Triton QD
The following review
was taken from Crash 21 Oct 85
HARDWARE:
Large cream coloured disk drive unit with integrated power supply and mains lead to black
coloured interface box which connects to the Spectrum system edge connector. Interface
provides an expansion port for printer or other add-on. A slide switch is provided for
drive selection. Interface 1 may not be connected to the system, as it uses the same ROM
configuration.
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
Although the TRITON QUICK DISK uses hardjacketed floppy disk media, it falls under the
category of the stringy floppy systems, as the access is not random but sequential. Unlike
the standard disk drives where individual tracks may be accessed by positioning the
read/write head with the step motor, the TRITON QD combines the floppy disk rotation with
a continuous linear tracking of the head and thus creates a single spiral track along the
disk similar to a record groove.
The spiral is completes within eight seconds whereupon the linear motion disengages and
returns to the start position. This means that consecutive access time is restricted to
eight seconds. In general, this works out faster than the Microdrive and similar to the
Wafadrive. Formatting requires only one go and this means an extremely fast formatting
time. The interface caters only for one drive and should a second drive be required, a
second interface will have to be installed.
OPERATING SYSTEM:
Extended Basic residing in shadow ROM.
FORMAT <drive number>, CAT * <drive number>, SAVE * <drive number>
"filename",
LOAD * <drive number> "filename", ERASE * <drive number>
"filename"
CRITICISM:
Slow access due to loop time. Fairly expensive for stringy floppy type drive without
serial or parallel ports.
MEDIA:
2.8inch jacketed floppy disks with write protect tab.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Max number of drives per system: 2
Storage capacity (formatted): 100k (2 sides)
Number of sectors: 20 per side
Sector size: 2.5Kbytes.
Data transfer rate: 101.6 Kbits per sec.
Recording density: 4410 BPI
TIMING:
Formatting: 8 sec.
Cataloguing: 2.5 - 8 sec.
Loading screen: 2.5 - 8 sec. |