulator? This seems like it would have broad compatibility (GC, SGC, maybe my QXL included), and I'm betting most original QL owners do have floppy drive controllers.. Plus, this more or less exists already, unless this is meant as an academic exercise. http://www.torlus.com/floppy/ I have already tested and successfully used this interface with the QL as well as host of other computers - instructions for using this SD card interface with the QL appeared in the November 2010 Quanta magazine. You can purchase the interface through me at http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/HxC_SD_Card_Floppy_Disk_Emulator_%28replaces_floppy_disk_drives%29-1140 This is very nice, but still has the disadvantage to require swapping disks all the time - even virtual ones. Cheers Tobias ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
Am 17.01.2011 13:30, schrieb alain.ha...@free.fr: I personnaly don't wonder about keeping an original microdrive functional or not. However, i would prefer the device could be mounted on original QL and not only with SGC. Any reasonnable speed (> floppy disk) will be good for me. Regards, Alain HAOUI - Mail Original - De: "Peter" À: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Envoyé: Lundi 17 Janvier 2011 10h53:32 GMT +01:00 Amsterdam / Berlin / Berne / Rome / Stockholm / Vienne Objet: Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey paul wrote: A) External interface, plugs into parallel port of SuperGoldCard B) External interface, plugs into QL ROM port C) Internal interface, plugs into CPU socket D) Internal interface, replacing a microdrive(!) Personally, the option of tucking the adapter/interface inside the standard QL case has a lot of appeal. would be cool, even compairable to using the cartidge slot in the Timex 2068 in the 'Good Ol Days' if there is enough internal physical space for the unit to reside the outer of the 2 cavities, that would be just peachy keen! If I go for option D, I don't think space will be a problem. The device should fit both microdrive locations. To those who prefer option D: * How important would it be to keep an original microdrive functional? * How important would be speed? (To reach maximum speed, it is impossible to use the microdrive connectors for an SD-card device. A second board would be required, attached at a place where some of the 68008 bus is available. Higher costs, and might work for GoldCard/SuperGoldCard only.) All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I'm not even sure whether I still have some microdrive tape mislaid somewhere - So I don't care about a working drive. Cheers Tobias ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL SD/MMC-Card interface survey
Peter, a standard QL (even a [Super]Goldcard one) isn't exactly /fast/ anyways. So speed is relative. For me it should be faster than a floppy disk but can be slower than a hard disk. Standard QL stuff tends to be small - I think the most needed improvement on a floppy disk on a standard QL is the requirement to swap floppies al the time. Cheers Tobias Am 17.01.2011 10:53, schrieb Peter: paul wrote: A) External interface, plugs into parallel port of SuperGoldCard B) External interface, plugs into QL ROM port C) Internal interface, plugs into CPU socket D) Internal interface, replacing a microdrive(!) Personally, the option of tucking the adapter/interface inside the standard QL case has a lot of appeal. would be cool, even compairable to using the cartidge slot in the Timex 2068 in the 'Good Ol Days' if there is enough internal physical space for the unit to reside in the outer of the 2 cavities, that would be just peachy keen! If I go for option D, I don't think space will be a problem. The device should fit both microdrive locations. To those who prefer option D: * How important would it be to keep an original microdrive functional? * How important would be speed? (To reach maximum speed, it is impossible to use the microdrive connectors for an SD-card device. A second board would be required, attached at a place where some of the 68008 bus is available. Higher costs, and might work for GoldCard/SuperGoldCard only.) All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
