Dear All
I always had a question in my mind; were 3inch disks used elsewhere BESIDES the Amstrad range machines? I know that they were also used in some sythesizers (produced by AMSTRAD of course). Personally speaking, the only time I have seen a 3 inch disk in another context aside from the AMSTRAD range was in a thriller film whereas a scientist had a 3inch disk which included the genetic code of a mutant monster....!
They were also used on some other 8 bit machines such as the tatung Einstein and oric atmos
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There was an early Canon computer, late 1980s, that used such a drive as well. Prob a CP/M type machine, or even some proprietary OS?
Geoff
Yes, Tatung Einstein and ZX Spectrum +3 but hey, the last one is an Amstrad too ;D
Also I am not sure if there was a 3" drive for MSX.
There was an external dual 3in drive available for the Atari 8-bit computers too.
Bryce.
I remember seeing an ad for a dual 3" external disk drive case for the Dragon.
The Nintendo Famicom used 3" discs, but they were given a proprietary shell, so wouldn't fit any other system.
I'm sure a Sega computer used them... maybe the SC3000?
Quote from: Dizrythmia on 14:46, 18 April 17
The Nintendo Famicom used 3" discs, but they were given a proprietary shell, so wouldn't fit any other system.
I'm sure a Sega computer used them... maybe the SC3000?
Yep it did.
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Quote from: Dizrythmia on 14:46, 18 April 17
The Nintendo Famicom used 3" discs, but they were given a proprietary shell, so wouldn't fit any other system.
I'm sure a Sega computer used them... maybe the SC3000?
The Famicom Disk system disks are Mitsumi 2.8" disks with a proprietary shell, not 3".
Great guys! I am gonna check all those machines! Many thanx! :D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Misel982001 on 12:27, 18 April 17
Personally speaking, the only time I have seen a 3 inch disk in another context aside from the AMSTRAD range was in a thriller film whereas a scientist had a 3inch disk which included the genetic code of a mutant monster....!
That would be a seriously good compression algorithm! Probably doable, though, in Stein's Gate they managed to compress all the memories inside the human brain in 36 bytes... ;D
Hmm, interesting.
Regarding the Canon machine.
I've traced a reference to the Canon Cat, a computer about 88/89, there are pics about. Primarily a WP, but you could program on it too.
All the docs I've just found say it was a 3.5" floppy.
BUT - on the pics, it looks DAMN like the 3" drive we know (and love) from our dear Amstrads. I don't remember ever seeing a 3.5" drive like that. Could they tell the difference back then??
Geoff
There's a Sega system that used them. Obv the PCW and +3 and the Einstein.
External units for other micros were available in 1984 namely the BBC, Spectrum and Dragon. Any references to the MSX using 3 inch always seems to mean 3.5 inch.
Quote from: Dizrythmia on 14:46, 18 April 17
I'm sure a Sega computer used them... maybe the SC3000?
Yes, the SEGA SC-300 had an expansion/add-on called the Super Control Station that included a 3-inch drive.
http://segaretro.org/Super_Control_Station_SF-7000
(http://www.old-computers.com/museum/photos/Sega_SC3000_WithFDunit_s1.jpg)
Cheers,
Shane
I knew I had posted something about this before: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/classifieds/wanted-cf2-disk-drive-asap/msg65433/#msg65433 (with links to pictures of some 3in drives)
Bryce.
Amstrad CPC & PCW
Amstrad built ZX Spectrum +3
ORIC Atmos
Tatung Einstein
Also some exotic uses on various japanese machines.
Some Yamaha musical devices would use them also briefly : some Synthetizers and sequencers, but they fastly switched to 3"1/2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_MDR-1
Yamaha branded 3" floppy disks... feels like the Amstrad branded MegaDrive joypad...
Quote from: MacDeath on 11:38, 19 April 17
Amstrad CPC & PCW
Amstrad built ZX Spectrum +3
ORIC Atmos
Tatung Einstein
Also some exotic uses on various japanese machines.
Some Yamaha musical devices would use them also briefly : some Synthetizers and sequencers, but they fastly switched to 3"1/2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_MDR-1
Yamaha branded 3" floppy disks... feels like the Amstrad branded MegaDrive joypad...
I have a box of Tatung branded cf2 discs somewhere. Not new however. The only sealed new cf2 floppies I have now are amsoft and maxell.
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This is a pure sign of goor internet usage.All this information around 3" discs in one place!This was quite a collective work.This forum really works.I am also looking for also those mentioned machines.
Quote from: amijim on 07:19, 20 April 17
This is a pure sign of goor internet usage.All this information around 3" discs in one place!This was quite a collective work.This forum really works.I am also looking for also those mentioned machines.
Indeed, all machines must be gathered in the first post as a list.
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/other-retro/three-inch-drives-in-other-systems/msg218717/#msg218717
If it's good enough for Sega, it's good enough for Amstrad!