This document discusses various solid state storage solutions for retrocomputers. It begins by introducing the author and their experience with retro computing. It then categorizes and describes different types of solid state devices and interfaces that can be used, including emulators, adapters, and server-based solutions. Updates to the Floppy Emu device are highlighted. Resources for disk images, benchmarks, and other retrocomputing tools are also listed. In conclusion, it acknowledges other organizers and developers for their contributions to preserving retrocomputing.

1. SEAN McNAMARADATE BY
1 SEPTEMBER 2017
(SOLID) STATE OF THE NATION 2017
Oz KFest 2017
         
        
         
        
         

2. Who am I?
Computer user since 1980 (TRS-80)
Apple ][ user since 1982
Mac user since 1984
Mac/Apple consultant since 1997
Apple ][ hoarder collector since 1998
WOzFest host since 2015
Contacts:
europlus@europlus.zone
europlus on a2c.chat
@apple2europlus on Twitter
https://the.europlus.zone/
Fair use of copyrighted material for non-profit
educational purposes is claimed for this presentation.

3. My Retro Solid State Story
Semi Virtual Diskette
Focus Card with IDE to Compact
Flash
CFFA3000
SCSI Card Reader
SCSI to Compact Flash and SD
Floppy Emu
UNISDISK Air

4. Why Solid State?
Vintage magnetic media can
fail (bit rot, mould, physical
damage)
Mechanical drives can fail
Access to media from modern
computers
Difficulty sourcing new media
Convenience/flexibility

5. Types of Solid State Storage
for Retro Computers
Compact Flash
SD and its variants
USB
Servers, other devices acting as
storage devices
Custom devices
I’m technically including some
mechanical media

6. Types of Solid State Solutions
for Retro Computers
Device emulators
Interface adaptors
Server-style solutions

7. Device emulators/
controllers
Semi Virtual Diskette
CFFA/CFFA3000
UNISDISK/UNISDISK Air
Focus Card
MicroDrive/Turbo
Classic IDE
X/Profile
Smartport Virtual Hard Drive
Audio Sources
Floppy Emu

8. Semi-Virtual Diskette (SVD)
Originally designed for TRS-80
Disk drive emulator, disk
images loaded over serial link
from modern computer
256KB built-in memory
Apple ][ support through
adaptor cable
Low availability originally, no
longer available
http://www.rothfus.com/SVD/

9. CFFA3000
Hard drive, SmartPort and two-drive floppy interface emulation
On screen controls
CF and USB storage
Optional external
switches to cycle
through disk images
Difficult to get
(2017 run on the cards)
NB: CFFA1 is a version
for the Apple 1
http://dreher.net/?s=projects/CFforAppleII&c=projects/
CFforAppleII/main.php

10. UNISDISK/UNISDISK Air
Emulates 5¼" and
SmartPort devices
UNISDISK Air Series uses
Toshiba FlashAir SD card to
incorporate a web server for
image transfer and
management
http://tulip-house.ddo.jp/
DIGITAL/english.html

11. Focus card
An early (apparently the first)
IDE controller for slotted
Apple ][s (][, ][+, //e, IIgs)
44 pin IDE connector
Block level access to media
Optional rails to hold
2.5" drive in place
Can power 2.5" drive
Not strictly solid state, but often used with an IDE to CF adaptor
http://16sector.com/shop/featured/focus-ide-hd-controller/

12. MicroDrive/Turbo
IDE controller for the Apple IIgs
40 pin IDE connector
Dual IDE support
Block level access to media
Supports DMA
Includes a dual CF adaptor
Requires ROM1 or ROM3
Not strictly solid state, but most often used with an IDE to CF adaptor
http://www.reactivemicro.com/product_info.php?products_id=34

13. Classic IDE
IDE controller for the Apple ][,
Apple //e and Apple IIgs
40 pin IDE connector
Dual IDE support
Block level access to media
Supports DMA
Not strictly solid state, but most often used with an IDE to CF adaptor
http://tecnobytescc.blogspot.com.au/p/classic-ide-for-apple-ii.html

14. X/Profile
Replaces proprietary drive interface
device in Profile drive cases with
Compact Flash or IDE drive
http://sigmasevensystems.com/xprofile

15. Smartport Virtual Hard
Drive
SmartPort device for
mounting hard drive images
from USB storage
Very hard to get a hold of
http://pcedric3.free.fr/
SmartportVHD/

16. Audio Sources
Use any audio source with
digitised cassette-style data
in place of cassette drive
Cheap and easy, but not
particularly fast

17. Floppy Emu
Originally designed as
floppy drive emulator for
early Macs
Firmware is upgradable for enhanced functionality and additional device
emulation
Emulates an HD20 on external floppy port of compatible early Mac
models (sizes larger than 20MB supported)
Emulates both 5¼" and 3½" floppy drives for the Apple ][
Emulates SmartPort hard drives on the Apple IIc/IIgs
Liron support+ProDOS 2.4.1 brings mass storage to pre-//e machines
https://www.bigmessowires.com/floppy-emu/

18. Floppy Emu Updates Since
Oz KFest 2015
Date Update
25 April 15 ROM 03 issues resolved
7 May 15 5¼" disk read support
21 May 15 5¼" disk write support
19 June 15 SmartPort HD support for Apple IIc/IIgs
13 July 15 SmartPort Firmware Upgrade
16 July 15 Universal Adapter for Floppy Emu to improve Model A Apple II support
24 July 15 Prepared GS/OS v6.0.2 image for Floppy Emu users
18 November 15 Minor update to firmware
4 January 16 Model B released
30 January 16 Minor update to firmware
10 February 16 Firmware update to support IIc+
23 March 16 Firmware update to improve Mac HD functionality
4 June 16 10,000 DB-19 connectors arrive
25 January 17 Support for Apple /// described
26 January 17 Firmware update
20 July 17 Liron support (SmartPort for non-IIgs/IIc/IIc+, including HD)
11 August 17 Firmware update with SmartPort improvements
18 August 17 Describes Floppy Emu use on Bandai Pippin and Bondi Blue iMac

19. Interface Adaptors
Allow old devices/cards/cases to use
solid state media in place of spinning
disks
Compact Flash to IDE (40 and 44 pin)
Compact Flash to SCSI
SCSI2SD is popular

20. Server-style Solutions
A2SERVER
http://ivanx.com/a2server/
Apple Games Server
http://asciiexpress.net/
gameserver/

21. CiderPress
Disk image management
http://a2ciderpress.com/
DSKalyzer
Cross-platform command line disk image manager
http://octalyzer.com/dskalyzer/
Asimov Images, info
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/
What is the IIgs? Images, info
http://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za
Internet Archive Images, info
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_apple
Brutal Deluxe BenchmarkeD Apple IIgs ProDOS benchmarking
http://www.brutaldeluxe.fr/products/apple2gs/benchmarked.html
BenchmarkeD Results Google Sheet
Resources

22. Caveats
Compatible file formats
Block level vs disk image use
Some brands/sizes cause issues
Backup!

23. Acknowledgements
Andrew Roughan, Steve Kazoullis and the other
organisers of Oz KFest 2017
Tony Diaz for coming all the way from Up Over
with such an extensive collection of gear and
knowledge to share
The developers of modern solid state solutions for
retrocomputers – bringing new life to old
computers

24. A FEW PHOTOS FROM Oz KFest 2015
17-19 APRIL 2015 – KEYSBOROUGH, VIC, AUSTRALIA
IN MEMORIAM:
CONNER CP-2024 S/N K0DKTX
1990-2007